Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga said Indonesia's trade balance cumulatively for the January - July 2021 period, a surplus of 14.42 billion US dollars. "Praise God, Alhamdulillah, Indonesia's trade balance has a surplus of USD 14.42 billion. This is the highest record since the last 10 years, the last being in 2011," said Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry during the declaration of the construction of the Culinary and Souvenir Snack Center in Likupang, Minahasa Regency, Wednesday.
This achievement, he said, was in accordance with President Joko Widodo's directive to the Ministry of Trade to achieve a trade balance surplus. "What does it mean, the value of our exports is greater than the value of our imports. Hopefully we can maintain and improve this in the coming years," he said. This trade balance surplus, continued the Vice Minister of Trade, cannot be separated from the contributions of all parties in the Ministry of Trade, central and regional ministries and institutions. This surplus balance was also contributed by the Province of North Sulawesi. "Thank you to the Governor, Deputy Governor and staff who continue to contribute concretely and significantly to the trade balance surplus. Thank you also to the regencies and cities," he said.
The Deputy Minister gave an example of how the North Sulawesi Provincial Government expanded exports using Garuda aircraft to carry products directly exported to Japan. This breakthrough, according to him, is the local government's effort to ensure products are released quickly to increase exports. "We mapped all the products, identified and ensured, we also used the supports from the Ministry of Trade. We have trade attachés and the Indonesia Trade Promotion Center that can be used," he said. Currently, there are 44 representatives of countries conducting Business Matching between buyers and sellers, including products originating from North Sulawesi. "This can be done massively, there is an opportunity to ensure products can be purchased abroad," he said.
According to the Deputy Minister of Trade, the Ministry of Trade has an export training center whose purpose is to conduct advocacy training, assistance and ensure that all Indonesian products, including North Sulawesi, enter the export market. This training center will provide technical assistance regarding packaging to ensure that the product is well packaged and supports exports abroad.
