Had Stopped Due To The Pandemic, Bali Exports Prime Furniture Worth IDR 2 Billion To Vanuatu Via Benoa Harbor

DENPASAR - Bali made its first export after being stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exports are carried out through Benoa Harbor, Denpasar. PT Bali Sourcing Cargo exported 37 furniture containers to Vanuatu with a total export value of IDR 2 billion.

"After approximately 2.5 years of no direct exports (or) imports through Benoa Harbor. Through PT Bali Sourcing Cargo exporting furniture commodities as many as 34 containers with a tonnage of 312,430 KGS to Vanuatu with an estimated foreign exchange value of USD136,056.11 or IDR 2,027,644,207.33", said Head of Denpasar Customs Office Puguh Wiyatno in the release of the first export, at Benoa Harbor, Bali, Tuesday, August 16.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Bali Nusa Tenggara Customs and Excise Office, Susila Berata, explained that this initial export was momentum for the rise of Bali's export commodities and also the opening of export faucets through Benoa Port.

"This is a sign of the rise of Bali's export commodities. Hopefully the export of other commodities such as fisheries exports, cocoa can be directly from Bali, so that it will have a direct impact on Bali", said Susila.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of Bali's commodity exports were carried out from Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, while the sea route had to go through the Tanjung Perak port, Surabaya. Fisheries, plantations, clothing, and furniture are the mainstay of Bali's export commodities.

The owner of PT Sourcing Cargo Bali, Surungan Novita Sibarani, said that his party exports furniture items from his garments.

"I export from Bali so that I can revive the island of Bali so that it can be victorious as before the Corona period", he said.

Furniture exports to Vanuatu are the first direct exports from Benoa port. Furniture exported to Vanuatu are handicrafts such as statues, and other Balinese handicrafts.

"We export the furniture that Vanuatu needs to complement its tourism accommodation. Vanuatu is currently developing tourism", he explained.

"All of them are local products, there are no export products. So, we are proud to use Indonesian products. Hopefully, what I have made can be an example for exporters throughout Bali, to be able to start redeveloping Benoa Harbor, so it can be as busy as it used to be", he said.