Indonesia Strengthens MSME Export Access Through Quarantine Support

RRI.CO.ID, Palu - The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) have strengthened efforts to help micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises enter export markets by facilitating compliance with quarantine requirements for animal, fish, and plant products.

The cooperation was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by MSMEs Minister Maman Abdurrahman and Barantin Head Abdul Kadir Karding during the “Movement of 1,000 Exporters and MSME Entrepreneurs Toward the Global Market” event in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

Minister Maman said the collaboration aims to improve MSME competitiveness and support business growth. According to him, Indonesian MSME products have significant potential in overseas markets.

That potential is reflected in the export of 918 metric tons of durian facilitated by PT Duco Food Indonesia in partnership with farmers in Central Sulawesi. Meanwhile, PT Sentra Pangan Sejahtera, which also works with local farmers, recorded profits of up to IDR 227 billion (approximately USD 12.6 million) from durian exports.

Export opportunities were also evident through the participation of 75 MSME operators at the 2026 China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) in Guangzhou, China.

At the exhibition, Indonesian MSMEs showcased products such as coffee, cocopeat, sea cucumbers, crackers, and rendang. The event generated trade contracts worth IDR 54.6 billion.

In addition to the trade contracts, business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions reached IDR 325.5 million, while potential business-to-business (B2B) transactions amounted to IDR 76.9 billion.

Minister Maman said the achievements demonstrated strong international demand for Indonesian products. However, these opportunities must be matched by broader market access, improved product quality, and continued business support.

“Our MSMEs must have high-quality products that meet standards and fulfill the quarantine requirements of export destination countries so they are ready to enter global markets and reach overseas buyers,” he said.

The government is building an ecosystem that aligns MSME empowerment with compliance support for quarantine requirements. The collaboration includes capacity building, access to facilities and infrastructure, and the exchange of data and information.

Barantin provides information on quarantine regulations in export destination countries and technical assistance for businesses. Meanwhile, the Ministry of MSMEs helps entrepreneurs meet those requirements.

Maman also stressed the importance of monitoring, evaluating, and supervising imported products entering Indonesia. According to him, stricter oversight is needed to prevent illegal imports that could harm consumers and weaken local MSMEs' competitiveness.

He called on Barantin to consistently enforce quarantine regulations, saying the measure is important to protect the domestic market and create fairer trade conditions.

Karding reiterated Barantin’s readiness to support MSME development by helping businesses produce quality products that meet international export standards.

“God willing, we will establish export clinics as consultation centers so MSMEs can learn export procedures and international product standards, enabling them to successfully market their products overseas,” Karding said. ***