The Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, supports chocolate producers in Blitar to expand into international markets through exports. He believes that Indonesia’s chocolate quality is competitive on the global stage. To assist local chocolate producers, the Ministry of Trade has prioritized the "UMKM BISA Ekspor" program, which encourages micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to innovate and adapt for export. Budi emphasized that chocolate in Blitar is sourced from local farmers and sold domestically, and now the focus is on helping these producers tap into export markets.

During his visit to Kampung Coklat in Blitar, East Java, Budi highlighted opportunities for local producers if they take advantage of the UMKM BISA Ekspor program. The program not only opens export markets for local chocolate but also promotes the downstream processing of chocolate, enabling Indonesia to export finished chocolate products rather than just raw materials. Budi pointed out the importance of ensuring that Indonesia becomes a producer of finished chocolate in the global market, rather than just an exporter of raw ingredients. Kampung Coklat has participated in capacity-building programs for export and received the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification in 2024. The Ministry also facilitates these companies through initiatives like the New Export Breakthrough (NEXT) program, which provides export mentoring for selected companies in the plantation sector.

Source:
https://www.antaranews.com/berita/4626561/mendag-dorong-produsen-coklat-untuk-ekspor