Antara News, Thursday, May 27, 2010 19:11 WIB
Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Indonesian and Australian government representatives will meet in Ambon on August 4-6, 2010 to discuss problems affecting small islands in Maluku province, a local official said.
The head of Maluku province`s maritime affairs and fisheries office, Polly Kayhattu said here on Thursday the discussions would follow up decisions made at the World Ocean Conference (WOC) which was held as part of Sail Bunaken in Manado, North Sulawesi in July 2009.
He said the conference, themed "Save the Small Islands in Maluku for the Next Generation," was being intensively coordinated by the provincial maritime affairs and fisheries office with the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.
"The international conference between Indonesia and Australia will focus on climate change and its impact on small islands in Maluku province," Kayhattu said.
According to him, matters related to investment in maritime and fisheries sector, illegal fishing, and fisheries management would also be discussed in the conference.
In addition, business meeting and interaction between Maluku and Darwin, Australia, would also be intensified.
"Maluku provincial government is consulting a plan to sign an cooperation agreement with Darwin through a coordination between Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry and Australian Embassy," Kayhattu said.
He added that the Indonesia-Australia conference on small islands in Maluku would coincide with a seafood exhibition involving Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) from July 31-August 5, 2010.
"The three countries: Australia, New Zealand, and PNG will also participate in the upcoming international marine event of Sail Banda 2010," he said.
Kayhatto added that the exhibition, themed "Seafood for Quality of Life," would have a strategic value to promote Maluku which is to be declared by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the national fish barn here on August 3.
