Maritime Sector Can Move National Economy, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi enters the room to lead a limited meeting on Wednesday (15/6), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta

It is the time for Indonesia, as a country whose 70 percent of its total territory is ocean, to accelerate the maritime development programs because our future depends on the sea, President Jokowi says.

“We will become a great country if we are able to preserve and exploit our marine potentials. Marine sector can move our economy,” President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said in his remarks in a limited meeting on Maritime Development Policy on Wednesday (15/6) at the Presidential Office, Jakarta.

Given that 70 percent of its territory is water, Indonesia’s maritime sector only contributes less than 30 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), lower than Japan with 48.5 percent of GDP or worth US$17,500 billion, and Thailand which can generate US$212 billion only from 2,800 km coastline.

“According to information I have received, Indonesia’s maritime potentials are worth US$1.2 trillion a year and the sector is expected to absorb 40 million workers. It means there is still a lot of potential that has yet to be fully utilized,” President Jokowi said.

Therefore, the implementation of maritime development programs must be more focused and well-targeted.

“I hope our maritime development policy can consolidate the existing development programs,” the President firmly said.

President Jokowi asserted that maritime development policies would be used as the reference and guidance at developing country’s marine potential.

“I also need to stress that this policy should not only be good on paper, but it should bring positive impacts in the improvement of the welfare of fishermen and Indonesian people,” President Jokowi concluded.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Manpower Hanif Dhakiri, Minister of Health Nila F. Moeloek, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Industry Saleh Husin, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Sudirman Said, and Minister of Finance Bambang Brodjonegoro also attended the meeting. (DND/DNA/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)