RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Creative Economy, through its Culinary Directorate, is encouraging local brands to enter the global supply chain by participating in the Food, Hotel & Tourism Bali (FHTB) 2026 exhibition. The event is taking place at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) from April 28–30.

The Ministry has brought five culinary brands nurtured under the ASIK (Acceleration of Indonesian Creative Exports) program since 2025: TERVE, Muntigunung Community, Sekatup Sari Indonesia, Imago Raw Honey, and Roemah Koffie.

“Through this event, business actors gain access to promotional opportunities as well as concrete avenues to build partnerships, open export channels, and strengthen Indonesia’s position within the global culinary industry value chain,” said Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya in his remarks on Tuesday, April 28, as quoted on the Ministry’s official website.

Deputy for Cultural Creativity and Design at the Ministry, Yuke Sri Rahayu, noted that the Ministry has also partnered with local intellectual property (IP) brand Punopals as the main visual element in promotional materials.

“Collaboration with local IP such as Punopals strengthens the added value of culinary products, ensuring they stand out not only for taste but also for competitive identity and visual appeal. Through FHTB, we are accelerating the ASIK program so Indonesian culinary products are better prepared to penetrate export markets with a creative and sustainable approach,” she said.

The participation of Indonesian brands at FHTB is expected to strengthen the culinary industry’s value chain and enhance the competitiveness of local products in the global market. The food and beverage industry is projected to grow by 10.79 percent, with a market value reaching USD 4.345 billion.

FHTB serves as a strategic platform for business matching, networking, and knowledge exchange among industry players. It showcases innovation, industry trends, and sustainable practices in the hospitality and culinary sectors.

Meanwhile, the recovery of the tourism sector is opening new opportunities for the creative economy. In 2023, Indonesia recorded 11.68 million international tourist arrivals, including 5.25 million in Bali. This influx of visitors provides a potential market for the culinary sector and other creative subsectors to expand their reach, increase exposure, and enhance the value of destinations.

Through FHTB 2026, the creative economy is being reinforced as a new engine of growth, with the culinary subsector emerging as one of its main drivers through innovation, collaboration, and international market penetration. ***