President Jokowi Opens Sail Karimata Strait 2016

President Jokowi and a number of ministers are present at the peak event of Sail Karimata Strait 2016. (Photo by: Public Relations Division/Rahmat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Saturday (15/10) opened the peak event of Sail Karimata Strait 2016 on a Datuk Island Beach in North KayongRegency, West Kalimantan.

In his remarks, President Jokowi hopes that the event, which will be held annually, will not become a festive or a ceremonial event only.“I don’t want that after it finishes, it will be quiet and will not bring impacts for the economy and the people in the regions. On many occasions, I have also repeatedly told ministers that this event must be our momentum to take care of and use our maritime resources well. We should also use this momentum to restore our identity as a maritime nation and to restore maritime cultures among us,” the President stated.

Before the guests attending the event and the local people, President Jokowi also said that Indonesia must use maritime and fisheries sectors to move the country’s economy and reminded of the importance of seriously protecting and safeguarding Indonesia’s seas.

“We must safeguard our seas from illegal fishing. We must protect our seas from pollution. We must protect our seas from ecosystem damage,” the President said, adding that once Indonesia’s fish supply is already abundant, Indonesia must also strengthen its fisheries industries and make fish as sustainable source of life for the next generations.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also said that the Government is pushing for maritime tourism development. “We have Bunaken, Tomini Bay, Karimata Strait, Raja Ampat, and many other [places of tourist attraction]. We will build the infrastructure and facilities, as well as push promotion so that our beautiful places can be introduced domestically and internationally,” President Jokowi said.

President Jokowi also hopes that in the following years, the promotion of the event can be intensified.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also noted that there is no doubt that the seas are the future; thus, President Jokowi called on all sides to put more attention to the seas, the straits,and the oceans.“We must make our seas as the place where we put our hope to make Indonesia a maritime nation, an advanced nation, and a winning nation,” President Jokowi said.

The opening of Sail Karimata Strait 2016 was also attended by Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Oesman Sapta Odang, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya, as well as Minister of Villages, Development of Underdeveloped Regions, and Transmigration Ekoputro Sanjoyo. (UN/ES) (NASTER/EP/YM)