Manado, North
Sulawesi (Antara Bali) - Indonesia is committed to preserving marine
biodiversity and promoting marine resource investment based on
innovation, creativity, and Blue Economy principles.
In keeping with this commitment, the country has organized the World
Ocean Business Forum (WOBF), maritime affairs and fisheries ministrys
Director General of Fisheries Product Processing and Marketing, Saut P.
Hutagalung, stated here on Wednesday while opening the forum.
"It is expected that during the forum businessmen will strike
business deals on marine resource management and fishery products that
can help to improve the peoples welfare," he noted.
During the forum, the participants will share information on
business opportunities in the fields of marine and fisheries, which are
based on the sustainable management of coral reef ecosystems.
"The forum will also be used as a platform by businessmen engaged in
seaweed trading to discuss the preparations for an ASEANs Senior
Official Meeting (SOM) on cooperation in seaweed development in ASEAN,
which will be held in Thailand, in June 2014," he added.
The WOBF is being attended by at least 250 participants from 25
countries. They represent governments, regional and international
organizations, NGOs, business sector, as well as scientific
institutions, and academicians.
The foreign participants are from Argentine, the United States,
Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, China, Finland, Gambia, Britain,
Iraq, Germany, South Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, France, the Philippines, the Seychelles, Thailand, Uganda, and
Vietnam.
"The local participants include fishery and seaweed businessmen,
tour agents and tour operators, researchers, academicians, NGO
activists, and central and local officials of the maritime and fisheries
offices," Hutaglung affirmed.
The WOBF is held as part of the World Coral Reef Conference (WCRC) and organized here between May 14 and 17, 2014.
Hutagalung noted that the businessmen were invited to invest in
managing and exploiting marine resources and fisheries by applying
sustainable preservation principles to the ecosystem and the natural
resources, such as coral reefs, seagrass, and mangroves. (WDY)
Indonesian Government Promotes Blue Economy
Jumat, 16 Mei 2014 10:00 WIB
