Stakeholders comprise Bank Indonesia, the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, Consulate General of Indonesia in Guangzhou, and Wellica Corp.
"Establishment of this very strategic Indonesia Trading House Guangzhou can serve as a trade hub and for promotion of Indonesian MSMEs, so they can penetrate the Chinese market, (and function as an) omni-channel, both online and offline," Cooperatives and Small, Medium Enterprises Minister Teten Masduki said.
Speaking during the online launch of the Indonesia Trading House Guangzhou accessed here on Thursday, Masduki said China is a strategic trade partner for Indonesia, as it has a population of 1.4 billion and significant disposable income per capita.
Moreover, he said Statistics Indonesia stated that the trend of trade between China and Indonesia in 2022 was capped at US$149.41 billion, an increase by 20.16 percent as compared to the previous year.
Indonesia also recorded a trade surplus of US$6.4 billion, an increase by 118.96 percent as compared to the previous year, he elaborated.
"It is expected that in 2023, with this Indonesia Trading House, there will be greater improvement in exports, particularly for MSME products and commodities, which are in high demand, such as coffee, cocoa, spices, and swift's nest," he stated.
Currently, the government is actively pushing for market expansion through Indonesian Trading Houses, so MSMEs can sell their products globally, he affirmed.
It is expected that in 2024, these houses can be established in Switzerland, China, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the United States, Masduki noted.
According to the minister, the trading house can be used to host activities, such as bazaar, cultural night, food tasting, restaurant and cafe, consultation, business matching, market intelligence, warehouse, logistics consolidations, MSMEs coaching, and as a fulfillment center.
"All of these are things required by MSMEs players," he affirmed.
The trading house is expected to bridge MSMEs' entry into the Chinese market and develop national products' branding.
On the same occasion, Ambassador of Indonesia to China Djauhari Oratmangun stated that the Indonesia Trading House Guangzhou can push up the rate of exports to China.
"We expect that by establishing the trading house, it can improve the export rate of Indonesia and China. Last year, our exports reached US$150 billion, and with the establishment of the trading house, it can push up our exports and also push up MSMEs' contribution in exports," he remarked.
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Translator: Kuntum Khaira Riswan, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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