Noor Achlis, founder of Minaqu, a brand of PT Mina Akuatik Nusantara, explained that these profits are not simply the result of efficiency, but rather the result of the exchange rate difference between the rupiah and the US dollar, which provides significant added value for local fish farmers.
“We export various types of tropical fish, such as tetras, guppies, rainbowfish, ornamental shrimp, discus, channa, and cichlids, to the United States (US), Singapore, and parts of Europe. The US is a major market with stable demand and a favorable exchange rate,” said Achlis, as he is familiarly known.
In one shipping period, Achlis noted, his company can export up to 8,000 tetras to Miami, which is now a major distribution hub in the US. “This business can grow quickly as long as we are honest and disciplined. Foreign buyers value consistency.” “They don’t want excuses; the important thing is that the fish arrive alive and healthy,” said Achlis, who founded Minaqu in 2017.
To maintain this reputation, Achlis explained, his company implements strict quality standards and a 24-hour Dead on Arrival guarantee. Fish are selected three days before shipment, packed with oxygen and kept at a stable temperature using ice cubes.
“If a fish arrives dead, we replace it in the next shipment. This system is not just a trade guarantee, but a manifestation of professionalism rarely found in the Indonesian ornamental fish sector,” Achlis explained to TROBOS Aqua (20/10).
Before becoming an independent exporter, Achlis saw a huge opportunity in the many cultivators capable of producing high-quality fish but lacking access to the global market. He and his team started as an export service for cultivators in various regions, especially Bogor, West Java. They helped with quarantine paperwork, packaging, and shipping to the airport.
