US Commercial Service Forum with Minister of Marine & Fisheries-Indonesia

Kerja Sama was one of eight groups present at a Silicon Valley meeting between the US Commercial Service, the Bay Area marine tech businesses and the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs & Fisheries, Ms. Susi Pudjiastuti.   Touring with the Minster, was the Director of the Planning Bureau, Nilanto Perbowo,  as well as the Director For Fisheries Industry Development, Anang Noegroho. Also on the delegation was Monica Tanuhandaru, Executive Director Kemitraan Partnership for Governance Reform, and the Minister’s Special Staff, Fika Fawzia.  With the 2nd longest coastline in the world, and with two-thirds of the Indonesian territory being ocean, the protection of the marine life, as well as improvement of the infrastructure for maritime support is a high priority of President Jokowi.  The delegation presented priorities of the administration such as prevention of foreign illegal vessels in their territory, protection of sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices,  improvements in preservation and food safety techniques.  Ms.Tanuhandaru stressed the importance of raising the quality of life for rural fishing communities, supporting  better wages and access to good equipment and technologies. The Delegation was interested to learn about innovative technological innovations by Bay Area companies, with several of the companies represented Future of Fishing.org. a local NGO, has several projects currently in Sumbawa and Lombok.