As a maritime country, Indonesia has a myriad of marine and fisheries potentials. Not only fish for consumption, but also pearls as decoration as well as beautify themselves. The Director General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP), Artati Widiarti, said that the Indonesian South Sea Pearl (ISSP) has a number of advantages. “One of them is a larger size between 9-17 mm with a color range from white, silver to gold, so it is very popular in foreign markets. Pearl cultivation centers are spread across the provinces of Bali, NTB, NTT, North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Maluku, North Maluku and Papua,” said Artati Widiarti.
As an illustration, Indonesia’s pearl exports for the 2017-2021 period fluctuated, from US$ 51.4 million in 2017, decreasing to US$ 44.4 million in 2021 (Central Bureau of Statistics 2022, processed by the Directorate General of PDSPKP). ISSPs are generally traded in the form of loose and jewelry through auctions in both domestic and international markets, mainly in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.
The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, reminded that marine health is the key to business in the marine and fisheries sector, which can run in the long term. According to him, the sea will continue to produce optimally if the environment is also in a healthy condition, and in the end it will bring the greatest social and economic benefits to everyone who depends on it.
April 15, 2022, detikFinance
(https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-6034291/mengintip-peluang-ekspor-mutiara-ri-cuannya-bikin-ngiler)