Deputy Minister of Trade, Jerry Sambuaga, together with the Governor of North Sumatra (North Sumatra) Edy Rahmayadi released exports of swallow's nest and cassava-based processed products, Saturday (7/11), at the MMTC Complex, Jalan Willem Iskandar Deli Serdang. This is also proof that North Sumatra business actors remain productive during the Covid-19 pandemic. The total goods exported are approximately 21 tons or Rp. 26 billion. It consists of 1 tonne of swallow's nest worth IDR 25 billion which was exported by PT Originalnest and 20 tons of processed cassava product worth IDR1 billion which was exported by PT Alpha Gemilang Sejahtera (AGS).
Deputy Minister Jerry Sambuaga hopes that the number of exports will continue to increase. Encourage business actors to export processed goods. Because the product will get added value if it is processed into goods that are ready for consumption. For example, swallow's nest products (SBW) will get added value if processed into ready-to-eat and consumption goods. "Swallow's nest products will be better if they are ready to eat, so they can be consumed quickly. In the future, how can this be a product that is ready for consumption and will add extraordinary added value, "said the Deputy Minister. The Vice Minister said, Indonesia's export value was higher than imports. As of November 7, 2020, the total value of Indonesia's exports reached US $ 13.51 billion. He said that North Sumatra is one of the major export product contributor regions. For this reason, the Deputy Minister hopes that the regional government will continue to optimize its regional potential to become an export commodity. Swallow's nest is an example of a native Indonesian commodity that has tremendous potential. "The product of the bird's nest is from us. We want to cultivate them again to increase exports, "said the Deputy Minister.
For information, based on the Certificate of Origin (SKA) issued by the North Sumatra Provincial Industry and Trade Office for the period January - October 2020, the two companies releasing their products for export on this occasion have an increasing value. The export value of PT Originalnest's swallow's nest exporter reached US $ 39.5 million. An increase of 10% from the same period last year of US $ 35.4 million. Meanwhile, the export value of cassava or sweet potato-based products exported by PT Alpha Gemilang Sejahtera was recorded at US $ 235 thousand. Up 21% from the same period the previous year amounting to US $ 186 thousand. Therefore, the Governor of North Sumatra, Edy Rahmayadi, appreciated business actors who were still productive and continued to export even during the pandemic. "I appreciate this, business actors can increase their exports even in this pandemic condition," said the Governor.
The governor said that he once bought a swallow's nest, but he admitted that he did not understand how to process it. To that end, the Governor also encourages business actors to produce products that are ready for consumption, so that product demand continues to increase. "I talked to the Deputy Deputy Minister earlier, let's sell them ready-to-eat or ready-to-eat ones," said Edy Rahmayadi. In addition, Edy invited all parties to jointly develop North Sumatra, especially in the economic sector. According to him, North Sumatra's huge potential must be optimized. "Let's get up, raise ourselves, what can we do, North Sumatra is so rich," he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of PT Alpha Gemilang Sejahtera (AGS) Ujiana Sianturi said that the cassava-based products his company exported this time amounted to 20 tons or worth IDR1 billion. The cassava-based products in the form of cassava chips and opaque are exported to South Korea. Despite the pandemic, the demand for cassava products continues to increase. "Released during the Covid-19 period, it didn't go down, it actually went up. Maybe because people want to eat snacks. In South Korea, cassava is the snack of choice, the trend continues to rise, "said Ujiana. The same thing was conveyed by the owner of PT Originalnest Rusiana, according to him, the demand for swallow nest increased during the pandemic. Overall, exports increased by 15–20%. Rusiana predicts that her company can export 32 tons by the end of the year. "This time we export to China, Europe, America, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore," said Rusiana. (HS / Frenki)
