REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the maritime day on Sept 23 should be a momentum to develop the sea potentials.

"For years we have forgotten the sea, which makes up 75 percent of Indonesian territory. We have even turn our back on the sea for tens of years," Luhut said here on Friday.

He said Indonesia should turn again to the sea, which is highly potential for the economy to improve the people's welfare.

The government wants to develop the potential, he noted, adding, "we have made a lot of changes , issuing policies to make the sea more productive," he said.