MALAYSIA-INDONESIA COOPERATION IN FISHERIES INDUSTRY

JAKARTA, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Indonesia are to cooperate in the
fisheries industry, including in efforts to overcome dwindling fish numbers, as
fish is a staple food in the region.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, Mustapa Mohamed, and
Indonesia's Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister, Freddy Numberi, came to an
agreement on this at their first meeting here Thursday.

"We discussed the possibility of having a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
to enhance cooperation in the fishing industry.

"This is not only to enhance existing relations between the two countries
but also because the fishing industry must be given greater attention due to
drops in fish population," Mustapa told reporters after his meeting with Freddy
at his office here.

Mustapa and Freddy said the MoU will also include the fields of human
resources development, aquaculture and the marketing of sea and ocean produce.

It will be signed in May during the World Ocean Conference in Manado, North
Sulawesi.

Mustapa said Malaysia was interested in learning about various aspects of
the fishing and aquaculture industries of Indonesia which chalked up fish
produce exports of US$1.5 billion annually.

During the seven-day working visit, Mustapa and his delegation will go to
Lampung and Malang in Central Java and Surabaya in East Java and visit
Indonesian agriculture projects.
--BERNAMA