CHINA IMPORTING TONS OF ZALACCA FRUIT FROM RI EVERY WEEK

Beijing, Dec 13 (ANTARA) - China has been importing one to two tons of Indonesian zalacca fruit every week since it opened its market for the fruit on September 4, 2008, an Indonesian agriculture ministry official said.
"We have learned from fruit exporters that Chinese citizens like zalacca fruit very much. It is estimated that zalacca fruit exports to China would continue to increase every year," Syukur Iwantoro, head of the agriculture ministry's quarantine commission, said.
Iwantoro and a number of agriculture ministry officials are in Beijing at present to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation and consultation in the field of phytosanitation to ensure product and consumers security between the two countries.
The MoU was signed by Indonesia and China's General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).
Iwantoro said that Indonesia thanked China for allowing Indonesia's zalacca fruit to enter its market after officials of both nations held various talks and lobbying, particularly on quarantine matters.
He said that until now zalacca fruits that had been exported to China were still 'Pondoh' zalacca produced from Yoyakarta special region.
The agriculture ministry has so far provided guidance for farmers in Yogyakarta in order to produce zalacca fruit that met the Chinese quarantine and health standard.
The agriculture ministry is also planning to develop not only the 'pondoh' zalacca palm but also those of other regions such as those in Bali, Magelang, Banjarnegara and Aceh so that they could be exported to China. ***2***