JAKARTA, Indonesia – Food and beverages (f&b) were a big hit at the Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2015, which wrapped up yesterday at the JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta. The f&b products were located in their own zone, namely Hall C with an 2,487 m2 of exhibition area.
“We really wanted to focus on Indonesian food and beverages, especially on specialty coffee whose market can increase along side with the rise of the image and quality of Indonesian coffee,” said Ministry of Trade’s Director General of National Export Development, Nus Nuzulia Ishak.
Nus went on to say that Indonesia currently ranks 5th on the list of the worlds largest coffee suppliers. That’s why, in an effort to make Indonesia the leading coffee producer in the world, the Ministry of Trade is vigorously trying to improve the image of Indonesian coffee, and one way of doing so is through the coffee zone at TEI 2015.
This coffee zone is also part of the “Road to Atlanta 2016” event. Indonesia has confirmed to be taking part in the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) in Atlanta. The coffee cupping event at TEI 2015 is one of the ways to select the coffees that will be showcased in Atlanta at next year’s SCAA event.
Buying Mission Trade Contract worth USD 3.4 Million
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade will continue to strengthen traditional markets, which are currently the main export destination countries. On day three of TEI 2015, Friday (23/10), Brazil, Germany, and the UK signed trade contracts worth more than USD 3.4 million. These contracts are the outcome of the buying mission program that is being held throughout TEI.
“We have to maintain and strengthen exports to market countries that have been the main national export destination, which is a strategic step in the midst of weakening global demands, while at the same time continue to increase diversification of export markets,” said the Directorate General of National Export Development ‘s Director of Promotions and Image Development, Pradnyawati.
According to Pradnyawati, market diversification is a long-term strategy that has to be implemented to increase national exports.
The signing of these trade contracts were between Badax Comersial Ltda Me from Brasil and PT. Elang Perdana Tyre Industri for radial car tyres, WHMS Management Support from Germany and Bloom Agro for organic rice and sugar, and Enero from the UK and Indo Acida Tama for molasses sugar.
Pradnyawati explained that export opportunities for local products such as coffee, furniture, processed food, seasoning and spices, and cosmetics are still wide open.
This can be seen from the huge interest shown by international buyers for those products at TEI 2015 up to the 2nd day.
Meanwhile, the most buyers that have come were from India, Bangladesh, Iraq, Uruguay, and Egypt; with the largest transactions coming from Malaysia, Japan, India, the United States, and Australia.
“The Ministry of Trade optimize opportunities that are present by utilizing trade relations with traditional export destination countries and diversifying export destinations to non-traditional markets,” explained Pradnyawati.
