Minister Susi Proud Catch Fishing Closed for Foreign Parties

Warta Ekonomi -

WE Online, Jakarta - Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Susi Pudjiastuti said she was very proud of the decision of President Joko Widodo to declare the catch fishing sector closed to foreign capital investment.

"We must be proud that Pak Jokowi (the president) finally included the catch fishing industry in the negative list of investment signed on May 18, 2016 despite establishing Satgas (Task Force) 115," she stated here on Wednesday (1/6/2016).

The decision was included in the presidential regulation that stated that foreign investment cannot be made in catch fishing in Indonesia, Susi made it clear while speaking before a group of post-graduate students of the state-run Jakarta University.

She expressed her pride at the decision and considered it her personal achievement to protect the richness of the Indonesian sea from foreign parties wanting to exploit it. She claimed that she had convinced President Joko Widodo to change his view that catch fishing could be opened for foreign investment. Now, it is a sector marked negative for foreign investment.

"The only natural resource sector which now stands closed for foreign investment, foreign parties or foreign fishermen is catch fishing," she reminded.

Susi argued that it was imperative that only the Indonesian citizens are able to exclusively enjoy the richness of Indonesian waters. She added that foreign investment may only be allowed in the fish processing sector to which fish is supplied by local fishermen.

Thanks to the various government policies, the richness of the Indonesian sea would remain preserved for the future generations.

"A ministerial post is not eternal. It is very political. I wish what I have achieved continues to be the focus of attention in the future as well," she hoped. (Ant)