Gresik, East Java (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reiterated the government`s determination here on Wednesday to make all the ships transporting goods between the different parts of the country to fly the Indonesian flag.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the commemoration of the 9th anniversary of Nusantara Day at the Gresik port in East Java, President Yudhoyono said that the government had already issued Presidential Instruction Number 5 of 2005 on improvement of all national ships for their interinsular operations in the country.<\/p>\n
\"We wish to restore the glory of our national fleet,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Although the goal was not yet fully achieved the President said the presidential instruction had been implemented to increase the number of national ships.<\/p>\n
In 2006 the President said Indonesia only had 6,041 ships but the number rose 36.7 percent to 8,256 in 2008.<\/p>\n
\"We wish the number will rise again so that only red and white-flagged ships will conduct domestic transportation of goods,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The President also said that sea transportation service by national fleet also rose in the first quarter of 2008 to 71.4 percent from 65.3 percent in 2007.<\/p>\n
\"This is what is right. What is wrong is if more foreign-flagged ships are operating in our territory. Let us become the host for our own country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
President Yudhoyono in his speech also mentioned the country`s increasing fishery production. He said the country`s fishery production had risen from 6.9 million tons in 2005 to 8.6 million tons in the second quarter this year.<\/p>\n
The rise, he said, demonstrated that the government`s decision to revitalize the fishery sector in 2005 was on the right track.<\/p>\n
President Yudhoyono further called on his cabinet ministers and also leaders of coastal regions to help speed up development in the sector.<\/p>\n
\"This is an opportunity to advance coastal regions and their fishermen,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In view of the vastness of the country`s territory of which three quarters are waters President Yudhoyono said future policy must keep the country`s development in a sound balance between land and marine natural resources. (*)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-all-national-ships-must-fly-indonesian-flag-1230167389", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }