Jakarta, April 24, 2012 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is promoting the potential of fishery products in order to improve penetration into the European market as well as a concrete movement to increase the trade balance through International Seafood Exhibition "European Seafood Exposition (ESE)" event. This strategic movement is intended to help Indonesian business players in marketing, promoting and developing products in international markets, particularly in European Union. This 20th exhibition, will be held on April 24-26th 2012 in Brussels, Belgium. The world's largest seafood exhibition,which routinely organized every year will present 1600 business players, both buyers and sellers of fishery products, from 140 countries. "The event is a world's most effective means to conduct trade communication between sellers and buyers," said Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sharif C.Sutardjo in Brussels, Belgium, Monday (23/4). "Meanwhile, for several companies which have market network can utilize this exhibition to maintain the relationship and communication with foreign buyers," he added.

European Union (EU) is the third major export destination market after United States and Japan with approximately share of 13 percent. Meanwhile, fishery products export from Indonesia to EU continued to increase in the last three years. The export value of fishery products in 2009 were approximately to US$293,35 millions, later increased to US$330,68 millions, and rose again to US$460 millions in 2011. The total value of fishery products export in Indonesia in 2011 reached US$3,52 billions.

According to Sharif, EU applied firm market requirements particularly related to food safety and sustainability. However, it is still highly attractive for entrepreneurs. "The magnitude of market potential in European region should be good utilized," he added. For this reason, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) collaborated with the CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Royal Netherlands to hold "Joint Indonesian Pavillion" on ESE located in Hall 11 with a total booth area of 190 cubic meters. This pavilion will be used by 14 companies, icluding PT Rex Canning, Lautan Bahari Sejahtera, Wirontono Baru, Tuna Permata Rezeki, Multi Monodon Indonesia, Artha Mina Tama, Bonecom, Pacific Harvest, Dharma Samudra Fishing Industry.The exhibition will feature fishery product, including frozen (tuna, shrimp, marlin, snapper, grouper, mahi-mahi), canned (sardines, tuna, mackerel, crabmeat, shrimps, snails and baby clams), fishmeal, oilfish and value added products. ESE is a world trend setter in industry development, and related to handling and processing fish consumption. As it is known, the participation of Indonesia in ESE began since last 2004.

The participation of Indonesia in 2011 ESE had produced the transaction appoximately for RP275 billions, increased 205 percent compared to year 2010 which reached Rp89.9 billions. According to him, international exhibition is a barometer for manufacturers to measure the excellence of competitors' product so that business players will able to improve and develop their export products.

Meanwhile, several efforts were also conducted by MMAF along with Indonesian representative in Brussels to overcome IUU fishing, maintain the sustainability of fish resources, support the practice of fishing efforts more fair, and advance in the application of good aquaculture practices. Sharif expected through these efforts European Commission will put Indonesia as one of the reliable suppliers of fishery products and export restrictions as contained in CD 220/2010 can be revoked. For information, since 2010 these cases has declined and there were not any case for Indonesian aquaculture products.

Moreover, in a series of working visit, the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sharif C. Sutardjo along with the Ambassador of Republic of Indonesia to EU, buyers, European association of seafood importers and exhibitors from ESE Indonesia take a series of meetings and dinner by promotion launching of World Bali Seafood Show implementation which will be held on next June 23 in Indonesia.

European Union (EU) is a form of European regional cooperation with 27 countries' members and has population of 499 million, GDP of 16.8 trillion Euro (28 per cent of GDP worlwide) has become a major force of economic and political global. Currently EU is the largest trading power in the world which controls 20 percent of global import-export value.

For more information, please contact Indra Sakti, SE, MM, Head of Data, Statistic and Information Center, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Mobile: 0818159705)


Reporter: Okta
Editor: PR Wire
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