GOVT MAKING EFFORTS TO DEVELOP NATUNA'S ECONOMY, EMPOWER LOCAL RESIDENTSBy Fardah

Jakarta, July 14, 2016 (Antara) - "Out of sight, out of mind," certainly no longer applies to the resource-rich Natuna Islands District, which is one of Indonesia's outermost regions.

         Natuna is known to have one of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world and its fish- rich seas have attracted foreign fishing boats to poach in its waters.

         To stop the poaching, President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) administration is determined to protect the country¿s natural resources and declare an all out fight against illegal fishing activities.

         And the most important is the government's commitment to developing the remote islands, to empowering the local people, and to step up security in the waters, in order to strengthen its national sovereignty in the isolated region.

         President Jokowi, who visited Natuna last June, instructed his relevant ministers to develop the fisheries' potential of Natuna, because so far only 8.9 percent of its full potential has been tapped.

         He also instructed that oil and gas production be ramped up in Natuna, which has abundant oil and gas reserves.

         Out of the 16 potential oil and gas blocks in Natuna, only five are active at the moment, while seven are in the exploration phase, and four are in the termination stage.

         "The Navy and the Coast Guard have been ordered to intensify surveillance and patrolling operations around the Natuna area, all in an effort to guard our natural resources, as well as our nation's sovereignty, especially bearing in mind that Natuna is one of our border areas," the President noted.

         The president also called for accelerating the construction of several infrastructure projects, such as roads and piers in Natuna.     
    Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi confirmed that President Jokowi has given priority to economic development, especially in the fisheries and energy fields in Natuna.

         "Development of the outermost areas needs to be addressed specially and should be given priority," the minister told the press after a limited cabinet meeting led by President Jokowi  on board the warship KRI Imam Bonjol sailing in Natuna¿s waters in the South China Sea, last June.

         Retno said the sovereignty of the country in Natuna has to be protected. 
    "From the beginning the government of President Jokowi has shown greater attention to the development of the outer regions and this time it is the turn of the Natuna Islands, which are among the country's outermost regions," she said.

         She revealed at the meeting that the president had heard reports from his ministries about projects to be built and the progress of projects under construction in Natuna.

         Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Natural Resources Affairs Rizal Ramli later announced his plan to transform Natuna into a center of the national fish business.

         He said the President had already asked Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to give fishing permits for Natuna to traditional fishermen, who have above 30 GWT ships and operate in the North Java Sea.

         The government wants the country to use the oil and gas potential of the Natuna waters for the benefit of the entire Indonesian people, Rizal stated.

         Furthermore, the government also plans to promote the tourism potential of the Natuna and Anambas Islands, both located in the Province of Riau Islands, among investors as part of its program to boost the development in the country's farthest regions.

         "The beaches of Natuna and Anambas are beautiful and picturesque," Minister Rizal told the press on July 13.

         With its enchanting white sand beaches, the islands could become a premium-class tourism resort, he remarked.

         Given their existing potential, he is optimistic that Natuna and Anambas will be able to attract domestic as well as foreign tourists.

         Natuna is also located near other major tourist destinations, such as Singapore and Hong Kong, he added.

         Tourism Minister Arief Yahya has announced that the government will make Natuna and the surrounding islands their new tourist destinations.

         "In accordance with the President's directives, Natuna will be developed into a tourist destination," Minister Arief said on June 23.

         The Riau Islands Provincial Administration had earlier asked the central government to designate Natuna District and the Anambas Islands as gates for foreign cruisers.

         "We have proposed to the central government to promote the Natuna and Anambas Islands as maritime tourist destinations," the head of Riau Islands Tourism Office Guntur Sakti said in Tanjungpinang on July 2. 
    In the meantime, the Cooperatives and the SME Ministry organized entrepreneurship training last June for processed fish products for the coastal community in Natuna, and to acquaint residents with alternative sources of income.

         Some 80 villagers, particularly women, joined the training on how to process fish and banana to create new products, Prakoso BS, deputy in charge of Human Resource Development at the ministry, said.

         The training covered entrepreneurship and cooperatives, as well as skills.

         The Head of the Natuna Cooperatives and SME office, Sri Hariningsih, lauded the training as Natuna has natural resources that have not been exploited and developed so far.

         The training is expected to help the local community develop its economic potential, she added.

         The local villagers usually process fish into crackers. As part of the training, they have also learnt how to process fish into nuggets, fish balls and other products. ***3***

(f001/INE)

 14-07-2016 22:43