The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) revealed that from January to October 2021 the export value of fishery products reached US$ 4.56 billion, up 6.6% compared to the same period in 2020. KKP is committed to strengthening economic resilience for quality and equitable growth, develop the region to reduce inequality, as well as improve quality and competitive human resources. Director General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP) Artati Widiarti revealed, during 2021, strengthening economic resilience can be seen from the increase in exports of marine and fishery commodities. "In that period, the import value of fishery products reached US$ 408 million, so that the trade balance experienced a surplus of US$ 4.15 billion or an increase of 5.8% compared to the same period in 2020," said Artati in a year-end reflection event at the Mina Building. Maritime IV, Jakarta, Wednesday (8/12/2021).

Artati added that this figure was derived from the main export commodities, namely shrimp (40%), tuna-skippers (13%), crabs (11%), squid-octopus (10%), and seaweed (6 %). The main export destination countries are the United States (45%), China (15%), Japan (11%), ASEAN (9%), and the European Union (6%). "We estimate that the export value of fishery products in 2021 will be US$ 5.45 billion," she continued. Then in terms of regional development to reduce disparities, Artati ensures that the Directorate General of PDSPKP implements the Competitiveness Cluster (KDS) program or the downstream shrimp industry. This program includes facilitation of access to financing through KUR, business partnerships between cooperative ponds and supply chain providers, maintaining reliable and efficient postharvest quality and distribution, facilitation of Government assistance in the form of postharvest facilities, quality development in handling the results of the cold chain system facilitation. The results of the KDS have been able to boost the business production of the Paloh Jaya Fishermen's Cooperative, West Kalimantan from 12 tons/year to 132 tons/year within 2 years. "We are also pushing to increase exports and expand the domestic market, business partnerships between cooperative ponds and UPI as off-takers and facilitation of business matching to export education," she explained.

Another program carried out to reduce inequality is the support of the Directorate General of PDSPKP in the activities of National Economic Recovery (PEN). The assistance provided was in the form of providing frozen warehouse/fish storage facilities and infrastructure. Artati said that the cooperatives/groups that received assistance on average got 30% - 40% efficiency in operating costs for storing fishery products after receiving assistance with portable frozen storage facilities. In fact, the selling price of the product is affordable, the quality is more maintained, and the turnover increases. In addition to these activities, the Directorate General of PDSPKP also encourages the development of the Biak and Mimika Integrated Marine and Fisheries Centers (SKPT). As a result, there was an increase in production volume in 2016 – 2020 by 47.8% in SKPT Biak and 42.72% in SKPT Mimika. Another positive impact is the involvement of Papuan Orang Asli (OAP) in business activities in the two SKPTs. In fact, these two SKPTs have also exported. Then from the marketing side, Artati emphasized that his staff was also strengthening the Indonesian Seafood brand. Of these activities, Artati admitted that he was ready to succeed in the KKP breakthrough related to the downstreaming of capture fisheries and aquaculture in a collaborative, integrative, participatory manner and promote the ease of doing business towards a rebound MPA.

Sources: https://www.beritasatu.com/ekonomi/864381/kkp-ekspor-produk-perikanan-naik-66-di-2021