Indonesia established FEDC to boost fruit exports to Europe

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has established Fruit Export Development Center (FEDC) to help boost fruit exports to the European Union (EU).

The establishment of FEDC was parts of the EU assistance in boosting the trade balance between Indonesia and member countries of the EU, Junni Saraswati, senior executive of the Indonesian German Business Association said here on Tuesday when speaking at a seminar on "The European Union, potential market which must be maintained."

As a grouping of 27 countries, the European Union was a very potential market for Indonesian agricultural products, she said. The Fruit Export Development Center was expected to help inform Indonesian fruit exports about the European market of agricultural products.

Based on the 2005 data, around 50 percent of the world`s fruit exports or around 74.5 million tons, went to the European Union, she said.

She reminded that the peoples of the European Union, which currently reach around 495 million, followed eco-labeling and social labeling certifications.

Having good per capita income, The European Union`s demands for fresh fruits and vegetables tended to increase, she said.