Indonesia will export fresh bananas to Japan for the first time under an economic partnership agreement (IJEPA) between the two countries, according to the media reports.
Indonesian ambassador to Japan, Yusron, said the announcement was a significant win for the Indonesian growers and exporters, with the terms of the deal allowing 1,000 tonnes of the fruit to be shipped per year tariff-free.
“The entrance of Indonesian bananas into the Japanese market for the first time is a recognition of the high quality of our banana products,” Yusron told Kontan.co.id.
Japan imports over 1m tonnes of bananas annually, accounting for over half of all fresh fruit imported by the Asian nation.
Indonesia’s government is encouraging it’s fresh produce industry to ramp-up export programmes, with the total value of Indonesian banana and pineapple exports are expected to reach US$15m this year, according to the Jakarta Post.
