VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The economic potential of Indonesia's marine sector can reach US$1.33 trillion, according to the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).

"The role of the marine sector is significant in the nation's development, and it can become a source of income. The economic potential of Indonesia's marine sector has reached US$1.33 trillion from 327 coastal districts and cities," the agency's Director for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sri Yanti, stated during a webinar here on Thursday.

Yanti affirmed that the fisheries sector had played a notable role in economic growth and welfare improvement.

For driving economic growth, Yanti pointed out that the fisheries sector provided animal products and raw materials of processed foods for the domestic and export markets.

For boosting welfare, the fisheries sector had become a source of income for fishermen and residents in coastal areas.

Yanti believes that the sector can potentially open up jobs for 45 million people.

Director of Information and Communication of Economic and Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Informatics and Communication Septriana Tangkary had earlier stated that the three sectors of marine tourism, fisheries, and transportation had the basic potential to boost resilience of the national maritime industry.

As the world largest archipelagic nation, Indonesia has abundant sea wealth worth US$171 billion annually.

The potential encompasses fisheries, marine tourism, shipping, sea services, and renewable energy that comprises wave energy, tidal energy, ocean thermal, oil and gas.

However, the country continues to be bogged down by a huge challenge to optimize the potential of its marine wealth to boost resilience of the maritime industry, Tangkary remarked. (antaranews)