VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia's Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has sunken 21 foreign fishing boats for poaching in Indonesian waters.

"The 21 foreign fishing boats were sunken in two locations, namely in Tanjung Datok waters, Mempawah District, and Paloh waters in Sambas District, West Kalimantan Province," Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Sunday.

The minister led the sanction to sink the foreign vessels mostly from Vietnam, by making holes in the boats' hulls and fill them with sea water.

The sinking of the foreign boats is a punishment imposed by the Indonesian Government as a deterrence to poachers operating in Indonesian waters.

"Now, Indonesia's marine products have doubled since the strict punishment is imposed by sinking the vessels (fishing illegally in Indonesian waters)," the minister said.

Fishing using methods in accordance with the existing regulations has helped increase the country's fish stock, and surge earnings of traditional fishermen.

Of the 21 foreign fishing boats, 18 vessels were sunken in Tanjung Datok waters, and three in Paloh waters, she said.

The ministry also planned to sink nine foreign vessels in Natuna, six in Batam, and six in Belawan, according to the minister.

In total, there are 41 foreign fishing boats which have been convicted for illegal fishing activities in Indonesian waters. Several of the vessels have been sunken, and the rest will follow soon.

Indonesia has been blessed with abundant maritime natural resources that can make other countries envious.

This prompts several other nations to carry out illegal fishing activities in Indonesian waters.

The government has claimed that the illegal fishing activities in the country's waters has caused a loss of hundreds of trillions of rupiahs a year to the state.

The war against illegal fishing activities has been spearheaded by Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti with the support of other parties, particularly the Indonesian Navy.

The government has even set up an Illegal Fishing Eradication Task Force (Task Force 115) to combat poaching in Indonesian waters.

The Task Force 115 has made a synergy with other agencies and institutions in its operation. (ANTARA)

Indonesia and Germany will be together in the United Nations Security Council (DK-PBB) in the coming years. Indonesia is a traditional German friend. The two countries have responsibilities not only at the United Nations but also in various international forums such as the G-20. This was conveyed by Ambassador of Germany Peter Schoof at the celebration of German Unification Day in Jakarta, Thursday (03/10). Peter Schoof also said Germany along with the European Union would fight hard for the achievement of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Indonesia and the European Union.

“We also in the coming year will be trying to send a strong signal for free trade. We in Germany together with our friends in the European Union will do everything to really make progress on the way for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Indonesia and the European Union. And I hope that the fight of some controversial issues which we discuss very often, you know what I am talking about, we hope to overcome them and to bring the negotiations towards success,” said Peter Schoof.

Ambassador Peter Schoof further said that the appointment of Indonesia as an official partner in the Hannover Messe Industrial Exhibition in April 2020 was an important stage for bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Germany and was a strategic moment for Indonesia to move towards industrial countries 4.0, (VOI / AHM)

In 2018, Indonesia and India were among the G20 countries with high economic growth, with 5.8 percent and 5.02 percent respectively. However, these achievements are still not enough because the economic growth of the two countries should have been faster as both countries have big populations. This was conveyed by Jimmy M Rifai Gani, an advisor to the Indonesian Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration in his remarks representing the Minister at the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Alumni Day celebration in Jakarta, Saturday (5/10). Jimmy added cooperation between Indonesia and India needs to be improved because the population of the two countries is still below the poverty line.

"And India achieving 5.8%, Indonesia achieving 5.02%. But of course, we are not happy with this. Because we know that Indonesia and India need to grow even faster as we have big populations. India is number 2. Indonesia is number 4 of the most populated countries in the world and we still have a lot of people who are still in the disadvantaged and living under poverty. I believe that this is very much needed cooperation. And with the sending-off of our people to India, I believe that it will accelerate the knowledge transfer between the two nations," said Jimmi.

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation-ITEC is a scholarship program organized by the Indian government for almost 7 decades. Under ITEC, the Indian government offers special or partially funded scholarships. (VOI / AHM)

Cooperation in the economic sector is a priority for Indonesian-German relations. This was stated by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut B. Pandjaitan in his remarks representing the Government of the Republic of Indonesia as a guest of honor in the celebration of German Unification Day in Jakarta, Thursday (03/10/2019). In his remarks, he said that for a long time, Indonesia and Germany has established very good friendly relations.

“Economic and development cooperation is a key sector in this relationship. Our trade figures continue to show a positive trend. In 2018, Germany was the biggest trading partner for Indonesia. Moreover, in the same year, Germany was the top 5 of European investors in Indonesia, with a total value of US$280 million dollars. We hope the trade and investment figures will continue to increase,” said Luhut.

Minister Luhut B. Pandjaitan further explained that Indonesia and Germany also establish cooperation in vocational education and sustainable energy, as well as very significant maritime cooperation. (VOI / AHM)