RRI.CO.ID, Gresik – Indonesia's Ministry of Transmigration has shipped 16 tons of blue swimming crab from transmigration areas to the United States, with the export valued at approximately Rp14 billion to Rp16 billion, as part of efforts to expand global market access for regional flagship commodities. Vice Minister of Transmigration, Viva Yoga Mauladi, said the exported blue swimming crab was sourced from transmigration areas in West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, North Maluku, West Papua, as well as Lamongan and Gresik regencies in East Java.

"I am pleased to see that the blue swimming crab potential in transmigration areas has been managed successfully, allowing this commodity to be exported to the United States," Viva Yoga said during the export ceremony at the Gresik Industrial Estate (KIG), Gresik Regency, East Java, on Monday, June 29, 2026.

For the export program, the ministry partnered with fisheries company Aruna as the off-taker, purchasing products from local communities and marketing them to international buyers. Viva Yoga said global demand for blue swimming crab continues to grow, requiring additional supplies to meet export shipments conducted twice each month.

"We would like to express our appreciation to Aruna as the off-taker. Its presence has helped connect transmigrant entrepreneurs with the global market," he said.

According to him, the partnership is expected to improve the income and welfare of people living in transmigration areas by developing each region's flagship commodities based on local potential.

He explained that each transmigration area has its own development focus, including oil palm plantations in Jambi, food crops in South Sumatra, and durian, coffee, and cocoa cultivation in Central Sulawesi.

Viva Yoga added that industrialization and downstream processing in transmigration areas have strong potential to increase the added value of local commodities. If blue swimming crab production continues to grow, he said, processing facilities could also be established in transmigration areas.

Earlier, the Ministry of Transmigration also facilitated the export of 459 tons of durian from transmigration areas in Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi, to China, with a total value of Rp42.5 billion. Meanwhile, Gresik Regent Fandi Akhmad Yani welcomed the export initiative, describing the shipment of two containers of blue swimming crab to the United States as an encouraging milestone amid global economic uncertainty.

"Today we are sending off two containers, and hopefully the next shipment will consist of five containers," Fandi said.