The Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, officially dispatched 14 containers of fish crackers and traditional chili sauce ("sambal uleg") exports to the United States and the Netherlands on Tuesday (3/12/2024). The export ceremony was held at PT Sekar Laut Tbk's factory in Sidoarjo. The export to the Netherlands is valued at USD 400,000 (approximately IDR 6.3 billion), while the shipment to the U.S. amounts to USD 52,000 (around IDR 828 million). This marks the third export milestone for PT Sekar Laut Tbk. In his remarks, Budi praised the company for its growth from a small enterprise to a global exporter and expressed hope for more Indonesian businesses, including MSMEs, to expand their export reach. He highlighted the government’s continuous support, including through overseas representatives promoting MSME products in global markets.
Budi also emphasized Indonesia’s 54-month trade surplus streak and its alignment with policies to diversify export markets. He encouraged strategic partnerships between large corporations like PT Sekar Laut Tbk and MSMEs to enhance export capabilities. Similarly, Willy Gunawan, President Director of PT Sekar Laut Tbk, noted that Indonesia's processed food exports grew by 6.81% from 2019-2023, with January-August 2024 exports reaching USD 3.6 billion, a 6.48% increase from the previous year. Willy credited this achievement to maintaining product quality, embracing women's empowerment, and collaborating with local farmers and fishers. These exports signify Indonesia’s ability to compete in international markets, underscoring the success of government and private sector collaboration in strengthening the nation’s global trade presence.
