The export sector of West Java predominantly relies on non-oil and gas commodities, particularly within the Manufacturing Industry, contributing up to 98.48%. The major export groups within this sector include vehicles and their components at 20.83%, followed by electrical machinery and equipment at 13.45%. Conversely, plastics and plastic products constitute the smallest portion at 1.96%. To promote non-oil and gas exports, the West Java Industry and Trade Office (Disperindag) has implemented various strategies, such as national and international trade exhibitions, digitalization, and networking management. The head of Disperindag, Noneng Komara Nengsih, emphasized the promotion of products through trade shows and overseas business missions, leveraging trade representatives abroad, such as Trade Attaches, Indonesia Trade Promotion Centers (ITPC), or Economic/Trade Functions at embassies, facilitating business catalogs and product samples, and organizing Business Matching events. Utilizing digital technologies, the agency implemented the Indag Foreign Trade Integrated System (INFINITY), integrating export-related databases from various stakeholders in West Java's export industry.
The government's efforts included the strategic participation in international exhibitions throughout 2023. These included the Tokyo International Gift Show (TIGS) in February, Specialty Coffee Expo in Oregon, Portland, USA, in March, Thaifex Anuga Asia in Thailand, Seoul Food in South Korea in June, and Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) in September. Additionally, they engaged in the Centrestage Exhibition in Hong Kong in September and the Vietnam Food Expo in December. These exhibitions aimed to showcase products ranging from fashion to processed food items and agricultural commodities. Despite the recorded export value reaching USD 3.12 billion in 2023, a 2.43% increase compared to September 2023, there was a decrease of 0.84% when compared to the same period in October 2022. The cumulative export value from January to October 2023 stood at USD 30.76 billion, marking a decrease of 5.54% from the same period in 2022. Challenges faced by SMEs include product quality improvement and enhancing production capacities to meet buyers' demands. Disperindag Jabar is committed to supporting SMEs through packaging facilitation, training programs, technical guidance, and promotional activities to boost their export capabilities.
