Jakarta,     - Indonesia sets its 2010 fishery product exports at US$ 2.9 million, a marine and fisheries affairs official said.

     "It is a US$0.1 million increase from last year's US$2.8 million," Overseas Marketing Director of the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Affairs Saut P Hutagalung said here on Sunday.

     As to last year's exports, Hutagalung said the value and volume were still being calculated by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS).

     Indonesia's exports of fisheries products reached US$2.6 million in 2008. 

     Hutagalung added, his office still applies previous export marketing policy which included maintaining Indonesia's traditional export markets in the United States, Japan and the European Union.

     In addition, he said, his office would also expand Indonesia's export markets to potential areas including the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and countries in Eastern Europe.

     Promotion and contacts between the ministry and related departments on potential export destinations had been since last year.

     The Marine and Fisheries Affairs Ministry, he added, had also used developing agencies in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Nigeria and Turkey to increase intra-trade, while Memorandums of Understanding on harmonized product quality and exports were still in the making.

-Antara, 03 January 2010-