Jakarta, April 30, 2012 (ANTARA) - The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sharif C. Sutardjo attended the opening of Frozen Seafood International Exhibition "European Seafood Exposition" (ESE) on Tuesday, April 24th in Brussels, Belgium. ESE event which was held from April 24th-26th, 2012 followed more than 1,600 business players came from 140 countries. The participation of exhibitors from Indonesia was the largest compared to previous years. "It is the largest exhbition in the world so it could be an opportunity for fisheries industry in Indonesia and to strengthen economic relationship particularly fishery products the European Union (EU)," said Sharif.

He said that EU is one of export destinations for strategic fishery commodities that need to be a priority for Indonesia. The participation of Indonesian company in ESE exhibition is potential to increase export value of fishery products in Indonesia to EU. Indonesia's participation in ESE 2011 has generated the transaction approximately Rp275 billion, raise for 205 percent compared to 2010 which reached Rp89, 9 billion. "This international exhibition was a barometer for producers to measure the advantages of competitors' products so business players would be able to improve fisheries and develop its export products," Sharif continued.

European Union countries are known for having strict quality standards to import and export various products. For fishery and marine products, the application standard including antibiotic content, hygiene standard as well as pathogenic bacteria. Through "Rapid Alert System" (RAS) for food and feed, all standards have been openly defined with objective assessment that requires every market players to meet them. But according to him, it is still very attractive for entrepreneurs.

Therefore, Indonesia continues to prioritize quality improvement and product safety by considering the characteristics, market potential and challenges, to facilitate the market expansion to EU. As it is known, as time goes by, the competitiveness of export products in Indonesia is getting better. This can be seen from the decrease in denial export case from Indonesia to EU. In addition, the processing of fishery products in Indonesia has met the standard of products as required by European Union.

Based on those matters, the European Commission should be able to place Indonesia as one of reliable suppliers of fishery products and export restrictions as contained in CD 220/2010 (Decision Commision of EU) can be immediately revoked. Keep in mind that since 2010 these cases were decreased and there were no case for aquaculture products in Indonesia. "Quality improvement and value-added fishery products through industrialization of fisheries policy will improve the competitiveness of Indonesian fishery products in implement the penetration of international market particularly in EU,"stated Sharif.

According to this reason, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) went back to collaborate with the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Royal of Netherlands to hold "Joint Indonesian Pavillion" on ESE located in Hall 11 with a total area of 190 meter cubic . This pavilion is used by 14 companies including, PT Rex Canning, Lautan Bahari Sejahtera, Wirontono Baru, Tuna Permata Rezeki, Multi Monodon Indonesia, Artha Mina Tama, Bonecom, Pacific Harvest, Dharma Samudra Fishing Industry. Fishery products presented in the exhibition, including frozen (tuna, shrimp, marlin, snapper, grouper, mahi-mahi), canned (sardines, tuna, mackerel, crabmeat, shrimps, baby clams and snails), Fishmeal, oilfish and value added products. ESE Event is a world trend-setter in the development industry related to handling and processing of fish consumption. The participation of Indonesia in ESE currently has began since 2004. "The Indonesian fishery companies which has market network EU can take advantage of this exhibition as means of maintaining relationships and communication with the buyers, "Sharif said after inaugurating the Joint Indonesian Pavillion of MMAF with CBI.

Since 2007 two countries had partnership in marine and fisheries sector through the Working Group of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry (WGAFF) and through cooperation agreement between the Directorate General of Processing and Marketing Fisheries Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries with CBI. The established cooperation including management sector for foreign marketing, training program for foreign marketing, seafood service center, and the development of cold chain system in fishing ports. Therefore, Indonesia received € 20 million grants for infrastructure development and human resources to support the improvement of fisheries quality to increase fish export according to the requirements of European Union. This cooperation is obviously favorable to Indonesia, because it has generated 25 trainer of business players of fisheries and government officials. A total of 15 fishing companies have followed Export Coaching Programme (ECP) .The increasing of market understanding and promotion of fishery products has conducted through "Seafood Service Center (SSC)."

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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