It has time for Bali to establish a special port specifically for export therefore various handicraft of Bali non-oil and gas export commodity able to compete in export market. “The absence of special port for export, has make Bali non-oil and gas export commodities lose in competition with the same products from Vietnam, Thailand, China and other competitor countries in international market,” said Made Sudana, S.E., a Balinese exporter.

Varied of handicraft entering foreign market all this time shipped through Tanjung Perak Port of Surabaya in East Java, then goes through Singapore for finally send to its final destination country, this process indeed takes long time to finish. Furthermore, it was revealed that the freight charge from Bali to Tanjung Perak Surabaya is far more expensive than from Surabaya to Singapore. This is totally influencing the selling prices of our export commodities from Bali to its destination country.

Bali dependence toward Tanjung Perak Port of Surabaya would increase the price for Bali export commodities. Moreover with the competition of the same commodities from Vietnam, Thailand and other competitors in global market has give high pressure for the handicraftsmen and small business entrepreneurs in producing their export commodities.

“There is continuous pricing pressure from the collector or importer,” Sudana said. It is said that overseas business partners who bought varied of export handicraft commodities usually give the capital first before the goods produce so there is already price estimation from them. Sudana who also sold handicraft products for export market also said that various Bali handicrafts freight overseas such as statues, carvings, furniture, musical instrument and bamboo handicraft. Textile and textile products such as batik songket including garment, are export product that absorbing lot of men power in cities or villages in Bali.

Bali non-oil and gas export realization is in accordance with the note from Bali Industrial and Trading Affair Agency worth US$ 227 million during January-May 2010. Foreign exchange gained from this market increase 21 percent when it is compared with that the same period in 2009, in which resulted in US$ 187 million only.

News by NusaBali