We are keen to showcase our contribution through spices and through green, sustainable, and responsible products
Dubai (UAE) (ANTARA) - Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that managed to penetrate the export market are the economic pillars of Indonesia that should be encouraged, Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi stated.

In the "45 Minutes with Trade Minister” event here on Friday at local time, Lutfi remarked that one of the government's support to these exporter SMEs was through Indonesia's Pavilion held at Dubai's Expo 2020 from October 1, 2021, until March 31, 2022.

Indonesia's Pavilion presented Indonesia's various advancements to project its existence and contribution at the global level, such as through spices.

"We are keen to showcase our contribution through spices and through green, sustainable, and responsible products," he remarked.

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Lutfi used this opportunity to communicate via video with a few SMEs entrepreneurs, whose products had managed to penetrate the global market, including the Middle East.

One of these exporters was Ani Murdiati, the owner of PT Sinar Prima Food, who established her company in 2015, with coffee as its primary product.

Murdiati spoke of having gained the permit for her new business after 1.5 years. She started producing coffee by the end of 2016 and penetrated the global market by the end of 2017.


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She admitted to being courageous in exploring the global market through assistance of the Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), considering that her products could not compete in the local market.

"Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), after we frequently went to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, a lot of our friends from ITPC introduced us to buyers," Murdiati stated.

Amir Sudjono from PT Bio Takara also spoke of the Trade Ministry's assistance since his eyelash and wig products were capable of competing in the global market.

"I laud the Trade Ministry since this has been (ongoing) for 15 years. Extraordinary support from both ITPC and the Ministry," he affirmed.

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Translator: Astrid Habibah, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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