The Ministry of Trade (MoT) through the Directorate General of National Export Development (DGNED) is encouraging businesses to boost exports in 2024. This was conveyed by the Director General of DGNED at MoT, Didi Sumedi, during a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) themed "Exploring Market Diversification in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific" in Surabaya, East Java, recently. The event was attended by representatives from the East Java Provincial Industry and Trade Office, Export Center Surabaya, as well as associations and businesses of all sizes in East Java. One of the suggested efforts to enhance exports is by fully tapping into non-traditional market opportunities. MoT also outlined several strategies to strengthen export performance through product diversification, product quality enhancement, and expanding export markets to non-traditional countries. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia's trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 36.93 billion throughout 2023. Indonesia's exports from January to December 2023 reached USD 258.82 billion, while imports amounted to USD 221.89 billion. "The Ministry of Trade emphasizes the importance of expanding export markets to prospective non-traditional countries. Market diversification is a key success factor in boosting exports. We must continue to explore new export markets, especially in countries with high economic growth potential," said Didi.
Didi added that the FGD held this time provided a platform for the government and businesses to identify prospective non-traditional markets as target penetration for new export markets, particularly in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific regions. Moreover, Didi stressed that the current global economy is facing various challenges including geopolitical uncertainties, commodity price fluctuations, conflicts in various parts of the world, trade tensions among major countries, and changes in global economic policies. All these conditions have direct or indirect impacts on Indonesia's economy. However, amidst this uncertainty, Indonesia continues to strengthen its economic position, including through increasing exports. Specifically, MoT has committed to providing full support to Indonesian exporters through various programs and initiatives including export training, certification assistance, trade missions, and international exhibitions.
