Indonesian Economy

Indonesia went through considerable transformations since the 1980s in order to encourage economic growth. Domestic and foreign private investment financed most of the growth. Indonesia’s oil sector and mining activity was taken over by investors from the United States of America, along with others: UK, the Netherlands, South Korea, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan. Private financing was unavoidable and it posed difficulties during this economic crisis.

The main activity in Indonesia is agriculture: animal raising, forestry and fishing. It creates jobs and output. In 2001, agriculture accounted for 17 percent of the country’s GDP. Almost 80 million acres are cultivated, most of this land being in Java. Farmers grow rice, fruit, vegetables, tobacco, palm oil, coffee and tea, rubber, hard fiver, cinchona, cocoa and sugar.

Over the last thirty years, Indonesia has been exploiting its rich mineral resources: nickel, coal, bauxite, gold, silver and tin. Mineral and petroleum rights are owned by the state. The manufacturing sector began to develop in the 80s: fertilizers, cement, iron, paper products, wood, leather, textile, food, tobacco, rubber products, transport and machinery.

In 2004, Indonesia had a rapid economic growth of about 5.1% and the GDP per capita had the levels it had before the crisis. Bureaucratic restrictions, corruption and the low foreign investment levels are steps back in Indonesia’s growth. The government plays an important role in the country’s market-based economy, owning over one hundred and sixty four enterprises. It also manages the prices for some of the basic goods like rice, electricity and fuel.

Indonesia is the fifteenth largest oil producing country in the world, covering 2.4% of the entire production on the globe. It is the only Asian member of the OPEC - Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Mineral and oil rights are owned by the state. During the 1997 crisis, the state overtook a big part of the private sector, acquiring non-performing bank loans. The rough economic crisis extended to the political domain, as it caused President Suharto to fall. The national debt grew and poverty was more spread than ever.

On December 26, Indonesia was hit by a tsunami that produced damages of about $4.5 billion, as stated by the ADB and World Bank. Land was no longer suited for agriculture and the ecosystems were damaged. The gas and oil sectors have not been affected, so they were able to bring ½ of Aceh’s GDP.
By: Vladimir Gonzalez

The Shrimp Chips, the popular icon from Sidoarjo

International people seldom know about chips, especially Europe and USA. Although chips are so popular between Asian people, especially Indonesia, and Malaysia, but people seldom know how to make it and the story began. Chips can be made with variation of taste, but the most popular is fish taste and shrimp taste.
Sidoarjo regency East Java is so rich with shrimp and fish products, tried to process the fish and the shrimp to be delicious chips, although the processing seems still traditional.
Once upon time, there is District called Jabon, almost all the people process chips to be daily work and support their life. The pioneer is Mr. H. Darrim, Mutini, Suryani have been starting the products since 1976. Because of their passion, their business becomes improvement significant until today. A lot of people followed their business so that assemble 52 chips entrepreneurs and chips maker now. The improvement and willingness of people and chips entrepreneurs, make Jabon District become Chips Center Village. Because of the scrimp chips popularity at Sidoarjo, finally become icon of the town.
They always make varieties taste and afford to make export to few countries.
The traditional process of chips is not difficult, but need diligent and passion to make it. We will give you, few steps how to make it and the ingredient you should have,
1. Prepare fresh fish and clean them. Pounding into soft and be ready to be mixture with others ingredients.
2. Prepare flour and con starch and mixture with pounding fish, salt and enough water and ready to be pellets.
3. Make the shape and slice thin. Shape again and dry on the sun. The chips are ready to be packed after drying.
Few entrepreneurs try to create chips machine in order to be process quickly, but not all chips maker can afford to buy it.
You can find and buy varieties of chips at store, Mal, traditional market, even you find at Air port Juanda Surabaya or Sukarno Hatta Air Port Jakarta.
By: Erny Setyawati

Seafood export rise despite EU Ban

Pakistan had been a good seafood exporter in Europe; Middle East .Pakistan has been generating many revenues from its seafood exports. Pakistan major revenues of seafood conveys from European Union market. But in the past European Union had imposed ban on Pakistani seafood exports. Ban has imposed due to net having proper quality processing and boats conditions. European Union members delegation visit Pakistan to see the harbour, boats and processing quality and then orders are placed.  Out of 28 processing units 11 have been exporting to European Union which is all banned by EU. Several steps have been taken to improve the quality of seafood exports. Due to which seafood exports has been increased in this august from precious year.

Pakistan, s seafood exports increased 25% in 2008-09 as compared to 2006-07. This increase has been due to improvement steps. In this august seafood exports were 5327 tones.

Scope

As Pakistan face bane on its seafood export, yet Pakistan has market in other countries like china, UAE, Thailand, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Pakistani authorities should take further steps to improve processing quality, boats and harbour. Conditions exporter must follow strike quality tests before exporting to any country. Pakistan should focus its seafood export to European Union member’s countries because this is a huge market. Pakistan must win the confidence of European Union delegation. Other countries like china are also demanded export registration number for European Union market, sources said that had the European Union imposed the bane, exports could have crossed dollar 300 million as kidney shrimp did not get the good price in other markets compare to the European Union.

HOW TO IMPROVE SEAFOOD EXPORTS

• Both the packaging material and coolant usually dry and wet ice need to precise and for keeping good at the right temperature for the right length of time.
• Government should impose less tax on the export products so Pakistan can offer better goods at fewer prices in European Union.
• By controlling pollution in our waters we can improve quality and quantity of our seafood.
• Joint ventures should be introduced which makes fishing viable by this we can increase our capital. This will help as in making better our fishing culture and expertise.
• Our export team of quality controller should strictly monitor and check our products at every stage as from sourcing till delivery to insure our client get only quality product.
• we should also introduce steam dried fish, meal, crude fish oil, shark liver oil etc

By: Asim Mehboob