Smesco, an institution facilitating marketing access for SMEs, is actively striving to penetrate the UK market with Indonesian SME culinary products, notably through the Halal Expo regularly held there. Wientor Rah Mada, Smesco Indonesia's Director of Business and Marketing, revealed collaborations with the British Embassy in Jakarta and the Indonesian Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs Association (GAPMMI) to introduce Indonesian SME products to the Halal Expo. Recognizing the vast potential of the Halal Expo as a gateway for Indonesian culinary exports to enter the broader European supply chain, Wientor highlighted significant challenges, primarily food safety standards. He emphasized the necessity of stringent food safety standards for Indonesian SME products to gain entry into the UK market. Barikatul Hikmah Albar Salim, Manager of the Future Cities Program at the British Embassy, noted the UK's high food safety standards, while British exporters targeting Indonesia prioritize halal aspects. She expressed hope that Smesco could encourage SMEs to explore the UK market, originating from trade expos.

Adhi S Lukman, Chairman of GAPMMI, highlighted the collaboration's potential to enhance Indonesia's food and beverage industry competitiveness globally, emphasizing quality, food safety, and compliance with international standards. Indonesia offers significant market potential for British entrepreneurs, evident in high levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the food and beverage sector. FDI data indicates 2,899 foreign direct investment projects in the food and beverage industry, totaling USD 2.139 billion. Indonesia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) performs well, reaching USD 1.4 trillion, with 51% allocated to food consumption and 16.32% to processed food consumption, signaling ample business opportunities. The convergence of efforts from Smesco, GAPMMI, and British authorities underscores a strategic initiative to bolster Indonesia's SMEs presence in the UK market, leveraging culinary excellence and adhering to international standards for sustainable growth.
 
Source: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/4036023/smesco-upayakan-produk-kuliner-umkm-indonesia-masuk-pasar-inggris