The Department of Industry and Trade (Disperindag) of Maluku Province is exploring export opportunities in Japan's fisheries market. Yahya Kotta, the Head of the Department, stated that various efforts are being made to increase the region's economy by exporting commodities such as fisheries, agriculture, and energy to several destination countries. He emphasized two key indicators for Maluku's export performance: increasing the export of products from micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (UMKM) and increasing the export value. To achieve these indicators, an acceleration strategy is planned to boost exports from Maluku Province to Japan. This includes consolidating and providing assistance to 17 exporters from Maluku Province dealing with various commodities.Efforts are underway to explore new destination countries or expand export volumes to existing destinations, such as counseling sessions planned for Japan. Export counseling will be facilitated by trade attachés in Japan after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The meeting aims to connect business stakeholders from Japan and Maluku, facilitating communication to explore potential opportunities. However, the decision to capitalize on these opportunities ultimately rests with buyers and exporters. Japan was chosen as a target destination due to Maluku's favorable export volume and value throughout 2023 and early 2024. The primary objective is to expand export markets, focusing not only on increasing export value or volume but also on diversifying the range of commodities exported. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency, Indonesia's exports to Japan in 2023 were mainly fresh tuna, totaling 608.20 tons with a value of USD 5.4 million.

Source: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/4016403/disperindag-maluku-buka-peluang-ekspor-perikanan-ke-jepang