Natuna Infrastructure Development Must be Started Immediately, the President Says

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla talk before a limited meeting on Natuna Islands Economic Potentials Development on Wednesday (29/6), at the Presidential Office

The Government must be focused on three points in developing Natuna Islands: developing fishing industry, developing oil and gas industry, and boosting security. Those three measures need to be accelerated, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said.

The statement was made by the President in a limited meeting on Natuna Islands Economic Potentials Development on Wednesday (29/6), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta.

The President said that according to the report he received, current maritime and fishing production around Natuna was only around 8.9 percent of its potential; thus, these need to be facilitated and accelerated in order to bring benefits for the country.

“Regarding oil and gas industry, out of 16 oil and gas blocks around Natuna, only 5 are producing, 7 are under exploration stage, and the other 4 blocks are under termination stage. Thus, I want all to support the production process to be implemented immediately,” President Jokowi said.

In the meantime, the President has also instructed the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI), particularly the Navy and the Maritime Security Board (Bakamla), to increase patrols and surveillance in the area to maintain marine resources and preserve state sovereignty as one of Indonesia’s outermost island and area.

Several infrastructures in Natuna also need to be fixed and improved immediately, the President 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, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Finance Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Transportation Ignasius Jonan, Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti, and Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo also attended the meeting. (DND/SM/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)