0 Bali has potential for ‘blue economy’ development

Bali has been chosen as one of the locations for a national pilot project for the development of a “blue economy” by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry. Minister Sharif Cicip Soetardjo said Friday that with the blue economy concept, maritime affairs and fisheries would be developed more efficiently, using natural resources in a sustainable way. “The concept also emphasizes zero waste, a balance between production and consumption, social inclusivity, innovation and adaptation. 

In the implementation of this concept, every part of any fishery commodity would be optimized to produce added value with no waste,” he explained. Head of the ministry’s statistics and information division, Indra Sakti, said that in the initial phase of developing the blue economy, the ministry had decided on three locations for the pilot project: Nusa Penida Island in Bali, Lombok Island and Batam Island. The ministry is currently mapping out these areas to calculate the required investment cost, as well as identifying the potential that could be developed. 

He cited a project whereby cattle waste and waste from seaweed would be combined and processed into organic fertilizer. The process would also use renewable energy sources, including wind and solar energy. This program is expected to commence next year, focusing on the eastern and western parts of Indonesia. To improve infrastructure in the eastern parts of the country to support the project, the ministry plans to provide incentives on sea transportation to ease access and facilitate connectivity between islands. 

The ministry will also improve fishery commodity processing plants in eastern Indonesia. “There is more fish migration in the Indian Ocean and in the waters of eastern Indonesia. We can find many high-value commodities in those areas. However, we still lack good processing plants there, unlike in western Indonesia. Therefore, we need to improve the processing plants and inter-island connectivity,” Sharif said. He said Bali had great potential in the marine sector, as its marine commodities could be processed into a variety of foods, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics and chemical products. 

“Implementing a blue economy concept will optimize this potential.” He emphasized that implementing the blue economy was expected to help accelerate the country’s economic development. Next year, the maritime and fishery sector is expected to contribute Rp 65.84 trillion (US$6.8 billion) to the GDP. The ministry is targeting an export value from the sector next year of US$5 billion, a significant increase from this year’s $4 billion. This year’s exports of marine and fishery products reached 86 percent of total trade, while imports accounted for only 14 percent. “To reach the target, we have expanded to new export markets, including the Middle East and African countries,” the minister said.

source : bali daily