The meeting, themed "Synergy in Optimizing Quarantine Services: Ensuring the Safety of Animal, Fish and Plant Commodity Trade," aimed at strengthening South Sulawesi’s export performance.
“We know South Sulawesi has many high-quality export commodities, and we want to encourage direct exports from Makassar to destination countries, without transiting through Surabaya,” Panggabean remarked.
His visit to Makassar, along with the dialogue with exporters, was part of a broader strategy to increase Indonesia’s national export volume by eight percent.
The agency head noted that one of the key challenges exporters face is the variation in regulations among destination countries, which leads to different documentation requirements.
“To prevent export rejections, we need to ensure our products meet international standards. Some products are available but lack proper documentation. In global trade, it is not just about having goods—it is about guaranteeing their health and safety through proper certification,” he stressed.
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Among the top 10 export destinations out of 40 countries are China, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, the United States, Malaysia, Spain, France, Russia, and Germany.
During the event, several business representatives voiced concerns about export logistics, commodity handling, and the costs involved in exporting goods.
“All fees are transparent, cashless, and directly go into the state treasury,” Sahat assured.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the South Sulawesi Export Affairs Association, Arif Pabentengi, highlighted three main concerns: buyers, commodity quantities, and transportation logistics.
Pabentengi stressed the need for direct cargo flights to South Korea, Singapore, and China, as these countries are major export destinations for the region.
“We hope to see improved logistics services at airports and seaports to enable direct shipping to these countries,” he remarked.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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