President Joko Widodo has instructed his officials to focus on the downstreaming of seaweed in regions such as Bali, Southeast Sulawesi, Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Indonesia has a vast potential for seaweed cultivation, with approximately 12 million hectares available. However, currently only 0.8% of this potential is being utilized, producing around 9 million tons in 2021. The government aims to strengthen the marine sector by investing in seaweed downstreaming, collaborating with local governments to establish cultivation clusters. Seaweed can be utilized for various purposes, including fertilizers, animal feed, food products, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and more.

Seaweed is an important export commodity in Indonesia's maritime and fisheries sector. The country's seaweed production reached 5.01 million tons in 2020, with a production value of IDR 22.8 trillion. Indonesia is recognized as one of the world's largest exporters of seaweed. Efforts to downstream seaweed have already yielded value-added products, with Buleleng Regency producing around 200 tons per month, which have found export markets in India, the People's Republic of China, and South Korea. Expanding the downstreaming of seaweed products presents significant opportunities for Indonesia to boost exports and enhance the competitiveness of its marine sector.

Source:
https://www.pajak.com/ekonomi/jokowi-instruksikan-hilirisasi-rumput-laut/amp/