Seaweed Businesses Object to Downstream Program
11 May 2015 17:38 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Seaweed businesses are voicing their objection against the government's plan to downstream the seaweed industry, fearing they will no longer be able to export raw seaweed.
"Indonesia is one of the largest exporters of seaweed and we have plenty of them. If we can export it, why should it be inhibited by duties?" said Chairman of the Indonesian Seaweed Association (ARLI) Safari Azis, last weekend.
According to Safari, the national demand for seaweed is relatively small. That's why the industry opts to export the excessive supply to countries that consume seaweed in large quantities.
ARLI's data showed that the country produces at least 930,000 tons of dry seaweed, exporting 176,000 tons of tem for a value of US$ 162.4 million.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti has conveyed her plan to boost seaweed export in the form of processed seaweed, in order to increase added value for seaweed farmers.
"We want to export processed seaweed such as flour or chips, not just raw," she said.
According to Susi, the current volume of raw seaweed export is already too large. Of the 1 million tons of seaweed production nationwide, nearly 85 percent goes to export.
PINGIT ARIA | AYU PRIMA SANDI | AMIRULLAH
