He said relying solely on comparative advantage from raw spices would leave Indonesia unable to compete with major spice producers such as India and China.
“If our advantage is only comparative, we cannot surpass India and China,” Santoso said in a statement here on Thursday.
Therefore, the Ministry of Trade welcomed the launch of the 2025–2045 Spice Roadmap initiated by the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas). Target commodities in the roadmap include nutmeg, pepper, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, and temulawak or Javanese turmeric.
This strategic step is considered crucial to restore the glory of the archipelago's spices and strengthen Indonesia’s position in the global market.
He stressed that the ministry, which operates in the downstream sector, has a role to market products. The main challenge arises when the products remain raw materials or commodities without added value.
According to him, spice downstreaming must be resource-based to create value-added products, which in turn provide the competitive advantage needed to penetrate international markets.
“So, for exports, the resource base must be considered. The resource base is this downstreaming. Once downstreamed, we gain a competitive advantage,” he explained.
He explained that the ministry has carried out strategic measures to promote spice trade globally, including opening export market access through trade agreements and programs like encouraging small businesses to export their products by facilitating them through 46 Indonesian trade representatives in 33 countries.
The ministry also develops Desa BISA Ekspor or export-oriented villages and collaborates with five ministries and agencies on the Rasa Rempah Indonesia (S’RASA) culinary program to promote Indonesian cuisine abroad, boosting spice and seasoning exports.
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Translator: Maria, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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