Indonesia is building small runways near 15 fishing villages to help local fishermen export their catch while they are fresh and command a premium, said Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti yesterday.

The entrepreneur-turned-politician said these 1km-long airstrips – or just long enough to land light aircraft – will connect fishermen from various parts of Indonesia to markets at home and abroad.

“We can send our fresh products immediately on the same day to Japan or Europe… by opening up direct flights from the eastern part of Indonesia,” she said.

“The obstacle right now is that everything has to go through Jakarta which takes longer.”

Ms Susi was in Singapore to deliver a public lecture, organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, on Indonesia’s maritime policy and its challenges.