"The ESE event which was held during April 24-26, 2012, featured more than 1,600 business players who came from 140 countries," he added.
The participation of exhibitors from Indonesia was the highest compared with previous years. "It is the largest exhibition in the world, so it could be an opportunity for the fisheries industry in Indonesia. It could boost economic relations, particularly the sales of fishery products, with the European Union (EU)," Sharif noted.
He said that EU was one of the main export destinations for fishery products and Indonesia needed to give it high priority. The participation of Indonesian companies in the ESE exhibition is meant to enhance Indonesia's potential to increase export of fishery products to EU.
Indonesia`s participation in ESE 2011 has generated transactions worth about Rp275 billion, a 205 percent increase when compared with that of 2010, which was Rp89.9 billion.
"This international exhibition was a barometer for producers to measure the advantages of competitors` products, so that business players could improve their export products," Sharif stated.
European Union countries are known for having strict quality standards with regard to import and export of various products. For fishery and marine products, the application standard includes antibiotic content, hygiene standard, and pathogenic bacteria.
Through Rapid Alert System (RAS) for food and feed, all standards have been clearly defined, with objective assessment, which requires every market player to meet them. But according to Sharif, EU is still very attractive for entrepreneurs.
Therefore, Indonesia continues to prioritize quality improvement and product safety in order to facilitate market expansion to EU. With time, the quality and competitiveness of export products in Indonesia is getting better.
This can be seen from the decrease in cases relating to the rejection of export products from Indonesia to the EU. In addition, the processing of fishery products in Indonesia has met the standard required by the EU.
Based on these facts, the European Commission should be able to recognise Indonesia as one of reliable suppliers of fishery products and export restrictions, as contained in CD 220/2010 (Decision Commision of the EU), can be soon revoked.
"Quality improvement and value-added fishery products will improve the competitiveness of Indonesia in international markets, particularly in EU," Sharif said.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
