Indonesia Strengthens IP Protection to Boost Global Competitiveness

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesia's government, through the Ministry of Trade, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening intellectual property (IP) protection for superior domestic products. This measure aims to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian products in international markets while ensuring that the financial rights of creators are upheld.

Indonesia's Trade Ministe, Budi Santoso, conveyed this during the 2026 Indonesian Intellectual Property National Coordination Forum in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 5. At the forum, he emphasized that IP protection has become a key issue in every trade negotiation Indonesia conducts with other nations.

According to him, high-quality products alone are insufficient to compete in the global market without legal protection for trademarks and patents. He noted that trademarks now play a strategic role not only in exports but also in international trade promotion and negotiations.

To support this effort, the Ministry of Trade has established "Export Intellectual Property Desks" in various export destination countries through 46 Indonesian trade representative offices spread across 33 nations. These units are tasked with providing legal assistance and monitoring markets to prevent the hijacking of local trademarks by foreign parties.

This move responds to instances where Indonesian trademarks were illegally registered by foreign parties abroad. The government is now shifting its strategy from mere trade promotion toward the comprehensive protection of trade assets.

Domestically, the Ministry of Trade is also tightening market surveillance using a risk-based approach in the fashion, cosmetics, and electronics sectors, including cracking down on illegal products on e-commerce platforms. These policies are implemented in accordance with the Law on Trademarks and Geographical Indications and the Consumer Protection Law.

As part of its global commitment, Indonesia actively participates in the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement under the World Trade Organization (WTO), which governs international standards for intellectual property protection. Through these measures, the government hopes that Indonesian products will gain greater trust and protection while competing in the global market.