Indonesian coffee entered the market in the European Balkans with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), between an Indonesian coffee producer and a Croatian company, according to a written statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Zagreb, Wednesday (10/11/2021). The export agreement is worth 1.05 million US dollars (around Rp. 15 billion) per year. “This is the first time that Indonesian coffee will penetrate the market in the Balkans with the original brand of Indonesian coffee. So Indonesia will no longer only sell raw coffee beans to Europe, but will actually export finished Indonesian coffee products to Europe," said the Charge d'Affaires of the Indonesian Embassy in Zagreb, Elbanita Ruru.

He emphasized that the signing of the MoU was proof that the economic diplomacy of the Indonesian Embassy in Zagreb did not stop during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, this cooperation is the beginning of the expansion of Indonesian coffee to the Balkan countries which include Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Turkey. "The successful signing of the MoU for Indonesian coffee exports is expected to encourage other companies in Indonesia to be able to look at the market potential of countries in the Balkans, especially Croatia," said Elbanita. The Indonesian Embassy in Zagreb itself continues to encourage economic diplomacy activities in Croatia, which he said could be the entry point for Indonesian exports to countries in the Balkan region, he said. The signing of the MoU was carried out by the President Director of Citra Usaha Anugerah Enjoyndo, Maurice Manurung and the Marketing Director of ICCA d.o.o Ivan Filipovic. ICCA d.o.o will buy ready-to-eat coffee products from Citra Usaha at least 100 tons per year for three years.

Sources: https://www.tvonenews.com/berita/ekonomi/13491-kopi-indonesia-rambah-pasar-balkan-eropa?page=all