The effort also to strengthen fisheries exports and its position at the global level.
Head of the Ministry's Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Supervision and Control Agency, Ishartini, at the launch of the "Shaping Indonesia Fisheries Investment Through SelectUSA" program in Jakarta on Thursday, said her institution and the US embassy have introduced the “SelectUSA” program for Indonesian fisheries business actors who wish to reach the US fisheries market.
"Through this facility, business actors can establish business networks directly with each US state authority," she informed.
Ishartini said businesses can obtain information on the demand for fisheries products, regulations for doing business in each US state, and policy incentives for Indonesian fisheries exporters seeking to enter certain states.
Other benefits include information on tax incentives and licensing for exporters who install representatives and/or build warehousing facilities to support the supply chain of fisheries products in certain US states and other benefits from state policies.
"This is new and we are collaborating with the US Department of Commerce for the first time. We already have good relations with the US FDA and have signed the Confidentiality Commitment since 2022," she said.
She added that Indonesia is one of the countries known for implementing fisheries product quality assurance standards and is recognized internationally, including by the US.
Currently, at least 243 fish processing units have been registered with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can carry out exports to the US.
"The US, which has 50 states and more than 300 million people, based on US government calculations in 2024, consumed an average of 19.8 pounds of seafood per capita, or 8.98 kg," Ishartini said.
The demand for fisheries products in the US has recorded an increasing trend from year to year.
Ishartini pointed out that shrimp consumption in the US is estimated to reach 1.27 billion pounds or more than 500 million kg per year.
"This will certainly attract the fisheries industry, and the US has become a strategic partner in developing the fisheries market, both in terms of volume and product diversification," she said.
The Director General of Marine and fisheries Competitiveness Strengthening, Budi Sulistiyo, cited data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) showing that the US is still the main destination for Indonesian fishery exports reaching US$1.72 billion as of November 2024.
In the last five years, the top three export commodities from Indonesia to the US were shrimp, crab, tuna, skipjack, and mackerel tuna.
In 2024, the temporary value of Indonesian shrimp exports to the USA was the highest at US$0.97 billion, followed by crabs at US$0.31 billion and tuna, skipjack, and mackerel tuna at US$0.21 billion.
"Shrimp is the fishery’s commodity from Indonesia that is most in demand by consumers in the USA," Sulistiyo said.
He hopes the SelectUSA program could be a good opportunity for Indonesian companies to expand market access and strengthen cooperation in technology, innovation, and management of the fishery supply chain.
"We want to emphasize Indonesia's commitment to build an inclusive and sustainable investment ecosystem in the fisheries sector," he said.
Related news: Ministries collaborate to build Morotai as defense, fisheries area
Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
