VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has urged stakeholders to increase foreign exchange from the exports of shrimp, as it is a mainstay commodity.

"I appeal to all stakeholders to cooperate in advancing the economy, from both marine and aquaculture fisheries, especially shrimp, as this commodity provides a dominant share in the structure of national fishery product exports," Minister Pudjiastuti noted in a press statement received by Antara in Jakarta, Tuesday.

Earlier, Slamet Soebjakto, the director general of Aquaculture at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, stated that shrimp is one of the most ready fisheries commodities in the face of industry 4.0.

"In terms of profit investment, shrimp cultivation and business are very well-prepared, in terms of technology, facilities and equipment, as well as trade and marketing systems," Soebjakto noted.

Soebjakto explained that good and sustainable practices were applied in several shrimp aquacultures. In addition, shrimp farms have applied a biosecurity system to protect the commodity from diseases.

According to Soebjakto, the application of sustainable aquaculture is part of the transformation towards industry 4.0. In addition to shrimp, other aquaculture export commodities, such as white snapper, grouper, and seaweed, are among the most ready fisheries commodities for transformation towards the industry 4.0.

The government is urged to overcome a variety of domestic obstacles that hamper the improvement of competitiveness and enhancement of export volume.

"If the government only pursues the target of increasing export value in the near future, the way is not by signing several free trade agreements but by resolving issues that hinder the increase of Indonesia`s competitiveness," Executive Director of Indonesia for Global Justice Rachmi Hertanti noted.

According to Hertanti, the government`s perspective is also expected to expand in seeing trade cooperation that is not merely limited to exports and imports.

Rachmi asserted that competitiveness should be improved with various forms of economic cooperation that also benefits people.

According to a report from Reuters released by the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 2018, Indonesia`s Global Competitiveness Index 4.0 was ranked 45th out of the 140 countries.

The ranking is below Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, which are at the second, 25th, and 38th position respectively. (ANTARA)