Ternate, N Maluku - North Maluku is expected to host an international marine event of "Sail Morotai" to promote marine tourism in the province.
After a successful Sail Bunaken 2009 in North Sulawesi and Sail Banda 2010 in Maluku, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wants North Maluku to host similar event, called "Sail Morotai."
Addressing a ceremony marking the relocation of North Maluku`s provincial capital from Ternate to Sofifi here on Wednesday, the president expressed hope that North Maluku province host a similar international marine event.
"We have just organized Sail Banda, and in reality it attracted so many participants from many countries and moved the economy in Maluku. Therefore, I hope we can organize Sail Morotai in North Maluku," President Yudhoyono said.
Morotai is one of Indonesia`s northernmost string of islands in North Maluku province, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Morotai was generally within the sphere of influence of the powerful sultanate on the island of Ternate. It was the core of a larger region, called Moro, that included the island and the coastline of Halmahera closest to Morotai to the south.
In the mid-sixteenth century, the island was also the site of a Portuguese Jesuit mission.
President Yudhohyono at the ceremony of North Maluku provincial capital relocation expressed hope that Sail Morotai would be organized in the next two years.
On the occasion the head of state also threw his weigh behind the North Maluku provincial administration`s wish to turn Morotai Island into a special economic zone.
Therefore the president asked the relevant parties to draw up a master plan for the development of the island into a new economic center.
The head of state said he would visit the island to see for himself its potentials.
As an outlying island serving as a gateway into Indonesia through the Pacific Ocean, being close to East Asia, and situated in the main sea lane to Australia and New Zealand, Morotai could be part of economic movement in the Asia Pacific region, he said.
"We should think strategically. Let`s do something in North Maluku, Morotai in particular so it will be part of economic movement in the Asia Pacific region," he said.
The President said he had received a master plan from Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad to develop the island into a fishery, tourist, trade and service center. (*)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com
After a successful Sail Bunaken 2009 in North Sulawesi and Sail Banda 2010 in Maluku, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wants North Maluku to host similar event, called "Sail Morotai."
Addressing a ceremony marking the relocation of North Maluku`s provincial capital from Ternate to Sofifi here on Wednesday, the president expressed hope that North Maluku province host a similar international marine event.
"We have just organized Sail Banda, and in reality it attracted so many participants from many countries and moved the economy in Maluku. Therefore, I hope we can organize Sail Morotai in North Maluku," President Yudhoyono said.
Morotai is one of Indonesia`s northernmost string of islands in North Maluku province, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Morotai was generally within the sphere of influence of the powerful sultanate on the island of Ternate. It was the core of a larger region, called Moro, that included the island and the coastline of Halmahera closest to Morotai to the south.
In the mid-sixteenth century, the island was also the site of a Portuguese Jesuit mission.
President Yudhohyono at the ceremony of North Maluku provincial capital relocation expressed hope that Sail Morotai would be organized in the next two years.
On the occasion the head of state also threw his weigh behind the North Maluku provincial administration`s wish to turn Morotai Island into a special economic zone.
Therefore the president asked the relevant parties to draw up a master plan for the development of the island into a new economic center.
The head of state said he would visit the island to see for himself its potentials.
As an outlying island serving as a gateway into Indonesia through the Pacific Ocean, being close to East Asia, and situated in the main sea lane to Australia and New Zealand, Morotai could be part of economic movement in the Asia Pacific region, he said.
"We should think strategically. Let`s do something in North Maluku, Morotai in particular so it will be part of economic movement in the Asia Pacific region," he said.
The President said he had received a master plan from Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad to develop the island into a fishery, tourist, trade and service center. (*)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com
