"We are doing it as the export potential of the fisheries sector is quite high," Pinontoan remarked here on Wednesday.
The general manager noted that Garuda Indonesia had transported direct call cargoes 23 times from the Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado to Narita Airport of Tokyo, Japan.
Pinontoan remarked that 356.2 tons of fishery products had been exported.
Fishery products, including tuna, were the commodities largely exported to Japan. In addition, other exported commodities are agricultural products and general cargo.
Of the 23 shipments, three were delivered, with a cargo volume of over 20 tons in one shipment. The highest record was clocked on January 6, 2021, with the shipment volume reaching 27 tons.
Fluctuations in shipping volume cannot be separated from the dependence on tuna products from North Sulawesi and Ambon as well as the surrounding areas.
"If the weather is bad, tuna products shipped will decrease, and the volume will also decline," Pinontoan noted.
Pinontoan noted that North Sulawesi’s export potential was quite high in the fisheries, agriculture, and plantation sectors. Several products that can be exported from the region, include chrysanthemums, which also held promise as an export product.
"Unfortunately, the market in Japan prefers certain products of grade A quality," he noted.
Pinontoan is optimistic of securing support from every stakeholder, so that direct calls to Japan can be more optimal and agricultural and plantation products from North Sulawesi can also increase direct call cargo shipments and not only be limited to tuna shipments.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Suharto
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