Government Increases Exports Of MSME Food Products

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade through the Directorate General of National Export Development (Ditjen PEN) continues to strive to boost food product exports to the global market. This is to ensure the safety of products sold by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through various programs and initiatives.

"The Ministry of Trade fully supports efforts to export food products to the global market. A comprehensive strategy is needed to boost exports in 2024. This strategy includes diversification of export products, improving product quality and safety, and expanding export markets to non-traditional countries," said Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga in his official statement, quoted on February 11, 2024.

Jerry stated that the Ministry of Trade has a Assistance and Certification program for Hazard Analysis and Control of Critical Points for export MSMEs in the food sector.

This program has been running since 2020. The plan is that as many as 12 food sector export MSMEs will get HACCP assistance and certification in 2024. HACCP certification is needed in an effort to improve the quality and safety of export food products.

HACCP is a system that aims to ensure consumer safety in eating food. HACCP minimizes health risks related to food consumption and increases confidence in the safety of processed foods so that it can promote trade and the stability of food businesses.

Jerry emphasized the importance of maintaining product quality, security, and sustainability as the key to the competitiveness of export products to the global market. In addition, expanding the marketing reach of products by utilizing non-traditional market opportunities is also a necessity in the success of developing exports.

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia's trade balance recorded a surplus of 36.93 billion US dollars throughout 2023. The value of Indonesia's exports in the period January to December 2023 reached 258.82 billion US dollars, while the import value was 221.89 billion US dollars.

Director of Export Development for Primary Products, Miftah Farid, said that food safety is very important for penetration and access to international markets. Food security can also create a good reputation for products and companies in the long term.

Food safety regulations have now become one of the concerns in the global market. Food safety urgency is increasing as export shipments do not meet food safety requirements. This has resulted in stricter checks on importing countries and trade transaction fees are also increasing," said Miftah.

Miftah added, apart from the added value and competitiveness of export products, the Ministry of Trade also always strives to facilitate business actors by opening market access through cooperation in trade negotiations in international forums.

Currently, Miftah said that Indonesia has succeeded in signing and implementing 37 trade agreements, 15 trade agreements are in the negotiation process, and 16 other trade agreements are in the assessment stage.

Through international trade negotiations cooperation, market access will be more open and resource utilization is expected to be more optimal to increase exports. All of this aims to provide wider opportunities for business actors in developing products to the international market," concluded Miftah.