The Indonesian government is targeting US$5 billion worth of exports from the fisheries sector this year, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has said.
We’re looking for exports to reach $4-5 billion, Susi said at her office on Friday as quoted by Antara news Agency.
According to Susi, that number is attainable after the US reduced import tariffs on fishery products from Indonesia as part of the Generalized System of Preference (GSP).
The GSP is a special partnership offered by developed nations to apply low or no import tariffs on products from developing countries. When US President Barrack Obama signed the extension of the GSP, Indonesia was among those included in the system.
This is good news for us, as we can export our fishery products to America at a time when our economy is slowing down, said the ministry’s fish processing and marketing director general, Saut Hutagalung, adding that the US was the main market for Indonesian fisheries products.
The GSP was halted in 2013 by the US Senate, but under Obama’s new policy, the scheme will be reapplied from July 29, 2015, until December 31, 2017.
It is a good opportunity for fisheries exporters. Our fisheries products such as frozen crabs, water crab, sardines, canned fish, processed lobster and frog meat are free from import tariffs, Saut said.
In the last four years, the value of Indonesian fisheries product exports has been steadily increasing. It was $1.07 billion in 2011, $1.15 billion in 2012, $1.33 billion in 2013 and $1.84 billion in 2014.
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