TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Trade Attaché in Canberra Haris Setiawan said his side strives to continue pushing for Indonesian fruit exports to enter the Australian market.

The government is collaborating with PT Energi Sterila Higiena in executing this plan, Haris said. Energi Sterila has applied for approval to provide irradiation services to the Australian government to inspect Indonesian agricultural products that will be exported.

"The Ministry of Trade, through the Indonesian Trade Attache in Canberra, together with PT Energi Sterila Higiena, Katalis, and the Australian Government, is committed to supporting the strengthening of economic relations between Indonesia and Australia," said Haris in a written statement quoted on Wednesday, April 23, 2024.

According to Haris, Indonesia's superior agricultural products have great potential to enter Australia, including mangosteen. Mangosteen has been quite popular in the international market, he added.

The export value of Indonesian mangosteen reached around US$75 million in 2022. However, strict biosecurity regulations still prove to be the main obstacle to entering the Australian market for Indonesia.

For this reason, a food safety inspector is needed, as is being proposed by Energi Sterila. Hopefully, the new initiative will open up opportunities for Indonesian mangosteen farmers and exporters to enter new potential markets.

For information, the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) came into force in 2020 and Indonesian agricultural products have the opportunity to flood the Australian market. The Director of the IA-CEPA ECP Katalis Paul Bartlett said he was ready to facilitate the export plan, a commitment to “expand market access and increase the competitiveness of Indonesian agricultural products in the Australian market”.

Australian Consul General in Surabaya, Fiona Hoggart, stated that this initiative provides new opportunities for Indonesian farmers and producers to penetrate the Australian and other international markets.

The founder of PT Energi Sterila Higiena, Dahlan Iskan hopes that the Australian government can recognize the company as an irradiation service provider after completing all necessary studies and training stages.

"We appreciate the Ministry of Trade and the Indonesian Trade Attaché in Canberra who support our efforts to increase the competitiveness of Indonesian agricultural products," said Dahlan.

DESTY LUTHFIANI

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