Illustrated – Supplied
Sorong, Jubi – The central government has earmarked Rp 1.8 billion to build an ice factory to support the fisheries industry in Sorong Selatan, Papua Barat Province.
Deputy of Natural Resources and Services Coordinating Department at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs Agung Kuswandono said in Sorong on Sunday (4/9/2016) that the money came from the State Budget of the Assistance Funds of the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries.
He said the budget is allocated to purchase ice flake machines for the local fishermen.
Earlier, an ice factory has been built in Sorong Selatan but burned down in December 2015. The local government would rebuild the factory and the central government would bring a large scale of the ice flake machine to support the operations.
He said the ice factory in Sorong Selatan Regency would certainly equipped with sufficient electricity supplies so that the operations would run smoothly.
“We have observed the site and coordinated with the local government and the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries that the ice factory is targeted to be completed in October 2016,” he said.
The ice factory is aimed to help the local fishermen in Sorong Selatan to keep fishes longer for their welfare improvement.
“The welfare of the fishermen is the government’s objective in implementing the development for making the Indonesian objective to become the world’s maritime axis could be achieved,” he said. (*/rom)
