"Indonesia`s world trade value is ranked ninth with an export value of US$ 29.4 million or 2.07 percent of the total value of the world`s pearl exports, which reach US$1.4 billion," the minister said in press statement made available to Antara here on Monday.
He said Indonesia`s trade value is still below those of Hong Kong, China, Japan, Australia, Tahiti, the United States, Switzerland and Britain.
The Indonesian pearl export destinations are Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Switzerland, India, New Zealand and France, minister said at the Pre-Launching of the Indonesian South Sea Pearls Book, in Nusa Dua, Bali, over the weekend.
Sharif asserted, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) is optimistic to be able to increase the value of pearl exports given Indonesia has and masters the instrumental supporting factors, such as the area of cultivation, the labors, the equipment and technology supports.
To realize these targets, the MMAF has completed six development projects which the oyster broodstock center development in Karang Asem, Bali and the establishment of the Non-consumptive Product Development Directorate under the MMAF`s Directorate General of Processing and Marketing of Fishery Products (PMFP).
Others are the establishment of Indonesian Pearl Sub-commission on the Fisheries Product Commission under the coordination of PMFP DG, the Initiative of the pearl Indonesian National Standards (SNI) Issuance (now already issued), the partnership between MMAF and Indonesian Association of Pearl Cultivation (ASBUMI) to annually conduct the Indonesia Pearls Festival as one of the media to improve the quality, quantity and the marketing of pearls in the domestic and international markets.
"To protect the Indonesian pearl producer, MMAF has issued the Ministerial Regulation No.8 / 2013 on the Pearl Quality Control Logged into the Territory of the Republic of Indonesia," said Sharif.
Indonesia is a producer of South Sea pearls Pearl (SPS) derived of Pinctada Maxima shells both naturally or cultured.
The cultivation centers of Pinctada Maxima in Indonesia spread in a number areas, such as Lampung, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Maluku, North Maluku and West Papua.
"The Indonesian SPS is unique. It can be seen from its pearl`s color and its dazzling, eternal sparkle and so it`s very popular in the international market, and is usually traded in the form of loose and jewelery," explained Sharif.
Pearl, Sharif continued, is one of the leading commodities of marine and fisheries sector. It`s proven by the market`s increasing demand and the year-to-year pearl`s price keeps increasing.
Therefore, as the efforts to improve the competitiveness of the Indonesian pearls, MMAF is excited to welcome the publication of Indonesian South Sea Pearl book in order to strengthen Indonesia`s South Sea Pearls branding domestically and internationally.
"On this occasion, MMAF appreciates and congratulates the author of Indonesian South Sea Pearls book, Mrs. Ingrid Sutardjo and Mrs. Nunik Anurningsih as they promote the South Sea Pearls to the world," concluded the Minister.
(A014/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
