Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING ): Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening the marine and fisheries sectors as one of the main pillars of national development.
He conveyed this while meeting fisher groups at the Bebeng Fisheries Economic Zone, Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the Vice President’s Secretariat.
During the meeting, he handed over assistance, including storage boxes and 100 units of fishing equipment, and expressed the hope that the assistance would boost the productivity and competitiveness of the fishers.
At the meeting, he spoke with a number of fishers and listened to their concerns, including the limitations in the availability of cold storage and ice.
Gibran emphasized that the meeting was in line with the priority program of President Prabowo Subianto, namely, realizing food self-sufficiency.
According to the statement, strengthening the fisheries sector is an integral part of the national strategy to achieve self-reliance in the food sector and strengthen the resilience of Indonesia’s maritime economy.
Gibran also expressed the hope that his visit would be a momentum to accelerate the development of the marine and fisheries sector in East Nusa Tenggara, which could help strengthen Indonesia’s position as an independent and sovereign maritime country.
“The development of fisheries economic zones, such as in Bebeng, is a concrete step to encourage inclusive economic growth based on local resources,” he added.
The Bebeng Fisheries Economic Zone is currently still in the development stage. It will have several facilities, such as cold storage, ice factory, and fish drying facilities, among other things.
