Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Trade Minister Jerry Sambuaga supports bolstering national and international trade for Indonesia's spices through cooperation among regional governments, investors, and NSLIC/NSELRED.

This cooperation is forged to connect spice farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises with the national and international market, he noted here on Thursday.

"With this, we can utilize our products, our foods, our spices, our beverages, whatever it is that we have, and this can open opportunities to cooperate with many parties, many countries," he explained.

During the event for the signing of the memorandum of understanding to facilitate market access for spice farmers, he noted that this cooperation can motivate farmers and MSMEs to develop their products.

This is because they are provided with market access aid to sell their products.

Sambuaga emphasized that Indonesia has 46 trade representatives in the world, starting from the trade attaché to the Indonesia Trade Policy Center (ITPC).

These representatives are tasked with connecting local commodity producers with the market directly or through investors.

The memorandum of understanding inking was done by North Sulawesi and South Sulawesi governments, domestic investors, National Support for Local Investment Climates (NSLIC)/National Support for Enhancing Local and Regional Economic Development (NSELRED) as the facilitators.

Related news: Purchases of Indonesian goods in Budapest likely at US$3.7 million

In addition to connecting farmers to the market, the cooperation aims to improve farmers and MSMEs' skills and knowledge on market demand, business strategy, and management.

The cooperation is also forged to build collaboration between investors and farmers to increase income and seek solutions to address challenges faced by farmers and MSMEs.

In addition, it aims to learn and replicate best practices by several countries.

The cooperation is also expected to open broader national and international market access, attract investors to purchase farmers' products, and realize direct transaction between buyers and producers or MSMEs.

Related news: Jokowi presents Indonesian spices as souvenir to MotoGP racers

Translator: Aditya Ramadhan, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022