TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Consumers in Singapore and Malaysia have been increasingly demanding live mangrove crabs exported directly from Maluku, following its first export on January 12, 2019, which amounted to 1.1 tons.

The head of the Maluku Trade and Industry Agency, Elvis Patiselanno, in Ambon, on Saturday, said the demand for live mangrove crabs was seen from January to early May 2019.

"The volume from 200 kg to 5 tons is exported via Garuda Indonesia airlines from Ambon Pattimura International Airport, which only transits in Jakarta," he said.

He referred to the last live mangrove crab export on May 4, 2019, which amounted to some 1.45 tons, following 2.04 tons recorded on May 1, 2019.

"The mangrove crab exports by UD Putri Desi increasingly contribute to Maluku's regional revenue (PAD) from the marine and fisheries sector," Patiselanno said.

He said this direct export breakthrough was strategic for the economic development of Maluku because previously, exports were done through Makassar, South Sulawesi or Surabaya, East Java.

"Maluku was previously disadvantaged by a number of commodities being supplied to Surabaya," Patiselanno said.

He admitted that consumers from China were actually interested in the live mangrove crabs of Maluku, but exporters were still sorting out a number of documents.

"The export market currently looks promising for Maluku mangrove crabs; the Regional Organization (OPD) technically fosters the fishermen in Aru Islands District and others by utilizing business opportunities to increase PAD and the welfare of coastal communities," he said.

According to him, the current increase in the export activity of mangrove crabs and tuna fish to a number of countries was accompanied by the inauguration of the Maluku export improvement team on November 8, 2018.

The Maluku provincial export improvement team was chaired by Maluku Secretariat Assistant III, Zulkifli Anwar, consisting of the Department of Industry and Trade, Customs and Excise, PT. Pelindo, Maritime and Fisheries Agency, Agriculture Service, Fish Quarantine Agency, PT. Angkasa Pura, Bank Indonesia Ambon Representative, and other related parties.

The team implemented an integrated export collective agreement known as "service 247".

The 247 export services means that all parties are prepared to provide services 24 hours a day and seven days a week without holidays, until the export products arrive in the destination country.

This service system also guarantees that all needed export documents will be completed quickly, including when the goods will depart via the port or airport in Ambon to the destination country.

ANTARA