The Ministry Of Trade Encourages Indonesian MSME Products To Penetrate The Middle East Market

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Minister of Trade, Agus Suparmanto, visited the modern retail Lulu Hypermarket in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UEA). During this visit, the Trade Minister encouraged Indonesian products, including the diversity and uniqueness of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) products to penetrate the Middle East market, especially the UAE.

"It is hoped that Indonesian entrepreneurs will have more opportunities to meet the Middle East market, especially the UAE," said the Trade Minister in a statement received by VOI, Tuesday, January 14.

According to the Trade Minister, Lulu Hypermart's role is very strategic in helping Indonesian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) enter the UAE market. For this reason, it is hoped that facilitation and assistance from Lulu Hypermarket so that they can meet market requirements in the UAE.

"Lulu Hypermarket can provide technical guidance and promotion for Indonesian business actors, especially MSMEs. In addition, it can also provide detailed information regarding product needs in the UAE market including labeling, packaging, distribution and market segmentation," explained the Trade Minister.

Lulu Hypermarket currently has 185 retail stores and 23 shopping centers spread across the UAE, India, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Malaysia and Indonesia. In Indonesia, Lulu Hypermarket has opened branches in Cakung, East Jakarta in 2016 and in BSD City Tangerang in September 2017.

The company plans to expand its branches again in Indonesia in early 2020, to be precise in the Cinere Mall Depok and Sentul Bogor areas.

On this visit the Minister of Trade was received directly by the Chairperson and Managing Director (CMD) of Lulu Group International (LGI) Yusuff Ali. Lulu agreed to bring in more Indonesian products to be marketed in all Lulu Hypermarket retails.

"We ask Lulu Hypermarket to supply more Indonesian products to be marketed in all of its retail outlets," the Trade Minister added.

Previously, the Ministry of Trade through the Directorate General of National Export Development had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with LGI on the sidelines of the 2018 Trade Expo Indonesia.

"The signing of the MoU is expected to facilitate and help facilitate market access for Indonesian products to enter the international market, especially the Middle East and the UAE through the Lulu Hypermarket," said Director General of National Export Development Dody Edward.