The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is targeting the Republic of Sudan as a hub for fishery product exports to Africa, as an effort to expand the market and improve economic cooperation through the delivery of high-quality fishery products to African countries. The Head of the Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Control and Supervision Agency (Badan Mutu) of the KKP, Ishartini, said that her party is exploring cooperation in quality assurance and fishery product exports with the Sudanese Government. "Sudan has a history of close bilateral relations with Indonesia, and no less importantly, Sudan is opening up market opportunities for Indonesian inland fisheries such as catfish, tilapia, gourami and so on," said Ishartini in a statement in Jakarta, Tuesday March 18th, 2025. Ishartini admitted that her party had met with the Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to Indonesia, Yassir Mohamed Ali in Jakarta.
In addition to having market potential for freshwater fishery products, Sudan is also interested in fish medicine and feed. "Of course, this is an opportunity that we must immediately analyze to diversify exports from the marine and fisheries sector," added Ishartini. Sudan's geographical position is very strategic as a hub for neighboring countries that do not have sea areas or are known as land-lock countries. The total population of Sudan and the surrounding land-lock countries is more than 200 million people and makes Sudan a gateway for logistics including fishery products. In addition to cooperation in opening the Indonesian fishery export market to Sudan, the meeting also discussed opportunities for cooperation in strengthening upstream-downstream quality assurance capacity. Sudan expressed its desire to cooperate in training Quality Inspectors and management/operationalization of upstream-downstream fisheries inspection systems. Previously, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono reminded that through cooperation in the marine and fisheries sector, it is expected to bring benefits and progress to both parties. Primarily, the Indonesian marine and fisheries sector has great potential for development, both through product diversification and expanding market access to various parts of the world.
