Ambon, Maluku, June  (ANTARA News) - Dubbed "Small Islands for Our Future," the international marine event of Sail Banda 2010 is part of Indonesian government`s commitment to promoting Maluku natural resources to the international community.

Marine biological resources as well as natural resources in abundance in "The Province One Thousand Islands" really have a bright prospect to be managed in the future for the sake of the people`s welfare.

Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said the much expected Sail Banda was a very strategic event not only to promote the resources in Maluku but also to convince the international community that the province is absolutely safe and conducive for both domestic and foreign tourists to visit and for investors to invest in the province.

"With a 1.4 million population of 1,340 islandss, Maluku is rich in marine biological resources, natural resources of gas and oil, mins, tourism, and agriculture which are promising for both national and international investors," Ralahalu said.

The government`s seriousness was revealed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono by issuing on December 14 last year decree No.35/2009 on the formation of Sail Banda 2010 national committee.

Following the issuance of the decree, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono in Jakarta on January 3, 2010 officially launched the international marine event of Sail Banda.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad, who is concurrently Sail Banda national committee chairman, then intensively motivated and reinforced the people of Maluku to give their full support when he launched the event in Ambon on April 16, 2010.

The Sail Banda gong was resounded and heard by the people around the world including Hollanders of Maluku origin in the Netherlands.

Enthusiastically responded by the international marine event, the Dutch people of Maluku origin said "We would like to go home for Sail Banda."

During a tourism promotion of ""Vakantiebeurs" in Utrecht, the Netherlands from January 12 to 17, 2010, at least 350 people of Maluku origin in the country expressed readiness to promote Sail Banda in other European countries.

Besides, Sail Banda national and local committees were even heartened when Bank Mandiri realized its support to the international marine event by organizing "Maluku Investment Day" in Jakarta last April.

The Maluku Investment Day was attended by at least 150 domestic and international business makers and bankers.

Foreign Affairs Ministry also realized its support by organizing Updates From the Region (UFTR) themed "Maluku Open to the World" in Jakarta on May 12, 2010 with the objective of introducing Maluku natural resources potential to foreign ambassadors to Indonesia and other foreign partners.

Governor Ralahalu and Vice Governor Said Assagaff as well would not like to stand idly by just accepting the responsibility from the central government to host Sail Banda 2010.

The two leaders of Maluku also eyed Australian Northern Territory to explore a win-win cooperation.

Accompanied by Maluku Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) chairman Fatani Sohilauw, Assgaff visited Darwin, Australia, from June 8-10 recently and in reality their visit got a positive welcome from the country.

Australian Northern Territorial Governor Tom Pauling even invited Maluku provincial administration a golden opportunity to organize "Ambon Night" to promote local tourism potential in Darwin next October.

Assagaff said Pauling forwarded the invitation to him during his Darwin visit.
"The government of Australian Northern Territory is interested in Maluku tourism, especially traditional culture and arts, so it invites us to organize Ambon Night in Darwin in October," Assagaff said.

He said the invitation from Australia was part of a realization in Ambon-Darwin sister city cooperation which has been in effective for years.

Besides, Governor Tom Pauling also invited Maluku`s under-18 soccer team to play in Darwin in May next year.

"Governor Tom Pauling is planning a friendly soccer competition between soccer teams from Northern Territory, Timor Leste, and Maluku," Assagaff said.

He said the Australian Northern Territory governor even agreed to send an aircraft to transport the 25 players including sport managers and officials from Maluku to Darwin for the soccer game.

"Transportation and accommodation will be provided by the government of Northern Territory while meals will be prepared by the Indonesian Consulate General in Darwin," Assagaff said.

Meanwhile, Governor Ralahalu on Monday officiated at the formal opening of Ambon`s first international standard visitors` accommodation, the Swiss Bell Hotel.

On the occasion, the governor expressed hope the presence of the new hotel would support the upcoming international event of Sail Banda 2010.

"The presence of the Swiss Bel Hotel with its professional services and international network will heighten the confidence of tourists and Sail Banda participants in Maluku`s security," Ralahalu said.

He admitted that building international confidence in Maluku`s conducive security conditions u was not easy because it took a long time to do so after the province was torn by a three-year sectarian conflict in 1999-2002.

Ralahalu said with the opening of the new international standard hotel, participants and spectators of the Sail Banda event did not need to worry about where to stay in Ambon.

The governor is also challenged with Sail Banda peak event in Ambon on August 3, 2010, expected to be attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to declare Maluku as national fish barn.(*)

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