RI's herbal medicine exports only US$10m: Mari
Suherdjoko , The Jakarta Post , Semarang | Wed, 02/10/2010 3:34 PM | Business
Indonesia's jamu (herbal medicine) exports are still only US$10 million per annum, Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu said Wednesday.
Speaking at a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a jamu factory, Mari said the export value was still far below the total herbal medicine sales in the domestic market of about US$500 million annually.
“Despite the small quantity, Indonesia 's herbal medicines have been able to penetrate several countries. This means they are able to meet the standards imposed in the respective countries, namely that they are safe to consume, beneficial and of good quality,” the minister said.
Mari advised herbal medicine producers to continue making innovations, including through packaging and branding, to enable them to be competitive.
“The producers have to pay more attention to the situation of their retailers and consumers. In the herbal medicine world, the consumers have to be able to fully understand the difference between herbal medicines and others. They have to understand their specifications,” she said.
“The traders must also be frank. All have to abide by the existing laws,” she said, adding that the high rate of herbal medicine sales in the domestic markets showed how local people loved products produced by Indonesian people.
