North Sulawesi has the potential to serve as the gateway to the Asia-Pacific economy due to its strategic geographical location, stated Deputy Speaker of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) Evert E. Mangindaan. According to him, North Sulawesi was located on the edge of the Pacific. The central government has disbursed significant amount of funds to build infrastructure facilities.

The former transport minister pointed out that the government built the Miangas Airport in Talaud Islands and Sitaro Airport in the District Sitaro and also carried out the runway extension of the Sam Ratulangi International Airport. In addition, the government also built a multifunctional giant dam in Bitung.

He was hopeful that the momentum could be utilized by preparing qualified human resources in order to compete with workers from outside the region. “Let us support each other. We must encourage the younger generation to perform in the future. Let us help bright children who have shown significant achievements but do not have the funds to study further,” Mangindaan emphasized at Wednesday (29/10/2014).

North Sulawesi (Indonesian: Sulawesi Utara) is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the northern tip of the island of Sulawesi, on the Minahasa Peninsula. This area has existed for a long, long time. Due to its strategic location, North Sulawesi has gotten contacts with outside world since the dawn of time. Sangir-Talaud island group created a bridge to the neighboring country, Philippines.

North Sulawesi Province also known has exported seven commodities to the United States in 2013, stated Head of local Trade and Industry Affairs Office, Olvie Atteng. “The seven commodities are palm cooking oil, coconut cooking oil, canned fish, copra, coconut powder, fresh fish and palm fat acid,” elaborated Olvie Atteng to Antara News.

Olvie added that 54,228 tons or US$44,882 million worth palm-cooking oil were exported. While, the coconut cooking oil exports reached 51,369 tons worth US$77,723 million. The 2013 data also recorded that export of copra reached 222 tons or US$2,395 million and the coconut powder exports reached 20.6 tons worth US$23,373.

“In addition to plantation products, other commodities that have high demand in U.S. are fisheries products such as canned fish and fresh fish,” Olvie pointed out. Olvie explained that canned fish exports to U.S. were 1,052 tons or US$11,231 million, while fresh fish exports reached 59.1 tons worth US$629,209.

Cited from Antara News