"Indonesia`s exports are relatively small."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s fishery exports to a number of non-traditional markets in the Middle East and Africa have increased significantly over the past couple of years, according to Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo.
"There is high demand for processed fish products in the two regions," he said in a press statement here on Wednesday.
According to ministry data, Indonesia exported 24,000 tonnes of fishery products, worth US$58 million, in 2010. Last year, the figure rose to 29,000 tonnes, with a value of US$81 million.
In the year to August 2012, export volumes rose to 23,000 tons, with export value reaching US$56 million.
Meanwhile, exports to the Middle East reached 13,000 tons, worth US$30 million, last year. As of August 2012, exports have increased to 14,000 tonnes, with a value of US$40 million.
"The rising demand for our fishery products in non-traditional markets has contributed to the trade surplus in the fishery sector, which has reached approximately 78 percent this year," Sutardjo explained.
Therefore, he expressed optimism that this year`s fishery export target of US$4.2 billion would be achieved.
Earlier, former maritime affairs and fisheries minister Rokhmin Dahuri said Indonesian fishery products "lack competitive edge".
"Compared to other fish-exporting countries, Indonesia`s exports are relatively small," he pointed out.
Last year, Indonesia earned US$3.5 billion from fishery exports, while Vietnam and Thailand made US$6.2 billion and US$8.5 billion, respectively.
(Uu.S012/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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