Opening
remarks to the Seminar on the Indonesian Economy: Minister of Fisheries and
Coastal Affairs Svein Ludvigsen
New Potentials and Prospects
Glaxo Smith Kline Conference Center, Oslo - 30 August 2004
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a great pleasure for me to open this seminar addressing
new potentials and prospects for the Indonesian Economy.
I would specifically welcome His Excellency Coordinating
Minister of Economic Affairs, Professor Dorodjantlun Kutjoroojakti, my
counterpart His Excellency Professor Rohmi Dahguri, Minister for Marine
and Fishery and their accompanying delegation to Norway.
This event organized by the Forum of Indonesia
Seminar is intended to bridge and establish networks between our two
countries business and industrialist communities. I trust this arrangement and the networking activities adjacent
to it will support the facilitation of new avenues for cooperation, trade and
investments directed at the exploitation of the generous opportunities of the
marine sector in our two countries.
Indonesia and Norway are two countries bordering the sea. Differences are significant in terms of
population, political and cultural traditions and geographical, demo-graphic,
business, economic and welfare dimensions.
We find however important parallels.
Although the coastal line of Indonesia is stretching more than
4 times the coastal line of Norway, the sea territory of Indonesia is roughly
5,8 million square kilometres compared to 2.2 million square kilometres. These
relatively more balanced facts structures an agenda for a dialogue.
Marine life and vital coastal habitats are straining under the
increasing pressure of demographic mobility, recreation, leisure needs and
international tourism. We are
challenging natural systems capacities once viewed as too vast and
inexhaustible to be harmed by human activity.
The fishing industry is the backbone of coastal Norway. A defining characteristic of the industry is
its international orientation. Norway
is exporting fish and fish products at a value exceeding NOK 30 billion to more
than 150 countries.
The fishing industry in Norway is divided into a marine and an
aquaculture sector. More than half of
the export value is based on capture fisheries of which the larger part is
based on fish stocks shared with other countries.
A prerequisite for Norway’s ranging as one of the worlds
larges exporters of fish is our confidence in international cooperation and
agreements.
Norway has found it rational to adapt to the various UN
instruments addressing the rights and the responsibilities of the coastal
states.
The application of a precautionary principle directs at
all decision-making processes at all governmental levels. Likewise the principle is mandatory for the
management of the fish farming industry.
I daily receive reminders from an increasingly critical public
opinion and informed consumers about the strength of the principle. The essence of these messages is that the
Government and the fishing industry have to do more than just to pay lip service
to environmental concerns.
Industries based on natural resources are vulnerable to
different kinds of human actions and unpredictable natural conditions.
Thousands of jobs and billions of Norwegian kroner of investment are constantly
at stake.
The most economic interesting capture fish species in Norway
(herring and cod) were a few years back severely depleted.
The Government implemented in the late 1960ties a ban on the
herring fishery, which lasted for more than 20 years. In the late 1970ties regulations on the cod fishery were put into
action. Measures were implemented directed at the ability of the stocks to
replenish.
Thanks to long-term recovery programs both stocks are now in a
healthy order supporting sustainable economic viable capture fisheries.
Fish diseases are a risk to the expansion of the fish farming
industry. Results from heavy investments directed at intensive research efforts
have over the years been integrated in comprehensive epidemic combat plans.
Joint efforts from the industry, the scientific community and the public
authorities have managed to fight these challenges.
The expansion of the fishing industry towards more value added
products has however most effectively been hampered by international barriers
to trade. The resent development in WTO
is highly welcomed.
Although the ministerial meeting did not come to any decisions
on industrial goods, amongst them fish, the breakthrough paves the ground for
constructive further negotiations aiming at reducing the present barriers to
trade in fish and fish products.
The governance of the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf meet
a great variety of challenges.
The exercise of control to prevent infringement of the
fisheries, marine environment and sea traffic are to a larger or lesser extend
successfully dealt with by international and national institutions.
New issues are now surfacing like the exploring of natural
marine genetic resources. The production
of energy from the water, currents, and winds and use of artificial islands are
examples of new topics to be addressed by the law of the sea.
My portfolio embraced until last year the fishing and fish
farming industry as well as ports and seaways.
As from the 1st of January 2003 operations to
regulate pollution of the oceans caused by traffic at sea was added to my
portfolio.
A new sea and fisheries act is now in the pipeline. These
actions reflect the need for a holistic approach directed at a sustainable
exploitation of all potential values to be derived from the ocean.
Norway
has to a large extent managed to organize a relatively harmonious relationship
between conflicting industrial goals and sensitive environmental concerns.
Investments in new oil and gas technologies have contributed to lower the
tension between the fishing industry, the environmentalists and the oil and gas
industry.
I feel
that there is a growing attentiveness nationally as well as internationally to
invest in the knowledge base and holistic management approaches. The principles of ecosystem health and
integrity, sustainability, and precaution call for astute national and
international governance and leadership.
Wealth in the form of natural resources should be a blessing
for countries endowed with it. All
policies and efforts made by governments should benefit all citizens in order
to ensure each and one of them well being and a decent life.
Norway has experience to offer in the management of natural
resources, an experience we are sharing with partners in many parts of the
world. Our sharing is however qualified.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
meeting in London 17 June 2003 is strongly supported by Norway. The initiative
aims to strengthen democracy, good governance, and rule of law. The Initiative
reflects extradition of natural resources of oil and gas. However from my
Government side its intention is to be con-sidered as a code of business
practice for all Norwegian enterprises involving in foreign countries.
The EITI is not a cure for all ills, but there is strong
evidence that transparency creates an environment conducive to sustainable
economic growth, fair distribution and social development.
For countries the EITI initiative represents an opportunity to
improve the effectiveness of resource management, promote sustainable growth
and attract foreign investment.
For companies it represents an opportunity to put across a
progressive and professional image of social responsibility and, more
importantly, to promote a sound and predictable business environment.
The EITI is a guiding principle for all member companies of
the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry. The Norwegian
companies Hydro and Statoil are very active in pursuing this end.
I hope this seminar addressing Indonesian potentials in the
marine sector and Indonesian trade and investment policy will succeed in
bridging and linking the business communities in the Countries together.
I also again take the opportunity to wish my fellow ministers
and their delegation a pleasant and successful visit in my country.
Mr. Ambassador: tank you very much for giving me this
opportunity to give the introduction to this seminar and the audience for
listening to me.
