ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono is focusing on targeting the Russian market to increase the export value of fishery products.
Trade in fishery products between the two countries has shown an increase in the last five years, especially seaweed commodities.
Minister Trenggono revealed that efforts to strengthen fisheries trade to Russia include registering Indonesian companies so they can carry out exports to Russia, as well as realizing fisheries cooperation with the authorities of the Red Bear country.
To explore these opportunities, the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries also participated in the Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo organized by the Federal Agency for Fisheries of the Government of the Russian Federation in mid-September. At this event, Minister Trenggono met directly with the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Patrushev Dmitry Nikolayevich.
“This Expo is important for Indonesia to expand the potential of the global fisheries market, explore new business opportunities and strengthen international partnerships. “In Russia, there is significant trade potential for fishery products,” said Minister Trenggono in an official broadcast from the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in Jakarta, quoted Monday, September 23 2024.
Based on data for 2023, exports of Indonesian fishery products to Russia show a positive trend. Shrimp is the main commodity with a value of US$ 11.53 million or 45.4% of total fisheries exports to Russia. Sales of seaweed products amounted to US$5.87 million (23.1%), and fish eggs and fish livers amounted to US$5.25 million (20.7%).
Regarding seaweed, continued Minister Trenggono, the potential for increasing exports to Russia is still wide open. Indonesia has advantages, especially in seaweed products as the raw material for carrageenan which comes from the Eucheuma cottonii species which is abundant in Indonesian waters. Indonesia is also improving the productivity and quality of seaweed through modeling programs.
Of Russia’s total seaweed imports, Indonesia contributed around 6.6% to carrageenan with a volume of 471 tons, followed by 31 tons of agar-agar worth US$509 thousand, or 3.6% of Russia’s total imports of agar-agar.
“This shows that there is still room to increase the volume and value of exports. “Especially through strengthening the domestic seaweed processing industry and diversifying value-added products,” he explained.
For information, in Minister Trenggono’s meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Patrushev Dmitry Nikolayevich, the implementation of the Blue Economy program in Indonesia was also discussed, an invitation for Russian business actors to invest in downstream fisheries, and the completion of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement between the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Federal Service of Russian Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance regarding quality assurance, safety and health of imported and exported fish and fishery products. (AT Network)
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