T

he Regional Representatives Council (DPD) has stated that the government has yet to provide an adequate budget to push for the realization of President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo'€™s maritime axis vision.

DPD member Djasarmen Purba said that to realize Jokowi'€™s vision of strengthening the country'€™s maritime sector, the government should give a relatively large portion of its budget to the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister.

'€œThe coordinating ministry supervises four related ministries. So the budget for this should be large enough,'€ Djasarmen said as quoted by tribunnnews.com on Sunday in Central Jakarta.

He further said the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister should step up its coordination with related ministries.

'€œCoordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Indroyono Susilo has yet to develop harmonious ties with Susi,'€ Djasarmen said, referring to Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.

Jokowi has repeatedly spoken of situating Indonesia as a global maritime power since he took office, on the basis that the sea has an increasingly important role in the country'€™s future development.

The President has showed his intention to strengthen the country'€™s maritime position by improving the enforcement of laws on illegal fishing.

He has also expressed an intention to build more ports and improve border security in Indonesian waters.