"Of course, this is good news, especially seaweed products which, so far, are still trafficked domestically through Makassar and Surabaya, have vast potential for export in the future," he noted in a press release here on Monday.
Sumiyanto expressed optimism that the export would boost marine and fisheries businesses in North Kalimantan owing to the fact that the waters around Tarakan Island, Nunukan District, and Sebatik Island produce dry seaweed of the Eucheuma cottonii type, with production reaching up to 60 thousand tons per year.
"The production potential can reach five thousand tons per month," he stated.
The BKIPM continuously increases the added value of the maritime and fisheries sector at the global level through the implementation of Quality Assurance (QA) of fishery products. It is realized through the certification of fish health assurance and the quality and safety of fishery products.
In addition, Sumiyanto said that the BKIPM is developing service digitization in order to facilitate access to fish health and fishery products' quality and safety certification services.
The BKIPM has taken steps for strategic activities, including technical training for QA verifiers conducted in 15 regions in addition to the declaration of the Quality and Safety Assurance of Fishery Products Certification (SJMKHP) for 10 thousand certificates to suppliers of MSMEs in the fisheries sector.
"We are also encouraging the creation of a quality management system with national and international standards," he affirmed.
From an institutional perspective, the BKIPM has also inked various cooperation agreements and MoUs with relevant institutions to support the ministry's acceleration program. In addition, it worked on the provision of transportation routes and cooperated with various parties, including for the opening of several direct calls from various airports.
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Translator: Aditya Ramadhan, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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