Indonesian Snacks Record Transactions Of IDR 36 Billion In Dubai

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) through the Dubai Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) noted that Indonesia managed to record a transaction potential of 2.13 million US dollars, or equivalent to Rp. 35.30 billion for snack products and sugar fireworks, at the Internationale Subwarense Middle East (ISM Middle East) exhibition, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Director General of National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade Fajarini Puntodewi said this participation was a strategic step to strengthen the position of Indonesian snack products and sugar fireworks in the international market.

"The large UAE market is very promising because it is driven by a multicultural population, a young consumer demand for product innovation and taste, a healthy lifestyle trend, rapid growth in the tourism sector, as well as the existence of offline and online retailers," said Puntodewi in a statement in Jakarta, Tuesday.

According to Puntodewi, Dubai's strategic position as a global trade hub makes it the ideal gateway for distributing products to Middle Eastern and African countries.

Indonesian Consul General Dubai Denny Lesmana said that Dubai is currently a global trade hub because of its strategic advantage in terms of location, openness of trade access, ease of business regulation and rampant business incentives from the government, as well as excellent development of service infrastructure.

"The policy of foreign ownership of up to one hundred percent in doing business without the need for local partners is also a separate attraction that makes the wheels of the UAE economy rotate rapidly and makes competition very competitive," said Denny.

In this exhibition, Indonesia presents six business actors, ranging from large companies to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), who dare to innovate. The products presented include candy, chocolate, traditional snacks, to healthy foods that are ready to compete.

In addition to facilitating participation in exhibitions, the Ministry of Trade also facilitates MSMEs in business matching sessions with prospective overseas buyers.

Head of ITPC Dubai Widy Haryono said that the business matching coordinated by ITPC Dubai is important to build Indonesian food and sugar products.

"Following this business matching is very important to build consumer awareness of the quality and diversity of Indonesian snack products and sugar fireworks produced according to international standards," said Widy.

Widy emphasized that the UAE market has become increasingly promising for Indonesian products since the enactment of the Indonesia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IUAE CEPA) as of September 1, 2023.

The agreement made Indonesia's snack and sugar-efficient food entry rates to the UAE to zero percent. In addition, Indonesia's status as a Muslim-majority country that has been recognized for its halal certification credibility in various countries is also the main key to supporting the success of exporting Indonesian food and sugar-effected products.