Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian Ministry Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) aims to complete the construction of 35 Red and White Fishermen Villages under phase one by the end of January 2026 to strengthen coastal livelihoods and national food security.
The ministry said progress at the 35 sites has exceeded 80%, with all locations expected to be finished by late January, except areas affected by disasters, which may extend completion into February.
Trian Yunanda, head of the KNMP development coordination team, said the programme is being equipped with full infrastructure, including docks, cold storage, ice plants, and dedicated fuel stations for fishermen.
In Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, KNMP facilities such as refrigerated trucks are already being used to support fish exports to Saudi Arabia, while cold storage infrastructure has begun operating, he said.
All KNMP cold storage facilities will be optimised as protein logistics hubs to support the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, Trian added.
Beyond supporting MBG, the programme is designed to boost coastal economic activities by linking fishermen’s catches to tourism and local culinary industries, while ensuring price certainty through an offtaker system.
KKP will also strengthen local institutions by integrating coastal communities into Red and White Village Cooperatives that will manage and operate the facilities, Trian said.
The Red and White Fishermen Villages are a strategic government programme to empower coastal communities and drive local economic growth by combining physical development with essential infrastructure.
Each village will be equipped with docks, roads, drainage systems, and electricity, as well as cold storage facilities, ice factories, fishermen workshops, logistics kiosks, and dedicated fuel stations./.
