Govt Strengthens Rendang Industry to Boost Exports

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government continues to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized industries (SMIs) to help them penetrate international markets. The rendang industry from West Sumatra has now become one of the national export development priorities.

The Ministry of Industry is partnering with the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI), also known as Indonesia Eximbank, to expand capacity building for SMIs based on regional potential.

The program is carried out through the collaboration of One Village One Product (OVOP) Go Global and Desa Devisa, focusing on the Rendang SMI Center in Payakumbuh City, West Sumatra.

“The OVOP approach is designed to elevate regional flagship products so they can compete in both national and global markets, while also strengthening the local economy,” said Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, in an official statement in Jakarta on Monday, May 18, 2026, as quoted on the Ministry’s website.

Minister Agus explained that the OVOP concept emphasizes the development of flagship products rooted in local wisdom. The Ministry has implemented this program since 2013 through the Directorate General of Small, Medium, and Miscellaneous Industries (Ditjen IKMA).

He added that the government is also allocating Special Allocation Funds to revitalize production facilities and boost rendang’s competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.

“The selection of the Rendang SMI Center in Payakumbuh was based on the readiness of human resources, product quality, institutional framework, and its strong potential for export market development,” Minister Agus said.

Director General of IKMA, Reni Yanita, stated that the program also promotes the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies to ensure product capacity and quality meet global export standards. LPEI will assist businesses in expanding access to foreign markets.

“This support is expected to improve production efficiency, quality consistency, product hygiene, production capacity, and the readiness of rendang SMEs to meet both domestic demand and global export standards,” Reni said.

Haris Budiman, owner of SMI Rendang Riry, said the OVOP program has had a positive impact on his business since joining in 2013. His enterprise now produces up to 200 kilograms per day, supported by 12 workers.

Dedy Syandera Putera, owner of SMI Rendang Gadih, shared a similar view. He said the OVOP program has helped improve product quality, promotion, design, and packaging, while expanding buyer and partner networks to Australia, Taiwan, and Germany. ***