The Ministry of Trade is actively focusing on promoting trade expansion towards inclusive and sustainable economic growth, aiming to strengthen the foundation of the envisioned transformation. Minister Zulkifli Hasan emphasized this during the Trade Ministry's Working Meeting in Semarang on Tuesday (20/2). The Trade Ministry's 2024 Working Meeting aims to formulate strategies and work programs for the next 1-2 years, with a primary focus on strengthening domestic markets and supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Efforts to expand markets overseas to boost exports are also key agenda items. Minister Hasan highlighted the importance of formulating strategies to strengthen domestic markets, increase exports, improve governance, develop human resources internally, and enhance the overall trade sector.
Efforts are underway to increase non-oil and gas (non-migas) exports to non-traditional regions, such as Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin America, which have been under-optimized. Non-migas exports to the Middle East grew by 25.21% and to South Asia by 31.75% compared to 2021. India has emerged as Indonesia's largest non-migas trade surplus contributor, surpassing the United States in 2023 with a surplus value of USD 14.51 billion. However, Minister Hasan acknowledged that Indonesia's exports to Africa and Latin America remain stagnant. He commended his team for various achievements, including maintaining economic growth consistently above 5%, and noted that the trade sector was the second-largest contributor to economic growth in 2023, accounting for 12.94% and showing an increase from the previous year. Furthermore, he highlighted the successful management of inflation, decreasing from 5.5% in 2022 to 2.61% in 2023, attributing this achievement to the concerted efforts of his ministry and other governmental institutions.
