Central Bangka, Babel (ANTARA News) - Gaharu, sandalwood exporters, in Bangka-Belitung (Babel) province have asked the local government to establish a Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) in the province.

Indra Ilmiawan, owner of gaharu exporting company PT Oud AlBangkawi, said in Pangkalan Baru, Central Bangka, on Wednesday that a BKSDA branch office in Babel would facilitate them to manage export permit.

"We have been forced so far by the absence of BKSDA office here to manage the export license in Palembang, South Sumatra," Indra said, adding that his company exported gaharu every month.

According to him, PT Oud AlBangkawi was one of gaharu`s exporting companies in Babel that enlivened a gaharu international seminar recently by displaying various sandalwood products ready for export.

Indra said gaharu export price varied between Rp15 million to Rp75 million per kg according to the type and quality.

"We buy the gaharu products from a number of areas in Babel province and then export them to China, Kuwait, Bahrain, Arab Emirate Union, Germany, France, the United States, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and other countries," Indra said.

He noted that the gaharu exporters in the province would facilitate the gaharu farmers to market their products instead of selling them to local traders at lower prices.

Indra admitted that the quality of gaharu products from Babel was good enough to be competitive at the international market.

He added that gaharu has a very promising business opportunity because its price continued to increase, following increasing demand from the importing countries.(*)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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