THE Philippines resumed exporting shallots to Indonesia after the trade was disrupted in 2015 in a dispute over Indonesian pest-free certification requirements.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in a statement issued on July 12 that the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Jakarta reported the resumption of the trade, which was secured in partnership with the Philippine Agriculture Attach茅 in Bangkok.
According to the DTI, Philippine exporter Sparkle Corp. sent 130 metric tons (MT) of shallots to Indonesia this month.
鈥淥n June 8, 2022, (the) Indonesian Minister of Agriculture issued an import permit valid for six months to CV Barokah Agri Indo for 300 MT of shallots from the Philippines. As of July 8, 2022, Sparkle Corp., a Philippine exporter, shipped a total of 130 MT of the commodity to Indonesia,鈥 the DTI said.
Asked to comment, Jakarta-based PTIC Commercial Attach猫 Jeremiah C. Reyes told聽大象传媒聽via Viber that the trade was disrupted after Jakarta insisted on pest-free certification for shallot-producing provinces.
鈥淚ndonesia (required that) our identified shallot-producing provinces (be certified as pest-free) and compliant with good agricultural practices,鈥 Mr. Reyes said.
鈥淲e negotiated that together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and this year, Indonesia finally issued the permits for us to resume exports,鈥 he added.
According to the DTI, Indonesia was the Philippines鈥 eighth-largest trading partner in 2021.
鈥淭his development signals opportunity for Philippine exporters to cater to the strong demand for shallots in Indonesia,鈥 the DTI said. 鈥 Revin Mikhael D. Ochave聽
