RI, Taiwan To Cooperate In Fishery Sector

Jakarta, Sept 14 (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Taiwan will cooperate in developing the fishery sector in the Morotai area, North Maluku, a press release from Taiwan`s Economic and Trade Office (TETO) in Jakarta stated on Friday. The cooperation was marked with the signing of the Letter of Intent (LoI) between Chairman of Taiwan`s Economic and Trade Office (TETO) in Jakarta, Andrew Hsia and Chairman of Indonesia`s Economic and Trade Office in Taipei (IETO), Ahmad Syafri last Thursday (Sept 13). Based on the agreement, Morotai will be granted special autonomy with its own international airport and a seaport, as well. Located in the southeast Pacific Ocean, Morotai boasts a large variety of fishes and corals. Apart from its fishery potential, Morotai also has the potential to be developed into a logistics base in East Indonesia. However, such potential is hampered by the lack of an international-standard airport and seaport in the area, which would allow trade activities in Morotai to become more efficient. Currently, goods need to transit through the international seaports in Surabaya (East Java) or Bali, before entering Morotai or after leaving the region. The co-operation between Indonesia and Taiwan is expected to help develop the fishery potential in Morotai and develop the area as a center of logistics in East Indonesia.