The construction of 35 Red and White Fishing Villages is targeted to be completed by the end of January 2026.

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) targets the construction of 35 Red and White Fishermen Village (KNMP) Phase 1 to be completed by the end of January 2026.

KNMP Implementation Coordination Team Chairman Trian Yunanda said that the progress of the KNMP construction is currently over 80 percent.

He said that all the locations of the first phase were targeted to be completed by the end of January 2026, except for some points affected by disasters with a deadline of no later than February 2026.

In Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, said Trian, KNMP facilities such as refrigerated cars have even begun to be used to support the export of fish to Saudi Arabia.

In addition, the cold storage infrastructure at the location has also been operational.

According to Trian, all frozen warehouses in the KNMP area will be optimized as protein logistics centers to support the MBG program.

KNMP, continued Trian, is indeed prioritized to strengthen national food security through the integration of fish supply with the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program.

"Later we will connect it with the MBG program from the President. So, hopefully, all the locations of the fish protein suppliers for MBG activities can be places," said Trian as quoted from a written statement, Tuesday, January 13.

In addition to supporting MBG, Trian said, KNMP is designed to strengthen the coastal economy by connecting fishermen's catches to the local tourism and culinary industries.

KKP also prepares an offtaker system to ensure certainty of prices and the absorption of catch results sustainably.

"The next process is of course institutional strengthening so that people in the Red and White Fishermen Village can become members of the Red and White Village Cooperative which operates the facility," he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Manpower claimed that the construction of KNMP in 65 locations had absorbed as many as 17,550 workers.

Director General of Fisheries Capture KKP Lotharia Latif said that the absorbed workforce ranged from construction workers, fishermen to KNMP operational workers.

Latif assessed that the absorption of labor will continue to increase as the facilities, logistics of fisheries, and upstream and downstream service support are managed.

"This increase in labor is a mandate of the President of the Republic of Indonesia contained in Astacita, especially in the creation of employment and local economic independence," said Lotharia in an official statement, Wednesday, January 7.