Indonesia Expands Chocolate, Activated Charcoal Exports to Mid-East

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has reopened opportunities for its products in the Middle Eastern market, with cocoa powder and activated charcoal briquettes among the commodities ready to enter the region.

The opportunity follows the signing of a USD 197,305 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between PT Visi Indonesia Parama and Bassam Salem Abdullah Fotis Company.

The agreement was signed in Bandung, West Java, by PT Visi Indonesia Parama Managing Director Lukman Nurjaman and Bassam Salem Abdullah Fotis Managing Director Bassam Salem.

The signing was witnessed virtually by representatives from the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) Jeddah, the Center for Human Resources Development for Exports and Trade Services (PPEJP), the Directorate for Primary Product Export Development (PEPP), and the West Java Industry and Trade Agency.

The MoU is the result of business matching facilitation conducted by ITPC Jeddah in December 2025 and March 2026.

Director General of National Export Development at the Trade Ministry, Fajarini Puntodewi, said the partnership shows that Indonesia’s production capacity and product quality are strong enough to compete in international markets.

She expressed hope that the agreement would mark a positive start for Indonesia’s flagship commodities in the Middle Eastern market.

ITPC Jeddah Head Bagas Haryotejo said Indonesian products remain competitive despite challenges posed by the conflict in the Middle East. He noted that ITPC continues to facilitate meetings between Indonesian businesses and potential buyers to secure concrete business agreements.

Buyer visits to production facilities, he added, help build trust, allow direct adjustments to product quality based on buyer specifications, and accelerate transaction completion.

Before the MoU was signed, Bassam Salem visited PT Visi Indonesia Parama’s production facilities.

He appreciated the Trade Ministry’s facilitation, from business matching to the on-site visit. He said Indonesian products offer good quality at competitive prices and expressed hope that the long-term partnership would continue to grow, including expanding product variants for the Middle Eastern and African markets.

Lukman Nurjaman welcomed the buyer’s visit, saying it allowed the company to demonstrate its production capabilities, product quality, and other potential export offerings.

He said direct visits enable buyers to see production processes and quality standards firsthand, helping ensure products meet required specifications. He hopes the collaboration will proceed smoothly and develop into a long-term partnership.

From January to June 2026, non-oil trade between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia reached USD 1.68 billion, with Indonesian exports totaling USD 1.02 billion and imports amounting to USD 665.10 million.

Throughout 2025, Indonesia-Saudi Arabia non-oil trade reached USD 3.94 billion. Indonesia recorded a USD 1.82 billion surplus, with exports of USD 2.89 billion and imports of USD 1.06 billion.

Indonesia’s main exports to Saudi Arabia include vehicles and vehicle parts, animal and vegetable fats and oils, seagoing vessels, processed foods, and wood products. Indonesia primarily imports salt, sulfur, lime, plastics, organic chemicals, various chemical products, and fruits from Saudi Arabia. ***