RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Japan moved to deepen bilateral trade ties as the Indonesian Trade Ministry and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Jakarta held a business matching event, connecting Japanese companies with Indonesian suppliers on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, to expand export-oriented cooperation across multiple sectors.

The event brought together Japanese companies and retailers operating in Indonesia with local Indonesian suppliers whose products match the needs and categories sought by Japanese firms. The initiative is designed to strengthen collaboration and create closer supply chain linkages between the two countries.

Director General of National Export Development at the Trade Ministry, Fajarini Puntodewi, said the government encouraged Japanese partners to work more closely with Indonesian suppliers so that local products could become part of global supply chains.

She explained that the business matching also seeks to promote a balance between imported and local products, while helping Indonesian export-quality goods gain wider access to international markets.

As part of the cooperation, the Ministry of Trade and JETRO facilitated direct visits to exhibition spaces showcasing Indonesian local products and provided access to a database of Indonesian companies compiled by the ministry.

Several key sectors were highlighted during the event, including furniture and home living products, wellness and body care, as well as cosmetics and beauty products. According to Fajarini, these sectors offer strong potential for growth beyond Indonesia’s traditionally dominant automotive industry.

“Besides the automotive sector, we see significant opportunities in furniture, home living, wellness, body care, and beauty. These sectors can be developed together to reach a much larger scale,” she said, as quoted by Antara.

Meanwhile, JETRO Jakarta President Director Shinji Hirai said the business matching aligns with Indonesia’s national policy to increase downstream processing and add value to high-quality products.

He noted that the event serves as a valuable reference for Indonesian suppliers in developing their products, while also giving them a better understanding of the specific needs and standards of Japanese companies.

Hirai expressed hope that initiatives such as this would further strengthen bilateral relations between Japan and Indonesia and contribute to the economic growth in both countries.

“We hope this program will be useful in helping Japanese companies find new suppliers. We also aim to continue developing this initiative by taking into account the needs of both Japan and Indonesia,” he said. ***