"We have the Bisa Ekspor (You Can Export) program. That is why I am confident that if MSME products are of good quality, they can be exported," Santoso said during a visit to Batang district, Central Java, on Friday.
He noted that the ministry has encouraged local governments to identify MSME products with export potential and report them to the central government.
"For example, the Batang district government can first curate several MSME products. Then, those can be submitted to us for scheduling in business matching sessions with overseas representatives," he explained.
So far, business matchmaking initiatives have connected 609 MSMEs with international partners. From January to June 2025, these efforts generated transactions worth US$87.04 million, Santoso reported.
The government is also offering internship opportunities at Indonesian trade representative offices abroad for students and young entrepreneurs.
"We want university graduates to become entrepreneurs. They can directly learn to be importers abroad and then return home to become exporters," he said.
Beyond overseas markets, Santoso also emphasized the need to prioritize local products in domestic trade.
"We must not let retail shelves be dominated by imported goods. MSME products must take the lead, of course, with competitive quality," he said.
He highlighted bilateral partnerships such as the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA) and cooperation with Canada as avenues to expand MSME access to global markets.
Santoso called for stronger collaboration among the central government, regional governments, retailers, and MSMEs to foster a healthy, inclusive trade ecosystem.
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Translator: Kutnadi, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
