REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, LONDON -- Indonesia is exploring European seafood market by participating in Seafood Expo Global (SEG) in Brussels, Belgium, on April 26 to 28, 2016, said a press statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Brussels received by Antara here on Thursday.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxemburg, and European Union, Yuri O Thamrin, affirmed that Indonesia is ready to increase its seafood export commodities to European Union countries.
Ambassador Yuri said Indonesia will invite more investors, improve the competitiveness of fishery products, develop good handling process, and open market access to the EU through the completion of a bilateral agreement, such as the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEPA).
Meanwhile, the Director General of Strengthening for Marine and Fisheries Products Competitiveness, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, R Nilanto Perbowo, said Indonesia's fishery potential is huge.
However, the total export value of Indonesian fishery products to the EU remains low at US$ 426 thousand, or is ranked 17th of the fishery products exporters to the EU.
This amount, according to Perbowo, does not reflect the Indonesia's potentials which reach 65 million tons per year.
He said that only around 20 percent of the total potentials of Indonesian fishery have been exploited. Indonesia continues to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing to increase the number of fishery products.
At the exhibition Indonesia featured a cooking demonstration, displayed a mainstay of fishery products both fresh and canned, as well as the Indonesian fisheries method which are sustainable and environmentally friendly.
The exhibition was participated by more than 1,700 companies from 75 countries.
The Indonesian pavilion themed Indonesian Seafood Naturally Diverse: Quali-safe and Sustainable, followed by 18 fishing companies and one Indonesian Tuna Association.
The Seafood Expo Global determines the world's fish product sales, where 81 percent of visitors are active buyers of the world's fishery products.