On Thursday, February 10 2022, Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga broke a jug at the head of a truck carrying crab. The ritual marked the release of crab exports worth USD 500 thousand to Canada.
The export release was initiated by PT Aruna Jaya Nuswantara in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java. Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry’s presence provides support to business actors, especially small and medium enterprises (UKM) and start-up companies, to continue developing their products and increasing exports to the global market.
Also attending the event were Deputy Governor of East Java Emil Elestianto Dardak, Chief Executive Officer of PT Nirwana Segara Aik Wulandari, and Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna Indonesia Utari Octavianti. The Ministry of Trade noted that the marine fisheries and fishery products sector showed encouraging export performance during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Based on data released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and ITC Trademap, the export value of Indonesian fishery products in 2021 reached USD 4.06 billion or a positive growth of 6.92 percent compared to 2020. “It is hoped that Aruna can continue to contribute to this encouraging performance, ” explained Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry.
Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry added that the condition of most of the world’s main exporting countries of fishery products had decreased quite significantly compared to the previous year. But it is inversely proportional to Indonesia. Data shows China declined 11.33 percent, Norway 8.23 percent, Vietnam 6.90 percent, India 19.4 percent, and Chile 14.08 percent.
The Ministry of Trade noted that frozen shrimp is still a leading commodity with an export value reaching USD 1.53 billion or 37.72 percent in 2021. The second largest export position is squid, cuttlefish and octopus with a value of USD 492.64 million or 12.14 percent. . Next is tuna worth USD 323.08 million, seaweed USD 219.11 million, and frozen fish USD 194.13 million.
The destination countries for fishery commodity exports include the United States (US), which recorded transactions of USD 1.49 billion or 36.61 percent of the total value of Indonesian fishery product exports to the world. Followed by China at USD878.87 million (21.67 percent), and Japan at USD440.14 million (10.85 percent). Then ASEAN countries, such as Vietnam USD149.98 million (3.70 percent), Malaysia USD123.19 million (3.04 percent), and Singapore USD87.476 million (2.16 percent).
Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of East Java Emil Elestianto Dardak expressed his appreciation and expressed his readiness together with the Ministry of Trade to encourage SMEs to export. “With this release, it is hoped that it can increase the enthusiasm of SMEs in East Java to continue to contribute to economic growth through export activities. The first step that SMEs must take is to strengthen capacity in terms of product research and market research. “For this reason, SMEs can take advantage of the Surabaya Export Center to optimize information services and export facilitation,” said Emil.
Meanwhile, Aruna Indonesia Chief Sustainability Officer Utari Octavianti said that apart from being the main export commodity in Indonesia, crab is also Aruna’s primary production commodity. The amount of crab waste produced is no less massive. Thus, it can threaten environmental and natural sustainability. For this reason, Aruna processes crab shell waste into fish food products that have more selling value.
“As a one-stop-shop and fisheries aggregator that summarizes the supply chain from local fishermen to local and global markets, it is believed that Aruna’s business can only survive if Aruna cares about the lives of fishermen, their families and nature conservation. “Aruna Zero Waste Hub was established and inaugurated as a concrete manifestation of Aruna’s commitment to maintaining ecological balance and preserving nature,” said Utari.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) targets the export value of fishery products to increase to USD7.13 billion in 2022, in line with the massive implementation of breakthrough programs. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will also provide a number of assistance to boost the productivity of the main players in the marine and fisheries sector.
As of November 2021, the value of fisheries exports was recorded at USD5.15 billion and the prognosis until the end of 2021 was USD5.45 billion. Leading export commodities include shrimp, skipjack tuna, squid, squid, octopus, crab and seaweed. Meanwhile, the main countries importing Indonesian fishery products based on their value are the United States, China, Japan, ASEAN and the European Union.
In 2022 there will be changes in governance, especially in the field of capture fisheries, with the implementation of a measured fishing policy in 11 Fisheries Management Areas of the Republic of Indonesia (WPPNRI). Fishing activities will be regulated in a quota and fishing zoning system.
This governance improvement is also in order to increase non-tax state revenues (PNBP) from natural fisheries resources and activities in the marine space. Until December 31, 2021 noon, KKP’s PNBP was recorded at around IDR 1.1 trillion.