Indonesian lawmakers urge stronger industrial downstreaming

Indonesian parliamentary commissions are advocating for stronger industrial downstreaming across the agricultural and fisheries sectors to boost local economies and export potential.

Siti Mukaromah of Commission VII emphasized the need to connect farmers directly with processing industries. During a visit to the PT Berkah Emas Sumber Terang (BEST) CPO processing plant in Semarang, she noted that establishing better information networks and market access is essential to ensure commodities like palm oil and coffee are fully absorbed by the industry rather than wasted.

In the fisheries sector, Siti Hediati Soeharto, Chair of Commission IV, is pushing for the development of value-added products, such as ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat seafood. Following a visit to the Marine and Fisheries Quality Control Center in Bali, she highlighted the importance of leveraging local culinary identities for export markets while ensuring that food safety certifications and quality control systems do not become an undue burden on small and medium enterprises (SMEs).