RRI.CI.ID, Tebing Tinggi - Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso inaugurated the export of nine tons of Kepok banana chips under the Archila brand to Malaysia on Friday, February 27, 2026.

The shipment, valued at IDR 270 million (approx. USD 16,000), demonstrates the ability of regional micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to meet international market standards.

“This export proves that regional MSMEs have the competitiveness and quality to be accepted by the global market. We hope more MSME players will follow in these footsteps to penetrate the export market,” Minister Budi Santoso said, as quoted on the ministry’s official website.

Archila, founded in 2016 as a home-based business, has expanded into a certified enterprise with Halal certification and formal business legality. The company has been exporting to Malaysia regularly since 2022.

The Ministry of Trade has initiated the MSME BISA Ekspor (Innovative, Ready to Adapt) program to expand MSME access to international markets. The program addresses the main challenge for small businesses, such as limited access to foreign buyers, through business-matching activities supported by 46 Indonesian trade representatives in 33 countries.

“In 2025, we facilitated around 1,200 MSMEs with a total transaction value of USD 134.8 million, or approximately IDR 2.2 trillion. Notably, 70 percent of them were MSMEs that had never exported before,” Minister Budi Santoso explained.

The ministry also runs the Desa BISA Ekspor program to support export-oriented villages through training, product packaging, and promotional assistance. Minister Budi Santoso emphasized the need for synergy between thecentral government and regional administrations to identify potential MSMEs and maximize export opportunities.

Deputy Governor of North Sumatra, Surya, highlighted that horticultural and plantation commodities remain the backbone of the province’s economy. He said the export of processed products such as banana chips reflects a commitment to maintaining quality, production continuity, and trade partner trust.

“The North Sumatra Provincial Administration continues to encourage downstreaming in the agricultural sector so that added value does not stop at raw products, but develops into processed goods with higher economic value,” Surya said.

Tebing Tinggi Mayor Iman Irdian Saragih hopes the minister’s visit will strengthen collaboration between the central government and local administrations in building a modern, sustainable trade ecosystem.

Archila’s owner, Budiarti, credited government training programs for improving product quality. She said her company aims to expand exports beyond Malaysia. “We have been exporting to Malaysia for the past four years. Our hope is to reach other countries as well. We expect continued government support so our products can enter markets such as Thailand,” she said.

On the same day, Minister Budi Santoso inaugurated the Tebing Tinggi Convection Center to strengthen the local textile and garment industry. He also promoted the “Gaspol” (Thursday Use Local) movement, which encourages Indonesians to wear locally-made products.

“Today we inaugurated the convection center. We want to encourage Indonesian MSMEs to keep moving forward by utilizing facilities optimally. At the Ministry of Trade, we initiated the Gaspol movement as a form of real support for the domestic industry,” Budi Santoso said.

He added that maximizing the use of available facilities and increasing the use of local products are key to advancing MSMEs and enhancing competitiveness. The Gaspol initiative, initially applied every Thursday, has now expanded so that employees use local products daily. ***