In a show of its support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the government through the Trade Ministry has helped Indonesian fish producers to expand their market globally by exporting dried fish to Taiwan.

 

The export of two tons of dried fish to Taiwan was the first of its kind as a result of cooperation between Trade Ministry’s directorate general for National Export Development (PEN) and Indonesian representatives in Taipei. Both offices work to facilitate SMEs to expand to global market through business matching.

 

“This export is a form of the government's real support in developing Go Global SMEs. This export market penetration is a long and not easy process so that the success of SMEs in penetrating the global market is a proud achievement and must be developed," said PEN director general Didi Sumedi as he witnessed the export sending-off ceremony.

 

Also present at the export ceremony were head of the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office in Taipei, Taiwan, Budi Santoso; director of Export Product Development of the Directorate General of National Export Development Miftah Farid; and director of PT Kartika Amanah Sejahtera Sri Hendarto.

 

According to Didi, Taiwan has a potential market. One of them is due to the high number of Indonesians living in Taiwan which is the largest in the world, which is around 300,000 people. In addition, Taiwan is a country with fairly high-quality standards. This means that SMEs that have penetrated the Taiwan market can meet global standards.

 

“The large number of Indonesian diaspora in Taiwan can be used to help boost export to Taiwan. In the future, IETO [Indonesia Economy and Trade Office] is expected to continue to develop and penetrate Taiwan market through the [Indonesian] diaspora," explained Didi.

 

Meanwhile, Budi said that IETO Taipei continues to make various efforts to increase Indonesian exports to Taiwan with various limitations due to the ongoing pandemic. One way that is often done is through virtual business matching by coordinating with the Directorate General of National Export Development on a regular basis.

 

“Facilitating business meetings between Indonesian SMEs and Taiwanese companies is a priority for IETO. The diaspora that reaches 300,000 people, can maximize the marketing of SME products as well as becoming the entry point for Indonesian products to Taiwan. The release of this initial export is a tangible form of the Ministry of Trade's support for SMEs to be more confident in penetrating the global market, especially to Taiwan," explained Budi.

 

Hendarto appreciates the government's support which has facilitated business meetings with importers from Taiwan. "It is hoped that the release of the first export will be a step to expand the export market of countries in other Asian regions," he said.

 

In the January-August 2021 period, the Indonesia-Taiwan trade balance recorded a surplus of USD1.36 billion. The surplus was contributed by the non-oil and gas sector of USD1 billion and the surplus in the oil and gas sector of USD 363 million.

In that period, Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports to Taiwan were dominated by iron and steel (HS 72) with a value of USD1.5 billion or grew 136 percent (YoY).

 

Then followed by coal (HS 27) with a value of USD680.39 million, or up 3.8 percent. Products with the highest export growth included metal ore, slag and ash (HS 26) which increased by 10,276.4 percent and copper (HS 74) by 226.3 percent (YoY).

 

Meanwhile, Indonesia's largest imported product from Taiwan was machinery/electrical equipment (HS). 85) with a value of USD 992.10 million, followed by mechanical aircraft commodities (HS 84) valued at USD 314.55 million; plastics and plastic goods (HS 39) valued at USD 264.8 million; and iron and steel (HS 72) valued at USD 156.24 million. (KH)