Bantaeng, S Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - After the assistance of processing, food and horticultural development experts, the Japan International Cooporation Agency (JICA) was also ready to develop the seaweed industry in Bantaeng regency, South Sulawesi.

Assistance for the development of local seaweed-based industries, the JICA project leader for industries in South Sulawesi, Takuya Okada, in a meeting with Bantaeng Regent Nurdin Abdullah said here Monday.

Takuya Okada at the meeting was flanked by Akihito Morinaga, Taro Tsubogo, and a number of teams from the Cooperative Agency and small and medium businesses of South Sulawesi, the industry and trade industrial agency, the marine affairs and fishery agency, and a number of JIKA teams of the Hasanuddin University.

Takuya Okada said the project for industries in South Sulawesi was established in 2009, and was considered very serious and involved many relevant government institutions.

"Normally, JICA projects involved on one or two agencies," he said.

He hoped with this assistance, small and medium industries have planning capacity and a service system and the most important is increasing production quality.

Okada hoped this area has special leading commodities and do not compete with other products.

Bantaeng Regent HM Nurdin Abdullah praised the care of the JICA team for the development of various products in the regio. (T.H-NG/A014)