South Sumatra Quarantine Agency urges MSMEs to utilise export clinic

Micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) operators are welcome to use the export clinic to learn how to export their products so they are not rejected in destination countries.

Palembang (ANTARA) - The South Sumatra Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Agency (BKHIT) is encouraging MSMEs in 17 districts and cities to make use of its export clinic.

“MSME operators are welcome to use the export clinic to learn how to export their products so they are not rejected in destination countries,” said Head of BKHIT South Sumatra Sri Endah Ekandari in Palembang on Friday.

According to her, business owners and MSME operators who want to learn about export procedures can visit the Export Clinic at the BKHIT South Sumatra office on Jalan Kolonel H Barlian, kilometre six, Palembang.

Through the clinic, in addition to providing knowledge about the steps to understand export regulations, the agency also seeks to provide explanations regarding export financing and business preparation for entering international markets.

“BKHIT South Sumatra officers will also provide explanations regarding export procedures and how to prepare products or goods with proper packaging to meet the quarantine requirements of destination countries,” she said.

She explained that to penetrate the global market, animal, fish and plant commodities to be exported or moved between countries must undergo quarantine processes and meet export procedures set by the government and destination countries.

BKHIT South Sumatra officers are ready to help ensure that commodities to be exported are healthy and do not carry pests or diseases that could endanger human health, as well as agricultural, livestock and plantation development in destination countries.

To ensure that commodities to be exported are guaranteed healthy or free from animal and fish pests and plant pests, as well as traceability of export products, the agency is ready to assist with quarantine supervision and assistance.

Through these efforts, it is hoped that more commodities from districts and cities in the province can be marketed abroad.

Commodities from several South Sumatra regions that have been facilitated for export in recent years include oil palm seeds to Peru and chicken eggs to Singapore.

Also coffee and crude coconut oil (CNO) to Malaysia, pineapple fibre to Spain, and frozen black tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon) to Japan.