RI's Curhat Losing To China About Olahhan Products, Jokowi Encouraged The Downstreaming Of Marine Natural Resources

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) believes that downstreaming in all sectors is the key for Indonesia to become a developed country, including Indonesian marine products.

"Hilirization is the key for this country if it wants to become a developed country. In all commodities, both CPO, mineral and coal and those from all of our marine natural resources (SDA)," he said in his remarks at the 2023 Financial Services Industry Annual Meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, Monday, February 6.

He believes that Indonesia's marine resources can provide added value if it goes through the downstream process.

Jokowi reminded that Indonesia's territory, which is 2/3 of its territory, is a sea with an area of 3.25 million km2.

"It's a lot. We haven't done anything about the potential," added the Head of State.

Jokowi imitated Indonesian seaweed products that were exported abroad and made Indonesia the number 1 exporter of crude seaweed in the world.

However, he continued, Indonesia is still inferior to the People's Republic of China (RRT) which importers number 1 seaweed but is also an exporter of caragents or utilizing materials.

"RRT importer of seaweed number 1 is also exporter number 1 carragenan. This is what we have to imitate. We should export number 1 raw material and exporter number 1 kagenan. It should be like that!" said Jokowi.

In addition to seaweed, the President also encourages the downstreaming of marine products such as tuna, tuna and skipjack which has so far placed Indonesia as the world's number 1 raw fish exporter.

"We are the number 1 exporter but at the same time the number 1 importer of fish flour. It's funny! We've pushed it out but then we import it again in the form of fish flour. Can't we do this, industrialize our fish into fish flour? Is it really difficult? Endak!" he exclaimed again.

For this reason, Jokowi encourages business actors at the source of fisheries and marine to cooperate with partners in developing Indonesia's marine potential.

In addition to fish and seaweed, Jokowi also highlighted other marine products such as shrimp which, if processed into citosan powder, can get 27 times the additional value, ranjungan is also projected to get 3.2 times the added value.

"If everything goes wrong in the country, we jump our country. Our GDP jumps, our GDP will jump," concluded Jokowi.