Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is targeting to earn Rp35.7 billion (US$2.3 million) from food and beverage (F&B) transactions at Mexico's Asociación Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales (ANTAD) Expo 2024.

Indonesian Ambassador to Mexico, Cheppy Triprakoso Wartono, in a statement issued by the Indonesian Trade Ministry in Jakarta on Friday, said that Indonesia's participation in the exhibition, held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from March 12–24, 2024, is a strategic step to further popularize its F&B products among Mexicans.

"Indonesia needs to consistently participate in such events to make its F&B products more popular in Mexican markets. Indonesian delegates should make the most of this opportunity to promote the country's unique and high-quality F&B products," he added.

At the exhibition, the Pavilion Indonesia booth is displaying assorted biscuits, snacks, instant noodles, herbal and traditional health drinks, as well as typical teas and coffees.

The ambassador expressed the hope that the expo would link Indonesian producers with Mexican buyers, importers, distributors, and retailers. Indonesia could use Mexico as a gateway to North American and South American markets, he added.

"Some F&B products from Indonesia have managed to penetrate the network of major retailers in Mexico. That is a feat deserving appreciation. We need to keep pushing," he said.

Meanwhile, head of the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Mexico city, Sunny Adrian, informed that his office has been routinely helping Indonesian businesses feature at ANTAD.

He underlined that Mexico is a very promising market for F&B products, saying that the value of the Mexican market for such products has crossed US$51.9 billion.

"Mexico offers a huge market opportunity for Indonesian F&B products that possess a sound quality and competitive prices. Since our products have begun to penetrate the Mexican market, we need to consistently step up promotional efforts to further popularize the products in Mexico," he added.

Mexico has been recording increases in the value of its F&B imports. In 2023, Mexico imported Indonesian F&B products worth US$152.4 million, an increase of 29.3 percent compared to the previous year.

Related news: Indonesian coffee, vanilla beans on display at China expo
Related news: Indonesia, Australia discuss energy transition cooperation