North Sumatra Strengthens Export Markets for Key Commodities Worth Rp258.96 Billion

Medan (ANTARA) – North Sumatra Province is continuing to strengthen international markets for its leading fisheries and agricultural commodities, with exports worth more than Rp258.96 billion in total.

“On this occasion, North Sumatra’s leading commodities, worth a total of Rp258.9 billion, are being shipped to various countries,” Acting North Sumatra Provincial Secretary Timur Tumanggor said on Thursday. He was accompanying Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) head Abdul Kadir Karding at the MMTC complex on Jalan Willem Iskandar, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra.

The provincial government, he said, continued to promote sectors capable of generating added value for the economy and improving people’s welfare.

The fisheries exports included swiftlet nests worth Rp11.22 billion, weighing 625.94 kilogrammes, and mud crabs worth Rp745 million, comprising 18,400 crabs weighing 4,600 kilogrammes, destined for China.

Agricultural commodities, including coffee, areca nuts, nutmeg, flowers and other products, were worth more than Rp247 billion in total. Weighing 9,552,899 kilogrammes, they were shipped to 16 countries.

“Today’s export value is very substantial, covering swiftlet nests, fisheries products, coffee, areca nuts and other commodities. It is not just the large volume; North Sumatra is also able to compete in international markets,” Timur said.

He said the export growth was in line with North Sumatra Governor Bobby Afif Nasution’s goal of strengthening the public’s economy while improving the province’s competitiveness.

“This was also discussed at a recent meeting of regional leaders from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, given North Sumatra’s strategic position as one of the economic barometers of Sumatra,” Timur said.

He also hoped that North Sumatra’s import and export activities would continue to be supported by legal and price certainty, as well as compliance with commodity quality requirements and standards.

“This will further increase other countries’ confidence in Indonesian products, particularly those from North Sumatra,” he said.

Barantin head Abdul Kadir Karding praised the high export value of North Sumatra’s leading fisheries and agricultural commodities.

He said exports worth more than Rp258.96 billion represented a substantial figure and demonstrated the strength of North Sumatra’s leading commodities in international markets.

“Of course, the Indonesian Quarantine Agency greatly appreciates activities such as this, because they contribute to economic growth as well as people’s incomes and regional revenue,” Karding said.