Try opens new school of marine studies

JEPARA, Central Java (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno dedicated the School of Marine Studies of the University of Diponegoro here yesterday.

The school's campus, in the Awur Bay Village, cost Rp 8.5 billion (US$4 million) to build. The campus includes the main building, a laboratory and housing facility for students and staff lecturers.

Diponegoro University is a government-owned institution in Semarang, capital of Central Java.

Try, in his dedication speech, said the construction of the new facility is expected to bolster Indonesia's capability in exploiting its rich marine resources, and strengthening the nation's fishing industry in particular.

As the world's largest archipelagic state, Indonesia possesses 5.8 million hectares of sea territory, which includes 2.7 million hectares that comes within the economic exclusive zone, Try said.

Try's entourage from Jakarta included Mrs. Try Sutrisno, Attorney General Singgih, Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar, State Minister of Land Affairs Soni Harsono and State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja.

Central Java Governor Soewardi and Diponegoro University Rector Muladi escorted the guests from Jakarta.

Earlier Try visited a local handicraft center in Jepara, which is famed for its woodcarving.

Jepara Regent Bambang Poerwadi said, in his welcoming speech, woodcarving is now the bread and butter industry of the regency, with over 2,400 handicraft units employing a total of 60,000 workers.

The area churns out Rp 201 billion ($96 million) worth of wooden products, mostly furniture, a year. Its exports are worth Rp 90 billion a year and its market reaches 29 countries across the globe.

Bambang presented Try with a cane made from three sacred woods taken from the Karimun Jawa Island in the Java Sea across Jepara before he left Jepara.(har/emb)