“We now have the CEPA, which is essentially a trade cooperation deal that opens avenues for additional areas of collaboration,” he said after the launch of the Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week (JMFW) 2026 at the Kartika Expo Center in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The minister emphasized that the new pact could potentially help domestic textile companies expand their market reach to South America, beyond their traditional export destinations in Europe and the United States.
“After that, we may as well attempt to penetrate the African market,” Santoso added.
He noted that the government has been pursuing trade negotiations with other countries, including the US, to fully capitalize on the huge potential and value of Indonesia’s fashion industry.
The JMFW, which will be held from November 6–9 this year, will enter its fifth edition in 2026, picking up on the JMFW 2025 held in October 2024.
The minister expressed confidence that the upcoming event will also contribute to the growth of Indonesia’s fashion industry.
“This event will become a catalyst for the cosmetic and fashion industries and facilitate related micro, small, and medium enterprises to broaden the scope of their market abroad,” he elaborated.
The Ministry of Trade has set a transaction target of US$10 million for the JMFW 2026.
According to the ministry’s director general of national export development, Fajarini Puntodewi, this year’s target marks a significant increase from the US$3-million target set for the JMFW 2025, which was exceeded, with US$20.4 million recorded in actual transactions.
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Translator: Imamatul S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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