The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) reported a meeting between Indonesian exporters and Canadian importers, yielding a potential transaction of USD 1.8 million or IDR 26 billion for processed food and beverages. The event, attended by 29 Indonesian exporters and five Canadian importing companies, focused on enhancing exports of processed food and beverages globally. Didi Sumedi, the Director-General of National Export Development (PEN) at Kemendag, highlighted the product interest, including organic spices, coffee, coconut derivatives, and nuts and their derivatives. Other commodities offered by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) included spices, organic rice, seafood, soy sauce, dried fruits, virgin coconut oil, and certified products. These meetings were part of the collaboration between the Directorate General of PEN at Kemendag and Canada's Trade Facilitation Office (TFO). Kemendag also consistently organizes bilateral negotiation forums with the Canadian government to actualize the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement.
During the three-day purchasing mission from February 5 to 7, 2024, potential buyers expressed a desire for Indonesian SME representatives to send product samples aligned with Canadian market trends. Buyers anticipated receiving sample products with wholesale price details for export purposes. The PEN Directorate-General will continue monitoring the negotiation progress among participating business entities. Canada stands as Indonesia's trading partner, ranking 30th globally. In 2022, Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports to Canada reached USD 1.27 billion, marking a 9.21% growth over the past five years. Statistics Canada reported Canada's global food product imports at USD 27.9 billion in 2022, reflecting a shift in importing policies due to disruptions in the global supply chain caused by the Russia-Ukraine war. In 2022, Indonesia's food exports to Canada amounted to USD 68.62 million, with a notable 26.42% growth over the past five years. Essential Indonesian foods for the Canadian market include safe-to-consume vegetable or animal oils, pineapples, shrimp, crab, pasta, wafers, sweet biscuits, coffee extracts, sugar, and other sweeteners, as well as processed squid.
