The Indonesian Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) highlighted a key step in boosting the country’s culinary exports by facilitating a Letter of Intent (LoI) signing between an Indonesian soy sauce producer and a leading Dutch importer and distributor. The agreement, worth about USD 120,000 (around IDR 2 billion), was signed between PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk (brand: Bango) and InterAromat BV during the Horecava 2026 food exhibition in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This strategic cooperation is part of the ministry’s effort to strengthen the presence of Indonesian gastronomy products in European markets, with Kemendag emphasizing that Indonesia’s distinctive soy sauce flavor gives it competitive potential abroad.
Director General of National Export Development Fajarini Puntodewi said the market research by InterAromat indicated that Indonesian soy sauce has qualities not yet matched by similar products currently available in the Netherlands, suggesting strong prospects for expansion into other European countries. Kemendag hopes that this collaboration will not only expand market access but also pave the way for other Indonesian processed food products to enter the global market sustainably. The initiative also builds on the S’RASA program, a culinary promotion initiative launched in 2025 to support Indonesian food abroad, and aligns with broader efforts to use culinary diplomacy to boost spice and ingredient exports through Indonesian restaurants overseas.
