Indonesia Promotes Seaweed to Europe
29 August 2013 08:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The director general of processing and marketing fisheries at the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry, Saut P. Hutagalung, intends to increase seaweed exports to Europe. He views the arrival of 15 European importers in Indonesia as a golden opportunity.
"This is a strategic opportunity for Indonesia," said Saut after a Business Breakfast Buyers Mission session at Borobudur Hotel, Tuesday August 27. He currently sees many supporting factors that can benefit the Indonesian seaweed market.
Saut said that Indonesia currently only exports dried seaweed overseas. Therefore, the government is designing an industrialization program for fisheries in order to increase the value of fishery products.
These European importers came to Indonesia due to collaboration between the Ministry and Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO). Head of Import Promotion SIPPO, Pirmin Aregger, said he would facilitate meetings for these importers in order to help familiarize them with Indonesian seaweed products.
The groups of importers are scheduled to be in Jakarta until Friday. They will visit a number of seaweed processing companies in Bogor, Surabaya and Makassar. They will also go to Takalar, South Sulawesi, as one of the central seaweed cultivation areas in Indonesia.
NINIS CHAIRUNNISA
