TOKYO, Japan — The Japanese government is eyeing to expand its export value of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries products to one trillion yen by 2013, including in countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Region.

Japan Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Export Promotion Office director Junichi Takeuchi said the Japanese government is mulling to increase its export products globally, including in the 10-member countries of the ASEAN, of which the Philippines is a member.

“The scale of exports [from Japan] is still small... Currently, Japan government is working hard to promote exports,” Takeuchi said in a meeting with ASEAN journalists at the MAFF head office here. “We target to expand to one trillion yen by 2013,” he disclosed.

Takeuchi said that in 2008, export value of agriculture, forestry and fisheries (AFF) products was at 507.8 billion yen, wherein 70 percent is for Asia and 20 percent is for North America. It was, however, bigger at 516 billion yen in 2007.

Out of the 507.8 billion yen total export value, 40.9 percent are fisheries products while processed foods account to 25.8 percent. Agricultural products are meanwhile pegged at 56.8 percent.

Takeuchi explained that they are stepping up efforts in promoting products in agriculture, forestry and fisheries despite being a major food importer due to the aging Japanese population as well as the declining fertility rate.

“Japan is importing around 8 trillion yen worth of food products, which makes Japan the largest importer of food,” Takeuchi said.

“This [export promotion] might sound contradictory but we don’t think it’s contradictory. In order to expand our volume of exports, we need to increase the volume of food here,” Takeuchi said, adding that it is also beneficial for the food security in Japan.