Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Sabang Integrated Marine Fisheries Center : Contributing to the revitalization of the fishing industry on remote islands and the improvement of the livelihoods of coastal communities through the development of fishing port facilities and technical assistance

On August 26, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in Sabang, Aceh Province, Republic of Indonesia, for the construction of the integrated marine fisheries center (SKPT), which will be developed under the Grant Aid Project "Programme for the Development of Fisheries Sector in Outer Islands.

Representing Indonesian side Trengono, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries; Acting Governor of Aceh Province Shahrizar Aceh; and Acting Mayor Andre Sabang, attended the ceremony. Meanwhile, from the Japanese side, Chief Representative of JICA Indonesia Office, Sachiko Takeda; Hajime Ueda, Minister of Economic Affairs, Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, among others, attended the ceremony. In her opening remarks, Takeda expressed her hope that this project will contribute to improving the living standards of the region and that both Indonesia and Japan will continue to cooperate in the development of remote islands under the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)" concept.

JICA signed a Grant Agreement (G/A) with the Government of Indonesia for phase 1 (one) for 2.5 billion yen in July 2018 and for phase 2 (two) for 3 billion yen in February 2021. The financial support will be utilized for the Indonesian Government’s plan to develop fishing port facilities and markets on six remote islands in the Indonesian periphery. Moreover, in November 2020, JICA and the Government of Indonesia signed a Record of Discussions (R/D) for Technical Cooperation Project, “The Project for Promoting Sustainable Fisheries Development in Outer Islands of Indonesia”, which includes Saumlaki as one of its target area. This technical cooperation includes training for SKPT users (fishermen, cooperatives, women's groups, etc.) and administrators on the six remote islands, to support for the human resource development for the revitalization of the local fishery industry and also for the formulation of SKPT operation and management plans.

The construction of quays and breakwaters in Sabang this time, combines with the technical cooperation, will enable local fishermen to use the well-equipped fishing port, which is expected to revitalize the local fishing industry and improve the livelihood of coastal communities. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.

Fishing port facilities and markets in Biak Island, one of the target areas under the Grant Project, has completed and its operation has started since 2021. Saumlaki and Moa also has completed their construction in August 2024, and the construction for Morotai is scheduled to be completed in September 2024. As for the fishing port facilities in Natuna island is still in bidding process. For Biak, the project has improved the fishing business environment on the island, and the export of fresh tuna to Japan and frozen tuna to the United States has started, contributing to the revitalization of the local fishing industry.

Related Link:
Fisheries Sector Development Plan for Remote Islands.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/press4_006168.html
The Second Fisheries Sector Development Plan for Remote Islands.
　https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/press4_008340.html
Project to Promote Sustainable Fisheries Development on Remote Islands
　https://www.jica.go.jp/oda/project/1900574/index.html