REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- A member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) Adrianus Garu expressed full support for the government's maritime axis project, which would contribute to improving the people's welfare.

"We support the Maritime Axis ideA. We would make ready 5,000 medium sized ships. Connectivity could not work without development of sea infrastructure including ship," Adrianus said here on Thursday.

Maritime axis and sea toll were part of massive infrastructure program pledged in pre election campaigns by President Joko Widodo.

Adrianus said the project is now taking shape with work beginning to build infrastructure in various areas.

"We hope in entering 2017, all infrastructure projects would be completed that we could see rapid growth of the economy," he added.

As a senator, Adrianus appreciated hard work shown by the government notably in the procurement of thousands of units of ships to facilitate transport between the country's thousands of islands.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Resources Rizal Ramli said the government would continue steps toward realization of maritime axis .

In five years, Indonesia would be able to regain its true identity as a maritime nation, Rizal said.

He said there are five pillars needed to develop maritime axis.

First , developing maritime culture, by giving the people awareness of our glorious past in the sea that our ancestors were great seamen.

Second developing marine resources through expansion of shipping industry by procuring 5,000 medium sized fishing ships for fishermen in five years.

Meanwhile, the government has adopted a tough policy against illegal fishing as a shock therapy by sinking fishing ships found illegally operating in Indonesian sea territories.

Third , development of infrastructure to improve inter-island connectivity . In the past year, the government already build and repair a number of sea transport facilities.

Fourth, maritime diplomacy is intensified . In the past year, government agencies have contributed to maritime diplomacy .

Fifth, strengthening maritime defense with the navy as the backbone for maritime defense.

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