The Labuan Bajo Customs Office has provided assistance to local MSME products from West Manggarai, such as coffee, vanilla, cashew nuts, cloves, and mangrove crabs, which are being exported to Malaysia. "Labuan Bajo Customs assists MSMEs in exporting by approving exports through the issuance of export notification documents," explained Joko Pri Sukmono Dwi Widodo, Head of the Labuan Bajo Customs Office, after the first export release event at Komodo International Airport on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Joko mentioned that two companies in Labuan Bajo, CV Labuan Bajo Fishery and PT Royal Phinisi Julian, are already exporting abroad. He encourages other businesses in this tourist city to start exporting as well. With good cooperation and synergy between agencies, Joko hopes that MSME products from West Manggarai can continue to be exported internationally. “There are already two exporters, and hopefully, more will follow, as there are still many high-quality MSME, fishery, and agricultural products from West Manggarai,” he said. Head of the Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Center of NTT Province, Drh. Ida Bagus Raka Ariana, added that the exported fishery and agricultural commodities have passed certification tests and are declared pest-free.
Bagus reminded business actors to maintain the quality of certified products from NTT Quarantine, as this is a requirement for export. “One of the conditions for our commodities to be accepted in other countries is quality, which must be pest-free,” he stated. Bagus added that his office routinely inspects export commodities for harmful parasites to ensure their safety for export. He said that the two exporters in Labuan Bajo have obtained biosecurity grade B certification and have implemented good fish quarantine practices (CKIB). “This is a requirement for exporting so that our commodities can be accepted by destination countries,” he concluded. Notably, Labuan Bajo has conducted its first export of fishery and agricultural commodities to Malaysia and Thailand. These commodities include blood clams, mangrove crabs, coffee beans (Manggarai), ground coffee, vanilla, cashew nuts, and cloves. The first export was conducted on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, through Komodo International Airport.
