Export Of Lampaui 1 Billion US Dollars, Ministry Of Industry Efforts To Become The Largest Kakao Producer In The World

The Director General of Agro-Kemeperin Industry, Putu Juli Ardika. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Industry)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) continues to strive to improve the performance of the cocoa processing industry in Indonesia to be more productive and globally competitive. The cocoa processing industry is known to be one of the industrial groups that make a significant contribution to the national economy.

Based on data from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) in 2021/2022, Indonesia is ranked third in the world as a country that processes cocoa products. In addition, Indonesia is in sixth place as the largest cocoa seed producer in the world.

"The cocoa processing industry is able to contribute foreign exchange of up to more than 1 billion US dollars in 2020 and 2021. Meanwhile, 85 percent or 319,431 tons of the total production volume of the cocoa processing industry has been exported to 96 countries, such as the United States, India, China, Estonia, and Malaysia," said Director General of Agro Kemeperin Industry, Putu Juli Ardika, at the Commemoration of Indonesian Kakao Day (HKI) in Jakarta, Saturday, November 12.

Putu said, currently there are 11 intermediate food processing industries with a capacity of 739,250 tons per year, then 900 chocolate processing industries, and 31 chocolate artists (bean to bar).

Until now, the utilization of the large-scale cocoa processing industry has reached 54 percent.

"The government is also encouraging the development of artists who have the potential to have much greater added value," said Putu.

In an effort to develop the cocoa processing industry, the government is focused on spurring downstream the cocoa processing industry through providing tax allowance incentives for the chocolate processing industry, both new investment and expansion.

Coupled with the provision of super deduction tax for industries that invest for the development of human resources and R&D, as well as encouraging and facilitating partnerships between the cocoa processing industry and farmer groups.

"The government will also provide promotional facilitation for processed cocoa products from the domestic industry at various international exhibitions, both held in Indonesia and abroad. One of them is through the implementation of the SIAL Interfood 2022 exhibition," said Putu.

In a series of SIAL Interfood 2022 exhibitions in Jakarta, Putu also participated in promoting the national cocoa processing industry through the establishment of the 54 m2 Cocoa Pavilion, which is filled with 10 cocoa and chocolate processing industry players.

"This effort is also an active role of the Directorate General of Agro Industry at the Ministry of Industry in a series of activities on Indonesian Kakao Day (HKI) with the main theme of Chocolateku, My Culture, My Indonesia, and the theme of the 2022 HKI Towards Indonesia as a Producent & Consumer of Sustainable Kakao," he explained.

In addition, he also appreciated the players in the Indonesian cocoa and chocolate processing industry, as well as various parties in maintaining their performance amidst global uncertainty, even being able to increase productivity and expand their market.

"We hope that this activity can continue to be carried out every year to introduce cocoa and chocolate products to foreign countries, increase domestic consumption, build an image of Indonesia as a producer of cocoa products, as well as quality chocolate-based food/drink products," said Putu.

For your information, the Indonesian Kakao and Chocolate thematic exhibition at SIAL Interfood has taken place on November 9-12 2022. SIAL Interfood is the largest food industry exhibition in Indonesia, which is attended by more than 750 companies from 20 countries.

This event shows the interest of food and beverage industry players to continue to expand their market at home and abroad.