"The Trade Ministry is open and welcomes any collaboration to encourage Indonesian trade to become stronger in the domestic market and have competitiveness in the global market," Hasan said, according to a statement received here on Wednesday.
Thus, exporters must be more prepared to face the potentials and opportunities that exist, he added.
He delivered the statement while opening the “2022 National Export Lecture” initiated by the Export School, which was hosted both online and in-person, at the Trade Ministry's Office in Jakarta.
The lecture was attended by general chairperson of the Indonesian Export Companies Association, Benny Soetrisno; acting director general of higher education research and technology at the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry, Nizam; and head of the Export School, Handito Joewono. Director general of national export development, Didi Sumedi, also attended the event.
The minister said that Indonesia is a part of global trade. In the January–August 2022 period, Indonesia's trade balance recorded a surplus of US$34.92 billion.
In addition, the performance of national exports showed positive results, with total non-oil and gas exports rising by 35.24 percent compared to the year-ago period.
“We must maintain strong economic and trade fundamentals. This can be done with the spirit of good collaboration between the central government, regional governments, and all stakeholders in the trade sector,” Hasan opined.
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He also stressed the importance of building the capability to conduct business digitally because it has become a basic skill for all business actors in the current era.
In addition, the use of digital platforms could help make cross-border marketing and transactions more effective and efficient.
“The digitalization of trade has various good and bad effects. Technological improvements must be balanced with increased expertise possessed by all technology users," Hasan said.
The contribution of exporters to the national economy cannot be underestimated, the minister added. Many Indonesian products have made it to the export market, but there are still products that do not meet export quality standards.
He said he expected the Export School to hone people into reliable exporters who are able to take high-quality, competitive domestic innovations and creations to the global community.
"This ‘2022 National Export Lecture’ is the right step in the preparation (to explore) the existing potentials and opportunities, especially opportunities for Indonesian exporters and potential exporters," he added.
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Translator: Sella P G, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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