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)