On Monday, May 8, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin met with Shrimp Club Indonesia chairperson, Haris Muhtadi, in Jakarta and listened to problems faced by shrimp farmers, such as those related to obtaining business licensing. Antara News reported that Masduki Baidlowi, spokesman for Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, said that the Vice President will convey shrimp farmers’ problems related to licensing and investment at the upcoming cabinet meeting. He will seek solutions for two issues (related to shrimp farming), which will be conveyed at the cabinet meeting.
According to him, shrimp farmers need to obtain at least 21 types of permits from five ministries. “It is very troublesome. Shrimp farmers must fulfill the permits from the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the Public Work and Public Housing Ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, and one more ministry, and even a regional permit,” Baidlowi said.
Shrimp is one of Indonesia’s top exports. The export value of the fisheries sector is USD5 billion, of which 40% is contributed by shrimp, he added.
“Shrimp exported from Indonesia is one of the top five (in the world). Number one is Ecuador, second India, third Vietnam, fourth Indonesia, and fifth Thailand; so, this is a very strategic issue conveyed to the VP,” he said. The Vice President will try to encourage the simplification of permits for conducting shrimp businesses, he added.
The second problem is related to investment. According to reports, the spokesperson said, many shrimp farmers have invested in the business, but are facing barriers in the field. “We will try to discuss this at the upcoming cabinet meeting,” he said.
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