RI Takes Part In "Aquarama 2013" In Singapore

Jakarta, June 3 (Antara) - Indonesia is among many countries to take part in the 13 International Ornamental Fish and Accessorizes Exhibition (Aquarama 2013) from May 30 to June 2 in Singapore. "Indonesia pavilion is attended by representatives from 13 companies and associations of ornamental fish," Nurmalia Ulfa, the Director of PT Maramaquatic, one of Indonesian company representatives in the fairs, said from Singapore on Sunday. She said the exhibitors from Indonesia joined the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry which opened Indonesian Pavilion at the arena. "Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo was also present at the International Ornamental Fish Exhibition in Singapore," she said. She explained that the company`s representatives and associations who participated in the exhibition were the specialists in ornamental fish and plants of freshwater, seawater, corals, and Indonesian endemic fish of arwana and botia. Nurmalia expressed hope that Indonesia`s participation in the event could increase market penetration, and directly introduce its ornamental fish and plan to end-users in order to cut through Singapore`s trade chain. "Thus, we can increase the target export of Indonesian fishery products to a total of US$5 billion," she said. Meanwhile, Arie Prabawa, another Indonesian participant in the exhibition, said since 1985 the value of international trade in ornamental fish export has increased by around 14 percent per year. Referring to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) latest data, Arie said world ornamental fish export and import has increased significantly. According to him, Indonesia is the world`s fifth biggest ornamental fish exporter after the Republic of Check, Thailand, Japan and Singapore with its aquarium fish exports were estimated at US$60 million. "Singapore is the number one ornamental fish exporting country but 70 percent of ornamental fish varieties in in the country comes from Indonesia," Arie said.