REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo is keen to boost the fisheries sector in Natuna, Riau Islands, as only 8.9 percent of its full potential is being utilized at the moment.

"Only 8.9 percent of Natuna's fisheries potential is being put to use. This needs to be accelerated as it can be highly beneficial for the people," President Widodo stated during a closed-door meeting on developing Natuna's economic potentials held in the Presidential Offices in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The meeting is a follow up to the president's visit to Natuna as well as the meeting he had led aboard the Imam Bonjol National Boat sailing on the South China Sea, last week.

"I have earlier mentioned during the closed-door meeting last week that there are several priority areas concerning Natuna's development that we will have to work on.

The first priority area involves the fishery industry, while the second one concerns oil and gas, and the last focus is to boost defense capabilities," he revealed.

President Widodo remarked that the meeting today was held to further discuss the three priority areas.

The president also called to take steps to increase oil and gas production.

Out of the 16 potential oil and gas blocks in Natuna, only five are actively producing at the moment, while seven are in the exploration phase, and four are in the termination stage.

"The Navy and coast guard have been ordered to intensify surveillance and patrolling operations around the Natuna area, all in the efforts to guard our natural resources as well as our nation's sovereignty, especially bearing in mind that Natuna is one of our border areas," he reiterated.

The president had also called to accelerate the construction of several infrastructure projects in Natuna.

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