Indonesia's fish exports to hit $1.74 billion

Indonesia's fish exports to hit $1.74 billion

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia expects to receive foreign exchange
earnings of about US$1.74 billion from fish exports this year, an
increase of about eight percent from the previous year, Minister
of Maritime and Fisheries Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said on
Wednesday.

The minister said that in volume, the country's fish exports
rose by about 9 percent to 0.70 million tons.

The government estimates that this year's products from
fisheries would increase by about 3 percent to 5.33 million tons
from 5.13 million tons in 1999.

Sarwono said that about 75 percent of fisheries production is
from fishing operations and the remaining 25 percent from fish
farming.

The ministry has this year revoked a total of 64 permits for
fishing-related businesses and another 77 permits for fishing
operations.

According to the ministry spokesman Zukafril, those licenses
were pulled out due to various violations such as illegal fishing
to transshipment, which is dropping the catch at another
country's port.

New investments in the fishery sector from January to
September this year are estimated to reach Rp 1.46 trillion,
mostly in fishing operations, fish farming and processing.

Sarwono also asserted that his ministry was preparing a new
investment scheme to lure foreign investors, especially those
from China, Japan, India and Europe.

"European countries are interested in food processing and
providing technology, while Japan is specifically interested in
shrimp and tuna processing. China, however, seems to 'want it
all'," he said.

The ministry was allotted a Rp 490 billion budget for 2001,
most of which will be for the development of the marine network.
(edt)