Indonesian seafood, processed foods penetrate U.S. market

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – As of June 2020, only two Indonesian products have penetrated the United States market with a value of 898.5 million US dollars, according to the Indonesian Consul General in Houston, Nana Yuliana, in a statement received by Indonesia Window here on Wednesday.

“Of the ten main Indonesian products exported to the United States in 2020 (until June), only seafood and processed food products have entered. There is still chance for Indonesian SME exporters to enter the U.S. market, “the consul general said in an online seminar entitled Exporting Consumer Products to USA on Wednesday.

The seminar aimed to boost the export of Indonesian SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) food products to the United States by presenting Cynthia Ford, Michael Valenzuela and John Sproul from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA is the U.S. government agency that regulates import licenses for food and beverage products, pharmaceuticals, radiated electronic products, cosmetics, animal products, and tobacco.

A total of 218 seminar participants expected to enter the U.S. market, but still concerned about the FDA’s requirements, which most Indonesian SME exporters found complicated.

Through the seminar they get information about FDA authorities related to import mechanisms. The agency advised the participants to use licensed import brokers to help complete administrative requirements.

The Indonesian Consul General in Houston urged SME exporters not to hesitate to communicate with the consulate general or the IACC-SCU (Indonesian American Chamber of Commerce – Southeastern Central USA) to understand the FDA procedures.

IACC-SCU is an independent and reliable non-profit organization which actively promote and develop economic opportunities to Indonesian-American corporations, small businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals in conducting business, trade, and investment relations between Indonesia and the United States.

The online seminar was organized by the Indonesian Consulate General in Houston in collaboration with the IACC-SCU, the Export School, and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Reporting by Indonesia Window