South Lampung (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, on Saturday, released export consignments of Lampung-produced coconut derivative products, with a total value reaching Rp25.3 billion (around US$1.5 million), to Australia, the Netherlands, China, and Tanzania.
Speaking in South Lampung District, Lampung Province, Hasan stated that the exported products included coconut water, coconut milk, and desiccated coconut.
Hasan remarked that the government would continue facilitating domestic business players to export Indonesian commodities to countries that cannot produce such goods.
"As a coconut-producing country, we wield a comparative advantage of having the capacity to send coconuts to non-producing countries," he affirmed.
The minister also spoke highly of Indonesia's downstreaming policy, which has pushed the country to boost the value of its commodities.
"Through downstreaming processes, we can now process more coconuts into various derivative products besides copra, such as coconut flour, coconut milk powder, liquid coconut milk, coconut water, and nata de coco (coconut gel)," he stated.
Moreover, he affirmed that the downstreaming policy encourages people to ensure that no part of the coconut is wasted. In this context, Hasan said that coconut shells can be processed into activated carbon while coconut fiber can be used as a material for vehicle seats.
Meanwhile, Agus Susanto, a representative for the exporting company PT Sari Segar Husada, remarked that his side would make the send-off activity a routine.
"Today, we dispatched 1,500 metric tons of export consignments for the August period. We will make this activity a routine," he remarked.
Susanto also emphasized that his side is committed to maintaining the quality of its products to maintain the trust garnered from importing countries.
"We have received demands from other countries as well, such as France, the United States, and the Philippines. Coconut drinks, desiccated coconuts, and coconut milk have been the most demanded products," he remarked.
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Translator: Ruth Intan, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
