Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) – The Indonesia Quarantine Agency (Barantin), in partnership with the Banten Provincial Government, facilitated the export of three leading tropical commodities—mangosteen, crab, and swiftlets—worth more than Rp40.8 billion (US$2.2 million) to the Chinese market.Head of the Indonesia Quarantine Agency Abdul Kadir Karding said the exports were carried out through the “Merdeka Ekspor” program, which is intended to boost the competitiveness of local products and help them penetrate global markets by meeting international quality standards.“This is the export of three commodities, specifically to China: mangosteen, crab, and swiftlets,” Karding said on Friday.He explained that the “Merdeka Ekspor” activity, initiated to mark Indonesia’s 81st Independence Anniversary, features three Indonesian tropical commodities that are in high demand in international markets.The program is also part of Barantin’s efforts to encourage exporters to move beyond raw materials and strengthen downstream processing, Karding noted.On the occasion, he also introduced a service model called the Export Clinic to support increased exports.The initiative is intended to assist micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers who often face obstacles in meeting international standards.“This assistance is intended to help business actors prepare to meet the quality standards and export protocols agreed upon by the destination country,” Karding explained.He acknowledged that MSMEs currently face several key challenges, including limited access to quality management standards and financing, as well as difficulties in maintaining consistent product quality in the field.“The main problem for MSMEs is meeting standards because their management capacity is also limited, especially when it comes to exports,” he continued.Meanwhile, Banten Governor Andra Soni noted that export growth in the province had declined amid ongoing global pressures.Nevertheless, Banten remains one of the major production centers for export products and a national center for downstream processing.“Furthermore, government policy has designated Banten Province as one of the downstream processing centers,” he added.According to him, Banten’s strategic geographic location, supported by easy access to airports, vast maritime areas, and a productive agricultural sector, provides significant potential for marketing local products abroad.To address knowledge gaps among MSMEs, his office has instructed all agency heads to follow up on development programs, including integrating the Export Clinic service with the Banten Provincial Quarantine Office at the airport.He said the cross-sectoral collaboration reflects Barantin and the Banten Provincial Government’s commitment to making quarantine oversight more than a border biosecurity measure by supporting local businesses in meeting quality, traceability, and international trade standards.