Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono echoed the government's readiness to bolster the productivity of seaweed cultivation as one of Indonesia's most featured fishery export products through downstreaming.
"It has a big market potential. Hence, we will continue to bolster its production. One way is by empowering regions that have great potential. This Mamolo seaweed cultivation village is one example," Trenggono noted in a written statement received in Jakarta, Friday.
Based on data provided by ITC Trademap 2023, the total value of the world seaweed market in 2021 hit US$2.8 billion. Meanwhile, Indonesia accounts for US$355 million in the world market, or equal to 12.32 percent of the world seaweed market value, an increase of 23 percent compared to 2020.
To encourage downstreaming, he affirmed that the ministry has designated Mamolo Village, South Nunukan, as a Fishery Cultivation Village that was the ministry's prioritized program. The village is located in the Indonesia-Malaysia border region.
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"Mamolo Village's seaweed production alone has already reached 36 thousand tons a year, with Rp720 billion of income value. The number is expected to rise even further after the downstream effort is carried out," he noted.
The minister further said that the downstream effort would help to develop products by turning them from mere raw materials into more valuable ones that in turn would also employ the local community.
Trenggono also expressed hope that Mamolo Village would be a pilot project for the upstream-downstream industry, ranging from nursery to dry harvest and to the industrial realm. Related news: Blue economy must be long-term focus: Fisheries Minister
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