Trade Minister Calls on Exporters to Foster Synergy to Boost National Exports

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Trade Minister Budi Santoso, has called on exporter associations and business players to continue strengthening cooperation with the government to boost Indonesia’s exports. He made the call while opening the First National Working Meeting of the Indonesian Export Companies Association (GPEI) 2026 in Jakarta on Monday, August 24, 2026.

According to the Trade Minister, the GPEI National Working Meeting can serve as a forum for the business community to provide input, particularly on export-related issues. He said the government is open to proposals from businesses because various challenges in the export sector cannot be resolved by the government alone.

“We are open to all input aimed at increasing exports. The government and the business community must continue to work in synergy to create an export ecosystem that is increasingly efficient and competitive. Let us resolve these various challenges together,” he said, as quoted from an official statement.

One of the government’s main concerns is ensuring that Indonesia’s trade agreements with partner countries are fully utilized. Indonesia currently has 25 trade agreements that have been implemented, two undergoing ratification, and another 13 still under negotiation. One of them is the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or I-EU CEPA, which is targeted to be signed by the end of October 2026 at the latest and implemented next year.

To help exporters take advantage of these agreements, the Ministry of Trade is also developing an automated Certificate of Origin (COO) system. The measure is intended to make it easier for businesses to benefit from preferential tariffs and prevent them from missing opportunities simply because of limited information or administrative procedures.

Efforts to strengthen exports are also being carried out through the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Ready to Innovate and Adapt for Export program, known as UMKM BISA Ekspor. From January to July 2026, purchase orders and potential transactions generated through the program reached around USD 333.68 million.

Around 60–70 percent of the MSMEs receiving assistance are businesses that had never exported before. The program is supported by 46 Indonesian trade representatives in 33 countries.

In addition, the government will once again hold the 41st Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) from October 14 to 18, 2026. Support for businesses begins before the exhibition through product introductions to prospective buyers, continues with business matching during the event, and extends to assistance in realizing transactions after trade agreements are signed.

Budi Santoso, said increasing exports does not depend solely on promotion and opening new markets, but also on the competitiveness of Indonesian products. Therefore, the government and business community need to work together to address various factors affecting efficiency, ranging from deregulation to logistics costs.

“Competitiveness is influenced by many factors, including deregulation and logistics. We must resolve these issues together so that we can become more efficient and competitive,” he said.

GPEI Chairman, Benny Soetrisno, said the association would focus on five main agendas: diversifying export markets, increasing innovation and product added value, encouraging MSMEs to become exporters, improving efficiency and competitiveness, and optimizing the use of trade agreements. “This National Working Meeting must produce a national movement to increase Indonesia’s exports. Let us open new markets, create new exporters, increase the added value of Indonesian products, and make Indonesian products increasingly present in global markets,” he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Deputy Chairman for Export Development Juan Permata Adoe, said exports should become one of the key pillars in improving the structure of the national economy. He encouraged collaboration among Kadin, GPEI, business associations, and the government to reduce logistics costs while strengthening the export financing ecosystem.