Exporter offers help to Mentawai islanders<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): PT Hiureksa Perkasa, a fish exporter, is trying
\nto persuade other investors to help deliver tens of thousands of
\nMentawai islanders in West Sumatra from poverty.<\/p>\n
The company's chief Paul Junaidi said yesterday that
\ninterested investors will need to put profit after the social
\nmission -- creating employment for the natives.<\/p>\n
Paul said he is inviting others to join because his company
\ncannot afford to invest the Rp 5 billion needed to start the
\nintegrated fishing method project alone.<\/p>\n
The Mentawai islands have 58,571 inhabitants, most of whom
\nlive in absolute poverty.<\/p>\n
Upon witnessing the local living conditions, Paul, who first
\ncame to Mentawai three years ago, said that one should not expect
\ntoo much profit.<\/p>\n
Over the past three years, 550 residents have been recruited.
\nThey now have a monthly income ranging from Rp 250,000 to Rp 2.5
\nmillion each, and were given interest-free loans on 61 motor
\nboats.<\/p>\n
The Dana Sejahtera Mandiri Foundation, a private foundation
\nestablished to manage donations for the poor from firms and
\nwealthy individuals, has promised to provide Rp 50 billion in
\nthree years to the poor islanders.<\/p>\n
Low consumption<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Director General of Fishery F.X. Mudjijo said
\nthat the Indonesian fish consumption of 19.14 kilogram per capita
\nper year is far below the standard of the World Food Organization
\nof between 25 to 30 kilogram.<\/p>\n
"Java ranks lowest with only 8.7 kilogram per year while the
\nMaluku islands rank top with an average of 74.4 kilogram per
\nyear," he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Maluku's consumption exceeds that of Japan, which has the
\nlargest fish consumption in the world: 70 kilos per capita per
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The low level of fish consumption here is due to the low
\ngeneral level of income and the uneven distribution of marine
\nproducts, especially in remote areas.<\/p>\n
"People resort to cheaper alternatives, such as chicken or
\neggs," he added.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto is scheduled to launch the National Fish
\nConsumption Campaign on upcoming World Food Day on Oct. 16, which
\nbears the slogan Fish Consumption to Increase People's Nutrition.
\n(14)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/exporter-offers-help-to-mentawai-islanders-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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