Canadian investor supports sea cucumber farming in west Seram

Ambon (ANTARA News) - A Canadian investor has expressed support for the development of sea cucumber farming in 10 villages in Western Seram district, a local fishery service spokesman, Rahman Usemahu, said here on Thursday.

Usemahu said the Canadian investor supported the activity because exported sea cucumbers had good prospects in overseas markets.

"The sea cucumber cultivation activity is part of the realization of a cooperation agreement signed late last year by Western Seram district head Abdullah Vanath and the Canadian investor," Usemahu said.

He added the sea cucumber cultivation activity was expected to open more job opportunities and thus reduce the unemployment rate and to add to the local people`s prosperity.

The Canadian investor would also organize an English-language course for local officials or counterparts involved in the activity to facilitate more intensive social interaction for mutual benefit.

"The Western Seram district administration is doing its utmost to create a conducive local investment climate so that the region`s natural resources, especially marine biological resources, can be managed well for the improvement of the local people`s welfare," Usemahu said.

He said he district administration at present was actively promoting the local natural resources to foreign investors by developing economic support facilities.

"We are at present preparing the construction of a fishery port as a project of the Maluku Maritime and Fishery Service," Usemahu said.