W Lombok, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - The Foreign Ministry organized a seminar in the Senggigi tourist area in West Lombok district on Thursday as part of preparations to implement the roadmap for the integration of ASEAN`s fisheries sector.

In his opening address West Nusa Tenggara Vice Governor H. Badrul Munir praised the ministry`s directorate general for ASEAN cooperation for choosing the province as a venue of the one-day meeting.

"We should like to thank God that the seminar is held in West Nusa Tenggara. Viewed from its marine potentials, West Nusa Tenggara is one of the regions in Indonesia which hold national strategic potentials in the fisheries and marine sector," he said.

He said the provincial government, along with other stakeholders expected the seminar to give concrete contributions to the development of strategic resources in an integrated, efficient and effective way to promote the local people`s living standard.

The local government would always support the realization of various development programs in the fisheries and marine sector, including a follow up to cooperation agreements signed with other ASEAN member states in the priority sectors, he said.

"The fishery sector is among the 12 priority sectors in ASEAN which will be integrated soon," he said.

The seminar was also attended by assistant for institutional relations to the foreign minister, the secretary general and directors general of the fisheries and maritime affairs ministry, a professor of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, the director of the regional cooperation of the trade ministry and the director of ASEAN economic cooperation of the foreign ministry.

(S012/H-YH/S026)