Luhut Appreciates Biak's Success In First Export Of Tuna Products To Singapore

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan appreciated Biak Numfor Regency, Papua, through the Integrated Marine and Fisheries Center (SKPT) for successfully carrying out the first export of fishery products to Singapore.

Luhut appreciated the success of Biak Numfor Regency in responding to the challenge of the first export of fishery products.

"I understand that to drive the export of fishery commodities, of course, it is not an easy job because it requires both technical and regulatory readiness, especially the task of initiating exports from Biak and Tual which was initiated in March 2021 and is now being realized," said Luhut, quoted by Antara, Saturday, 28 August.

According to him, the first export of fishery commodities from Biak Numfor proves that all problems will be resolved with a great commitment to moving forward and working together to achieve the goals and dreams of realizing a strong Indonesian state.

Director-General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP) Artati Widiarti said that this activity was a concrete step that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) helped oversee the economy of Eastern Indonesia, especially Papua.

According to him, Biak can become an export hub for fishery products from the Papua region, such as Nabire, Jayapura, Serui, and Bintuni, which are in the State Fisheries Management Area of the Republic of Indonesia (WPPNRI) 717.

"WPPNRI 717 has fishery commodities of high economic value such as tuna, tuna, skipjack, grouper, lobster, and crab," said Artati.

Products exported include tuna loin (150 kg), crab (350 kg), and lobster (30 kg) which are sent to Singapore by air.

Artati said that the export was a good first step for Biak Numfor Regency to be able to market its products abroad.

"Of course the next step is to increase the number of exports and expand the market," he said.

Artati hopes that the next export, which is planned for September 2021, can be realized, especially when there is a very significant increase, both in terms of volume and export value, namely 25 tons of whole frozen tuna products destined for Singapore by sea.

Thus, the initial export series of fishery products carried out in stages in August-September 2021 will reach 28 tons.

The Regent of Biak Numfor, Herry Ario Naap, expressed his gratitude to all parties who helped realize the first export of fishery products from his region.

Herry said that the management of economic resources is a necessity to encourage the growth and prosperity of the fishery sector.

"The fisheries sector is the flagship and mainstay of Biak Numfor Regency and the Cenderawasih/Saireri bay area," said Herry.