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Indonesia courts Viet Nam's fishermen
Indonesia wants Vietnamese fishermen to fish in its rich waters and seafood processors to invest in the country, its envoys in Viet Nam told the media on Tuesday.
At an informal media gathering in HCM City, Pitono Purnomo, Indonesia's ambassador in Ha Noi, and Dalton Sembiring, the acting consul in HCM City, said fishing and aquaculture are among the most lucrative sectors besides tourism and agriculture for Vietnamese businesses to invest in.
"The Indonesian Government invites Viet Nam to participate in fishing. The companies can [also] process the food in our country and export to Viet Nam," he said, adding "when both sides benefit, why don't we cooperate?"
Last year an Indonesian delegation went to Vung Tau to persuade fishermen and processors to invest in the country.
One company has accepted the offer and is all set to fish in Indonesian waters. Dai Mien Hue, head of An Thai Company, said he is wrapping up procedures to enable his fishing boat to operate in the Natuna archipelago that comprises 272 islands.
"The tax we have to pay [for fishing] is only 1 to 2 per cent, at most 5 per cent," he said.
Indonesia had given Viet Nam preferential treatment, he said. While fishing boats from other countries are required to have an at least 50 per cent Indonesian crew, Vietnamese fishing boats need to have just three.
Purnomo also called for co-operation in tourism between the two countries. Last year the nations' tourism ministers met to sign several agreements to boost tourism exchanges.
They called for organising tours between Viet Nam and Indonesia because the two countries are very close to each other.
"Viet Nam has Ha Long Bay and the Hue Citadel, Indonesia has Bali. I wonder why tour organisers do not develop tours between the destinations," the ambassador said.
Indonesia plans to soon start operating air services between Jakarta and Ha Noi to boost tourism exchanges between the two countries. There are two daily flights between Jakarta and HCM City and every year 400,000 Indonesians visit Viet Nam while 25,000 Vietnamese go to that country.
J Nyoman Gurnitha, the Indonesian Cultural Counselor, said that Indonesians know much about the Vietnamese people, especially after the war, but that he was upset some Vietnamese students could not tell him where Indonesia is.
Purnomo said: "This year the two countries celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. We have got closer and closer. We are like twin brothers."
Trade between the two countries was worth US$2.5 billion last year and Indonesian investors have invested $198 million in 22 projects in Viet Nam.
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