Ministry of Trade launched the Aku Siap Export (ASE) 2.0 program in Jakarta on Wednesday (23/2/2022). The program is a continuation of the first phase of the ASE program but with a wider range of products and export market coverage. “ASE phase 1 was enthusiastically welcomed by exporters. Therefore, the Ministry of Trade launched a second program under the name ASE 2.0. The scope of this program is expanded, not only for home decoration products, but also furniture and lifestyle products," said Director General of National Export Development, Didi Sumedi, in his official statement, Thursday (24/2/2022). Didi continued, the target market for ASE 2.0 was expanded to include countries that have trade agreements with Indonesia, both regionally and bilaterally, including Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, South Korea, Chile, China, Mozambique, and ASEAN countries. "It is hoped that Indonesian exporters will be more proactive in taking advantage of the tariff reduction preferences and encourage export development to non-traditional countries," he said. In this program, the Ministry of Trade again collaborates with other agencies to maximize achievements. Cooperation is carried out, among others, with the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the National Crafts Council (Dekranas), the Indonesian Furniture and Handicraft Industry Association (HIMKI), the Business and Export Development Organization (BEDO).
The program is targeted to provide assistance to 50 business actors who will previously be selected strictly. “The greater one this partnership pattern is ideal because exporters and MSME players can help and collaborate with each other," said Director of Export Development Cooperation Made Marthini as ASE Program Coordinator. Made further explained, this program is specially designed for companies that already have export capacity. The program will last for one year consisting of workshops both online and offline with simulation practices, assignments, business meetings, private mentoring, local market orientation missions; and participation in domestic and foreign exhibitions such as the Indonesia International Furniture Expo (IFEX), Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI), or other international exhibitions. "Business actors will gain knowledge to export their products from the experts involved and can increase a turnover of USD 50,000 or USD 2.5 million for 50 SMEs after joining this program," said Made. Previously, the 1st ASE phase had been implemented since June 2021 and had entered the middle of the road. Along the way, this program has successfully recorded a potential export transaction of IDR 5.6 billion, as well as a potential transaction for the domestic market of IDR 6.8 billion.
