"Despite COVID-19 having affected the world, including countries, such as South Korea and Indonesia, it does not dampen Indonesia's ambitions to increase seaweed exports," Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto noted in a statement here on Sunday.
The export target of cottonii sp seaweed from CV Sarana Multi Jaya continues to be pursued as a follow-up to the signing of a contract with a buyer from South Korea during an Indonesian trade mission held in Busan on November 27, 2019.
"This is also in line with the continued high demand for food products amid the COVID-19 crisis," the minister pointed out.
CV Sarana Multi Jaya, for the first time, exported seaweed to South Korea by shipping a 20-foot container of dried seaweed worth US$17 thousand.
The minister was optimistic of the exports continuing henceforth.
"This export is the first one by an MSME, specifically for marine products. Hence, ITPC Busan is facilitating the process by making arrangements pertaining to marketing, shipping, and technical payments," Acting Director General of National Export Development Kasan stated.
Kasan noted that the contract and purchase order between both parties was inked on March 20, 2020. The products were then shipped from Samarinda Harbor on March 30, 2020, and arrived at Busan Port on April 18, 2020. The container unloading process was conducted on April 23, 2020, also through ITPC Busan’s assistance.
The unloading would take place at a buyer's factory in the Yangsan area, which is an hour's drive from Busan.
Head of ITPC Busan, Ni Made Kusuma Dewi, clarified that this export was a trial purchase before the buyer decided on whether to proceed on the next PO. This decision will be based on the results of their laboratory testing conducted on the product.
Dewi drew attention to the buyer’s positive response to the hard work put in by the Indonesian side in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic since with the availability of raw seaweed from Indonesia, their company's industrial production could continue to run unhindered and smoothly. Related news: COVID-19 estimated to cause 50-percent drop in tourism revenue
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Translator: Sella PG, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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