KKP To develop Integrated System To Enhance Export Value

Jakarta, Jan 14 (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is keen to develop an integrated industry network to increase the value of exports in 2013. "In order to increase the value of exports in 2013, the Ministry is keen on building an integrated industry network, which consists of core industries, supplier industries, supporting industries as well as other related industries," said the Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sharif Cicip Sutardjo, on Monday. Sharif added that product design in upstream industries such as marine fisheries and farming fisheries will ensure the availability of raw materials for local processing industries. According to him, apart from enhancing the product design, the Ministry has to improve the quality and increase food safety of fish products, starting from the level of production, processing and the distribution of the products. The Ministry also aims to build laboratories in breeding centres. According to the Ministry, 768 fish auction sites in Indonesia have received the Processing Worthiness Certificate. 505 sites have received the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Certificate. The export value of Indonesian fish products has reached US$3.9 billion, an 8.3 percent increase as compared to the export target of US$3.6 billion. Meanwhile, the former Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Rokhmin Dahuri, said Indonesia`s fish products are losing out to foreign products. "Compared to other countries, Indonesia has a low export value of fish products," said Rokhmin on January 5. He added that the export value of Indonesian fish products had reached US$3.5 billion in 2011, while the export value of Vietnam and Thailand�s fish products stood at US$6.2 billion and US$8.5 billion respectively. According to him, fishermen�s productivity, fish farming, and fishery processing industries in Indonesia are not as high in numbers as some of the countries in the region, including Japan, South Korea and China.