Kadin Wants Presidential Candidates To Speak On Fisheries Development

Jakarta, April 8 (Antara) - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) will invite a number of presidential and vice presidential candidates to unveil their vision and mission for developing the country`s fisheries and maritime sector. "The presidential candidates whom we will invite after the 2014 legislative election to speak before Kadin members include Jokowi, Wiranto, Jusuf Kalla, Dahlan Iskan, Gita Wirjawan and Prabowo," Kadin Deputy Chairman for Fishery and Maritime Affairs Yugi Prayanto told a press conference on Monday. The meeting is being planned to see the extent of commitment of the presidential candidates towards developing the fisheries and maritime sector, he said. "We will ask the candidate to fulfill what he pledges at the event if he is elected president. We may also evaluate the commitment of his government," he said. Both national and international media will cover the event, which will bring together 200 representatives from associations affiliated to the chamber, he said. This way the event will serve as evidence and there will be no reason for the next president and vice president to ignore the fisheries and maritime sector, he added. He noted that the government has so far not paid serious attention to the development of upstream and downstream fishing industries, which have the potential to contribute Rp255 trillion per year to state revenues. "The government has not paid optimum attention to the development of the fisheries and maritime sector and should put it on its priority list. The sector has high potential to generate income, yet fishermen continue to be marginalized," he said. He said only 10 percent of the country`s fisheries potential has been exploited, adding around Rp25.5 trillion to the state income per year.