Indonesia Offers Chinese Entrepreneurs to Invest in Maritime Field

Jakarta, InfoPublik - Indonesian government through  Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry offered Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in Indonesia’s maritime, marine and fisheries fields,particularly the fishing industry with potential worth of US$ 42 billion.

In front of 900 Chinese entrepreneurs in Business Forum, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said there are about 7 million square kilometers untouched sea line of Indonesia. Its economic potential is enormous, reaching US$ 42 billion.

"Investors can invest in seaweed processing industry and the fishing industry in eastern Indonesia, such as Kupang, Dompu, Merauke, and Ambon," said  Luhut in a written statement received in Jakarta, Sunday (9/4).

He said Indonesia is a large archipelagic country of more than 13 thousand islands; four thousands of them are still unnamed.

"There are about US$ 42 billion of economic potential that can be explored from the fishing industry alone. We have oil and gas at the sea. We are creating the best business climate, so we are inviting the investors to invest here," said Luhut.

He added that shipbuilding business opportunities are also open to investors, in addition to fisheries fields. Shipbuilding business includes ports development and ships production. According to President Joko Widodo’s statement, ships used by the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) should be made in the country.
"We are currently revamping some ports in Indonesia. Most ports in our country only have a depth of nine to ten meters. We are fixing this situation so that large ships such as large-capacity transports can enter the ports," he said.

He said that there are some improvements made in the ports, among others is raising the port capacity to expedite loading and unloading, to boost export-import and improve cranes’ quality. (Translator: Wilda Stiana)