Welcome Speech of President Joko Widodo in the Opening of Sail Karimata Strait 2016, 15 October 2016, in North Kayong, West Kalimantan
Unofficial English Translation
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamualaikum warrahmatullahi wabarakaatuh,
Good morning, may prosperity be upon us all.
Honorable Heads of State Institution and Ministers of the Working Cabinet, Governor, Regent, and all Participants of Sail Karimata Strait.
Representatives of Friendly Countries,
Distinguished guests, especially the people of North Kayong Regency,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I want to remind you that 71 percent of Indonesias area consists of water, the sea. The sea is not merely our source of living and future, but it also unites approximately 17,000 islands of our archipelago. The sea does not divide our nation who live among a string of islands; on the other hand, it connects us with one another.
Therefore, I am pleased today to have Representatives of the friendly countries attend and participate in Karimata Sail this year. This event is not only strengthening our friendship, but it is also showing us how important the sea is for the life of global nations. Thus, I would like to thank His Excellencies, Ambassadors and Attachés of friendly countries for participating in Sail Karimata this year.
The celebration of Sail Karimata in this year is part of an annual event called Sail Indonesia. Previously, we held Sail Tomini. This event is not held only to attract large crowds or becomes a ceremonial gathering, and afterwards creates no impacts on local economy and local people. That is not what I expect. Ive said so many times to the ministers that this Sail event should be our momentum to preserve, treat, and utilize our marine source properly. It is also our momentum to reclaim our identity as a maritime nation, to bring back maritime culture in our life.
(President of the Republic of Indonesia is having a dialogue with local people)
Ladies and Gentleman,
Once again we should be able to make marine and fisheries sector as a boost to Indonesia’s economy. We must earnestly protect and safeguard our seas.
Protect our seas from illegal fishing. We should protect our seas from pollution. We must protect our marine ecosystems from damage. When we can have an abundance of fish back, we should also continue to strengthen our fishing industry. The fish should be a source of life and a sustainable source of life for our children in the future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are also promoting nautical tourism. We have beautiful beaches and the worlds best underwater beauty. We have Bunaken, Raja Ampat, Tomini Bay, Karimata Strait, and many others. We will develop those destinations, improve the promotion, build the infrastructure and its supporting facilities. So, they will be attractive tourist destinations.
I also demand that the promotion should be more intensified through social media. Therefore, those beautiful places that I have mentioned earlier could be well known throughout the country and the world.
Lastly, there is no doubt to emphasise that the sea is our future. Let us turn to the sea, the strait, and the ocean. Let us lay our hope on the sea in order to set Indonesia as a maritime nation, a developed nation and a winning nation.
Thank you,
I hereby conclude my speech,
Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (PR Cabinet Secretariat)(AAP/AW/YM/Naster)