Deputy Minister Christina: The Ministry Of Trade's Trade Mission Plan Is A Strategic Step To Open Access For Migrant Workers To Europe

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (Wamen P2MI), Christina Aryani, said that foreign trade missions are a strategic step in expanding Indonesia's service exports, in particular opening up market access for the placement of migrant workers to a number of countries in Europe.

It is known that the Ministry of P2MI and the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) have agreed to collaborate on an overseas trade mission which is planned to be held in August or September 2025.

"Because it turns out that service exports are also one of the focuses of the Ministry of Trade. We agreed to collaborate on the trade mission," said Christina, Wednesday, July 16.

"Later on, there will be business meetings to presentations related to potential in any sector that can be an opportunity for migrant workers from Indonesia to fill", he continued.

Currently, the Ministry of P2MI is focusing on countries that have demand (demand) for migrant workers from Indonesia. Mainly countries with labor regulations with distributions that can be met by Indonesian migrant workers. Such as the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Greece and Germany.

"Well, this will be narrowed later, which one should be most appropriate according to the job order that is included in the Ministry of P2MI," said Christina.

Not only that, the credible and experienced Indonesian Migrant Workers Placement Company (P3MI) will also be involved to participate in the collaboration of the Ministry of P2MI and the Ministry of Trade's trading mission.

"We will curate P3MI who have experience and want to seriously open markets abroad to be involved in this trade mission," he said.

In the early stages, this trade mission will focus on the hospitality sector, given the high demand for workers in this field in Europe. The positions to be offered include homekeeping, spa therapists, barista, waiters, cooks or chefs.

"The hospitality sector has wide opportunities and can be an entry point for Indonesian migrant workers to appear and compete professionally in the global market," said Christina Aryani.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri added, this collaboration is in line with the mandate of the Ministry of Trade in promoting service exports, as well as opening up new opportunities ahead of the finalization of the Indonesia-European Union Sustainable Investment and Partnership Agreement (Indonesia-EU SIPA) agreement.

"We want to explore how the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of P2MI can work together in encouraging the service sector," he said after the meeting.

Roro Esti said that the service sector, including the placement of skilled workers abroad, needs to get more attention in Indonesia's trade strategy in the future.

"We see this collaboration as an important step to explore Indonesia's potential services in the global market," said Roro.