Jakarta, Feb. 14 -- Indonesia is building an International Tropical Seaweed Research Center (ITSRC) in Ekas Bay, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, as part of a national push to become a global hub for seaweed research and downstream innovation, a senior official said.

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Stella Christie said strengthening seaweed research is central to Indonesia's national strategy and coastal economic transformation.

"Our major focus in recent months has been to position Indonesia as the world's seaweed center, and that must start now. We are establishing an international-standard research center with global networks," she said in a statement on Saturday.

Christie said Ekas Bay was chosen because...