Export development from upstream to downstream is one of the indicators of a country's economic growth. The Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI)/Indonesia Eximbank is committed to boosting exports by providing financing, guarantees and insurance. One of the LPEI consulting service programs is the Foreign Exchange Village assistance program. This program is an assistance to groups/clusters that have the potential to carry out sustainable production of superior commodities.
The goal is to increase the capacity of local communities and develop village superior commodities. After Gresik with its weaving, now Klungkung Regency with its salt commodity has become the 26th Foreign Exchange Village. The collaboration between the Directorate General of State Assets (DJKN) of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, the Klungkung Regency Government, and LPEI which was previously stated in the Memorandum of Understanding and became the axis of the Kusamba Klungkung Salt Foreign Exchange Village program which has a vision to bring quality local salt to be more global or penetrate the export market
"Kusamba salt has been known since the Klungkung Kingdom era so it needs to be developed as a foreign exchange earner.
The Kusamba Salt Foreign Exchange Village Program will provide various assistance from production aspects to marketing abroad. The benefits will be felt by more than 100 salt farmers in Kusamba Village and Pesanggrahan, Klungkung Regency," said LPEI Executive Director, James Rompas to reporters, Tuesday (9/11). The salt produced by farmers who are members of the Mina Segara Dana Cooperative has premium quality traditionally processed, dried on a coconut trunk which is split into two parts as a drying medium, resulting in a savory taste, white color, smooth texture and low salty taste. The assistance provided to further improve product quality is the production of Bali Sea Salt Rub, Branding Development, trade shows, business matching, and product certification. DJKN Ministry of Finance Bali Nusra as one of the initiators in the Foreign Exchange Village program is also enthusiastic about the ongoing commitment with a number of parties to advance Kusamba Village in Klungkung. His party stated that they are ready to support Kusamba Salt products to become increasingly known and of high quality.
Export Potential
On the same occasion, the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster expressed his appreciation for the Foreign Exchange Village program which is in line with its focus on salt commodities in Bali. He is optimistic that the quality potential of Kusamba Salt can be optimized through programs and collaborations between the regional and central governments. So that Kusamba Salt, which is a legacy of Klungkung's ancestors, is becoming increasingly competitive at the local, domestic and international market levels and its success can also be felt by salt farmers in the Klungkung area, Bali. The Foreign Exchange Village Program started in 2019 with the Cocoa Foreign Exchange Village Cluster in Bali. Jembrana became the first foreign exchange village to have a superior commodity in the form of fermented cocoa beans, then there was the handicraft foreign exchange village in Bantul, Yogyakarta with its unique and environmentally friendly handicraft products that have been able to export sustainably to European countries.
Likewise, from the beginning of 2021 to November 2021, the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI) / Indonesia Eximbank has launched the Foreign Exchange Village program in West and East Java, namely the Subang Coffee Foreign Exchange Village, Ijen Banyuwangi Foreign Exchange Agrotourism Village, and Gresik Weaving Foreign Exchange Village. The total beneficiaries of the program so far have reached 2,894 farmers/weavers/craftsmen and will continue to increase in the future. Through the Foreign Exchange Village Program, it is hoped that local Indonesian products can become global export commodities and have a positive impact on improving the economy, social and environment for the local community. In the future, LPEI will continue to synergize with related parties to develop villages through the Foreign Exchange Village Program.
Source: https://www.merdeka.com/uang/tambah-devisa-negara-petani-garam-bali-berpotensi-tembus-pasar-ekspor.html
