Facility review set for January could see a MoU signed between the two countries
The Indonesian government is taking steps to gain direct export access for fresh Indonesian durian to China, according to reporting by local news site Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI).
Following a cross-sector meeting on 18 December, 2024, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for food, Zulkifli Hasan said a Chinese inspection team was scheduled to review Indonesian facilities in January.
“Yesterday it was delayed due to seasonal changes, but in January a team from China will come to review,” he said
Hasan said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation could be signed after the process is complete.
“If everything goes smoothly, we can export directly to China,” he said.
This step is part of the government’s efforts to increase the competitiveness of local food products in the international market, according to RRI.
“This is a great opportunity to strengthen our durian position, not only in China but also in the world market,” Hasan explained.
Currently Indonesia can only export processed durian directly to China, with some fresh fruit being re-exported via Thailand.
“We can only export it in the form of paste or peeled flesh for ice cream,” said Hasan. “From Central Sulawesi, our (fresh) durian enters Thailand first, then is exported to China, this reduces our profit margin.”
With China’s demand for fresh durian increasing further, the potential deal is good news for Indonesian growers especially in Central Sulawesi, one of the country’s main growing regions.
