"HOUSE OF INDONESIAN PEARLS" TO LURE PEARL LOVERS by Fardah

    Jakarta, Feb 20, 2014 (Antara) - Domestic as well as foreign pearl lovers will find a paradise in Central Lombok, Lombok Island, West  Nusa Tenggara (NTB), with the presence of new "House of Indonesian
Pearls" (RMI) offering a variety of good quality sea pearls.

        Indonesia is home to 53 percent of the pearl types in the world. The country, however, has so far used only 28.5 percent of its pearl cultivation potential in eastern Indonesian waters such as in West Nusa Tenggara, Maluku Islands, and Papua.

        Those various pearls are now available in the new pearl house, which was inaugurated by Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutarjo (RMI) on February 19, 2014.

         Being located just across the Lombok International airport in Tanaq Awu, Pujut sub-district, the new facility is expected to help promote Indonesian pearls internationally and educate the public about the country's pearls, the minister said in his opening remarks.

          In addition to pearl auctions and transactions, a number of  trainings and courses on pearl cultivation and related activities  will be organized in the pearl house.

         "RMI will also serve as a regional pearl bourse, and pearl  sorting and grading center to meet quality standard in accordance with the SNI (Indonesian National Standard) for exports.

         The pearl house is the only pearl auction house in Indonesia, Saut P Hutagalung, the Ministry's Fishery Product Processing and Marketing Director General, pointed out recently.

        The auction house is expected to attract tourists to Lombok and promote world-quality pearls produced in the province internationally, he added.

         The construction of the two-story auction house cost Rp5 billion. The one thousand meter building has been constructed on one-hectare plot of land. It also has a food court offering a variety
of Indonesian dishes.

         The world's pearl markets are currently dominated by four types of pearls, namely South Sea Pearl (SSP) produced mainly by Indonesia,
Australia, the Philippines, and Myanmar (10-12 tons/year); Fresh Water Pearl produced by China (1,500 tons/year); Akoya Pearl produced by Japan and China; and Black Pearl produced by Tahiti (8-10
tons/year).

        Pearls, particularly South Sea Pearls (SSP), have high economic value and will continue to be sought after. SSP have Pinctada maxima shells and are known for their colors and stunning glitter; in fact, there is a high demand for SSP in the international market.  Indonesia's SSP come in various colors - white, cream, silver, pink, and gold.

          Indonesia has been the world's largest producer of SSP since 2005, in term of volume. It supplies 43 percent of the world's demands.

         The main destinations of Indonesian pearl exports are Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Switzerland, India, New Zealand, and France.

         In term of the trade's value, Indonesia is ranked ninth in the world, with export value worth US$ 29.4 million, or 2.07 percent  of the world's total pearl export value at US$ 1,4 billion. Indonesia is bellow Hong Kong, China, Japan, Australia, Tahiti, the USA, Switzerland, and Britain.  
    West Nusa Tenggara's water is clear, not polluted and rich in nutrient, therefore it is fit for pearl cultivation activities.

         Pearl cultivation locations in Lombok include Sekotong, Pemenang, Senggigi, East Lombok, Sumbawa, and Bima coasts. 
    The province's pearl cultivation areas cover 19,056 hectares, producing 1.4 tons to 1.8 tons annually.

         Deputy Governor of West Nusa Tengara Muh Aminujarnya said 38 companies are carrying out pearl cultivation along Lombok and Sumbawa coastal areas in West Nusa Tenggara.

        The pearl cultivation in the province was initiated by Furuya, a former Japanese soldier fighting in World War II and Jonosewoyo Handayaningrat, an Indonesian businessmen, in 1982.

         Around 10 to 30 percent of the total production is sent to Surabaya and Jakarta, which are later exported to various countries by 38 pearl businessmen.

         "We hope that the House of Indonesian Pearls" will further promote West Nusa Tenggara as a world-class quality pearl," the deputy governor said.

         Central Lombok District Head Suhaili FT hoped that tourists will come to the pearl house as it is located very near to the airport as well as other tourism objects.

         Various events such as pearl exhibitions, auctions and festivals will be organized in the house annually, he said.

         In fact, a number of pearl festivals are organized annually in Indonesia to promote the country's potential as one of the largest suppliers of pearls in the world.

          Last year, the Third Indonesia Pearls Festival (IPF) was held in Jakarta from October 2 to 6, 2013, having a theme of "Hidden Treasure of Papua." Papua is Indonesia's eastern most island that also produces pearls of good quality.  ***2***
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