The South Sulawesi (Sulsel) Provincial Government claims the export value has increased to reach US$ 1.14 billion or Rp. 16.2 trillion for the January-October 2021 period. Based on data from the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) of South Sulawesi, the economic growth of South Sulawesi Province in the third quarter of this year increased by 3.24 percent. However, when compared to 2020, South Sulawesi's exports only increased by 14.45 percent. The trade balance for January-October 2021 was a surplus of US$ 558.9 million or Rp. 7.93 trillion, an increase from last year's surplus of US$ 399.19 million or Rp. 5.66 trillion.
A total of 133 commodities were exported from South Sulawesi. A total of 10 main commodities exported include nickel, seaweed, carrageenan, fresh shrimp, cocoa liquor, peeled cashews, cocoa beans, fish eggs, clinker, and processed fish. The commodities were sent to several countries, such as Japan, China, the United States, Malaysia, Korea, Russia, the Netherlands, Germany, India, and the Philippines. "Commodities and products that contributed to exports for the January-October 2021 period, namely from the mining sector 63.01 percent, the agriculture and fisheries sector contributed 19.27 percent, and the industrial sector 17.72 percent," said Head of the South Sulawesi Trade Office, Ashari F. Radjamilo, Sunday (26/12).
Ashari said that South Sulawesi's exports began to increase significantly in March 2021. The export value from March to October reached US$957.61 million or equivalent to Rp13.59 trillion. According to Ashari, his party will improve infrastructure and supporting facilities to boost exports. He wants to open direct Makassar flights to Hong Kong and Singapore to the Makassar-Shanghai sea route, China. "And build cargo consolidation facilities (Dry Port) in Sidrap Regency and Jeneponto Regency," he said.
In addition, said Ashari, the South Sulawesi Trade Office is also working with the Indonesian Export Training and Education Center of the Ministry of Trade to hold an Export Coaching Program for 30 SMEs with export orientation in South Sulawesi. "Extensification of export commodities, extensification of export destination countries, and optimization of exports to trading partner countries that establish FTA trade cooperation with the Government is also carried out," he said.
Separately, the Acting (Plt) Governor of South Sulawesi, Andi Sudirman Sulaiman said this increase in exports could boost the people's economy. "This is one of the efforts to recover the economy, which also has an impact on the income of our people. We continue to push for an increase in exports, especially in the agricultural and fishery sectors which are the main commodities of our region," said Sudirman.
