RRI.CO.ID, Budapest - Indonesian food and beverage products, along with hotel, restaurant, and catering sector offerings, recorded potential transactions worth USD 1.41 million at the SIRHA Budapest 2026 exhibition.

The event took place from March 3–5 at the Hungexpo Budapest Congress & Exhibition Center in Hungary, one of the largest food industry exhibitions in Central and Eastern Europe.

Head of the Indonesia Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) in Budapest, Suci Mahanani, said visitor interest in Indonesian products was high, reflecting their competitiveness in the regional market.

“The market in the CEE region has a very high interest in Indonesian products. The Indonesian Pavilion managed to record impressive potential transactions despite the challenging geopolitical situation in Ukraine and the Middle East,” she said in Budapest on Friday, March 13, as quoted on the Ministry of Trade’s official website.

Over the three-day exhibition, the Indonesian Pavilion welcomed more than 27,000 visitors from countries including Slovakia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Portugal, and France.

Indonesia participated with a 105-square-meter pavilion showcasing products from seven companies, five of which were micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the Ministry of Trade’s MSMEs Dare to Innovate, Ready to Adapt for Export program.

Participating companies included PT Mayora Indah Tbk., PT Maxindo Karya Anugerah, PT Adarasa Putra Jaya, PT Java Spices, PT Persatuone Komoditas Indonesia, PT Cahaya Desa Ekspor Indonesia, and PT CMN Internasional Indonesia.

Indonesian Ambassador to Hungary, Penny D. Herasati, said Indonesia’s participation opens broader opportunities for business cooperation and commended business owners who promoted their products in person.

“We appreciate the enthusiasm of the business owners who came directly from Indonesia. We hope this exhibition will foster sustainable business networks between Indonesian businesses and buyers in Hungary as well as across Central Europe,” she said.

Several companies reported positive feedback from visitors and potential buyers. PT Java Spices representative Bertha Tanaem said the event provided insights into global food industry trends and helped establish connections with international distributors.

PT Maxindo Karya Anugerah Finance Director Carolina Renata Djaja noted favorable responses to her products and expressed hope of securing distributor partners in Hungary and Central Europe.

PT Cahaya Desa Ekspor Indonesia founder Mahdalena Lubis said buyer interest in vanilla products was strong, raising optimism for future export opportunities. PT Persatuone Komoditas Indonesia representative Eva Nuryani said the exhibition connected cocoa and coffee products with potential buyers in Europe.

PT Adarasa Putra Jaya owner Rusmiati Teguh Santoso said her company’s herbal beverages received significant appreciation, with several potential buyers from Budapest and neighboring countries.

Hungary is considered one of Indonesia’s key trading partners in the region. Food and beverage products such as processed fruits, chocolate, seafood, spices, and coconut-based products are in high demand. Market interest in these products is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 6.47 percent through 2028.

Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) shows that total trade between Indonesia and Hungary in 2025 reached USD 303.7 million, with Indonesia’s non-oil and gas exports totaling USD 113.8 million, a 10.65 percent increase from USD 102.8 million in 2024. ***