JAPAN PLANS TO LIBERALIZE SHRIMP IMPORTS FROM INDONESIA

Jakarta, June 12 (ANTARA) - Japan plans to liberalize its shrimp imports from Indonesia starting July 2008, an official said.

"The expected drop in duty on shrimp imports to nil percent from one percent is expected to take effect as of July 2008. We hope Indonesian shrimp exporters will benefit from the good chance to increase their exports," Director of Foreign Marketing at the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Saut Hutagalung said on Thursday.

A key to increasing the export of aquatic products actually lies in their quality that met food security standards and market demand, he said.

Good quality would improve consumer confidence and product image so that the market for Indonesian aquatic products would become increasingly wider, he said.

"The good image has enabled us to improve our access to the export market through negotiations on reduction of bilateral trade barriers," he said.

He said the government was also cooperating with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in improving the competitive edge of Indonesia's aquatic products and increasing their access to the export market.

The government has set the target of aquatic exports for 2008 at US$2.6 billion with shrimp and tuna expected to be the main foreign exchange earners.

Last year, Indonesia exported US$2.3 billion worth of aquatic products, nearly 50 percent of which came from shrimp exports and 15 percent from tuna exports.