Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Producer of palm oil-based products PT Megasurya Mas is expanding to countries such as Cuba, Myanmar and North Korea in its efforts to increase its soap products exports in the midst of gloomy markets in Europe and the US.

"We have conducted exports to 132 countries including to Cuba, Myanmar and North Korea," the company`s marketing director, Hadi Sofian, said here on Thursday.

He said the company exports no less than 200 containers of soap products such as Liesel, Eve, Harmony, Lervia and Medicare every month to various countries worth around one trillion rupiahs last year.

"Almost 100 percent of raw materials used in our products come from home," he said. Besides soaps the company also produces candles which are also exported, he added.

Hadi admitted it was not easy to enter countries like Myanmar due to conflict there as well as Cuba and North Korea which are facing a US embargo, adding among the problems being faced is payment.

In view of that he said the had been very careful in choosing partners in the non-traditional markets as exports must be done through China.

"We usually use banks which are affiliated in Indonesia and the companies we are partnering with have accounts in the banks," he said.

Because of the efforts PT Megasurya Mas has been given "Primaniyarta Award" by the government for seven times so far based on export pioneer category.

Musim Mas Group meanwhile has received an award in the performing exporter category.

"I am grateful for the success of Musim Mas Group in clinching the Primaniyarta Award. This is the results of the hard work of all stakeholders," he said.

The trade ministry at the opening of Trade Expo Indonesia on Wednesday presented Primaniyarta Awards to 33 exporters in appreciation for their performance in promoting the country`s products abroad.

The award is given to exporters that have been able to perform well, build a global brand, pioneer exports and to exporters classified as small and medium.

Four other companies receiving the award for having been able to penetrate new markets besides Megasurya are Basuki Pratama Engineering (boiler), Gading Dampar Kencana (furniture), Kinema Systrans Multimedia (animated films) and Latransa Citra (herbs and spices).

(R016/f001)

Editor: Suryanto
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