If orchid farmers encounter difficulty to export, then we will communicate it, so that solutions can immediately be found.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister for Villages, Disadvantaged Areas, and Transmigration (PDTT) Abdul Halim Iskandar supports development of the orchid commodity produced by farmers in several regions.

This support came as a response to complaints from orchid farmers concerning the issue that orchids cannot be exported overseas.

"Concerning the regulation complaint, I will follow up on them through an informal approach," the minister noted through a written statement on Monday.

"The formal approach will be applied by regional heads," he added.

Indonesia has a huge opportunity to become the world's orchid producer, he had stated during the East Java Orchid Actors Gathering in Gunungrejo, East Java, on Sunday.

As a tropical country, Indonesia has profuse orchid genetic plasma sources, he highlighted.

Iskandar's ministry will communicate the issue faced by orchid farmers in East Java that encounter difficulties in exporting to related ministries.

The Agriculture Ministry supports the efforts to export orchid to other countries, the minister noted.

In fact, during this time, the government continues to assist in the efforts to export orchids through facilitation for export permits, plantation registration, and promotion as well as trade diplomacy, he noted.

"If orchid farmers encounter difficulty to export, then we will communicate it, so that solutions can immediately be found," he remarked.

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Earlier, Head of the East Java Indonesian Orchid Association Regional Leadership Council (DPD) Fathul Yasin complained about the fact that orchids cannot be exported.

His group expects that the effort to find a solution to this problem can be facilitated.

"Some time back, one of the diaspora from Qatar once surveyed here and was interested to bring orchids there. However, to this day, we are still trying to have them exported," he remarked.

Meanwhile, East Java Governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, noted that the East Java provincial government will take formal steps along with the central government, so that orchids can be exported.

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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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