NTB Targets Global Market for Processed Candlenuts

RRI.CO.ID, Mataram - West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is set to transform its local candlenut sector into a competitive global export commodity following a new cross-agency agro-industrial program launched by the Ministry of Finance in Mataram on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

The strategic push, titled Empowering the Candlenut Commodity Agro-Industrial Ecosystem in West Nusa Tenggara, seeks to elevate the province's candlenut output from a raw regional crop into a high-value international export. Spearheaded by the Indonesia Export-Import Bank (LPEI or Indonesia Eximbank) under the ministry's Special Mission Vehicles (SMV) 2026 Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) framework, the initiative integrates upstream cultivation, modern post-harvest processing, and direct access to foreign buyers.

The formal launch was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between LPEI and the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Administration, witnessed directly by NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal alongside executive directors of the state export financing institution.

LPEI Managing Director Sukarmo Patmo Sukarso highlighted that building an end-to-end ecosystem is essential for NTB's candlenut production to meet rigorous international standards and penetrate global supply chains.

"In an effort to develop the candlenut community in NTB, the Ministry of Finance's SMVs contribute through several programs, ranging from providing post-harvest facilities and supporting equipment for candlenut products to building farmer capacity," Sukarmo said on Thursday, September 24, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He explained that the initiative focuses on building a sustainable agro-industrial pipeline by connecting smallholder farmers with industrial-scale processing, enabling NTB to produce processed candlenuts and value-added derivatives suitable for global markets.

To turn NTB's candlenut potential into an export reality, several state-backed institutions under the Ministry of Finance are providing targeted interventions across the supply chain. Indonesia Eximbank oversees post-harvest processing and machinery procurement, while PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (Persero) manages seed quality improvements across Lombok, Sumbawa, and Bima.

Capacity building for local farming groups is led by PT Penjaminan Infrastruktur Indonesia, while PT Sarana Multigriya Finansial supports the construction of modern production facilities. To ensure sustainability, PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero) is installing solar panels at processing sites.

Furthermore, product innovation for high-value export derivatives, such as candlenut oil, is driven by PT Indonesia Infrastructure Finance and PT Sejahtera Eka Graha, with regional post-harvest support provided by PT Penjaminan Jamkrida NTB.

Lalu Muhamad Iqbal welcomed the targeted export drive, stating that strong synergy between the central government and the regional administration will be key to unlocking the full economic potential of the commodity. By shifting the focus from simple harvesting to high-value global trade, local authorities and financial institutions anticipate a substantial boost in smallholder farmer incomes, establishing NTB as a major international hub for processed candlenut products. ***