TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Marine and Fisheries Affairs Minister Susi Pudjiastuti met with the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sinichi Kitaoka during her work visit to Japan. The meeting was a follow up to a previous meeting between President Joko Widodo with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Jakarta on January 15, 2017.

"We came to demand Prime Minister Abe's promise on cooperation in the fisheries sector and to offer other sectors for possible mutual cooperation," Susi said in a written statement on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.

Prime Minister Abe and President Joko Widodo had agreed to improve cooperation between both countries, including in the marine and fisheries sector.

Minister Susi said that the modernization of the Indonesian fishing industry has opened new opportunities for improved cooperation between the Marine and Fisheries Affairs Ministry and JICA. Susi also requested JICA's support in developing marine and fisheries infrastructures and in developing the Integrated Marine and Fisheries Center (SKPT) in border areas and Indonesia’s outer islands.

Susi asserted that investing in the fisheries sector does not require a lot of funds and can be done in a considerably short period.

"Investing in the fishing industry is small, does not have to be large, it's not big money investment. Constructing a factory with a 30 tons production capacity only requires Rp 10 to 30 billion," Susi said.

DIKO OKTARA