NATUNA'S FISHERY OPEN TO FOREIGN INVESTORS by Fardah

Jakarta, July 31, 2016 (Antara) - Foreign countries will soon be able to access fish in Natuna waters legally as the Indonesian government is considering to invite foreign investors for setting up a joint venture in the fishery field in Natuna, Riau Islands Province.

         An opportunity for cooperation would be opened for fishery industry in Natuna, estimated to yield one million tons of fish annually, the then coordinating minister for political, legal and security Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said recently.  
    Natuna, one of Indonesia's outermost regions, 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.

         The government is committed to developing the remote island, to empowering the local people and boosting its economy.

         And the most important is its commitment to stepping up security in the waters, in order to strengthen its national sovereignty in the isolated region.

         Indonesia has invited China and Japan to help boost the economic development and create jobs for local people, Pandjaitan, who is currently the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, said.

         The joint venture industry will be supported by thousands of traditional fishermen operating boats weighing 30 GWT and below from Java's northern coastal area as they are allowed to catch fish in Natuna waters by the Central Government.

         The government will also set a schedule for fishing period in Natuna waters to ensure sustainable fishery, he said.

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.