Indonesia’s future lies on the sea: President

KOTABARU. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said on Monday that Indonesia’s future was on the sea and that the government would continue to strengthen its maritime sovereignty in line with its declaration of the concept of the world maritime axis.

“We have to be convinced that our future is on the seas,” Jokowi said in his address at the commemoration of the Archipelagic Day in Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, on Monday.

The President said that the commemoration of the Archipelagic Day should remind Indonesians that the country was a maritime nation.

Meanwhile, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said at the ceremony that the commemoration should be used as a source of momentum to strengthen the position of Indonesia as a maritime country.

Susi said that building the world maritime axis as declared by the President had to be based on a spirit of nationhood, sovereignty and nationalism.

She added that based on her calculations, if the existing resources were maximally tapped, they would contribute up to US$1.2 trillion per annum.

“We have to make a commitment to using the sea to help improve the welfare of the Indonesian people,” she said. (hhr)