On 1 August 2025, the Ministry of Trade officially opened new Export Centres in Balikpapan and Batam. These centres form part of a strategy to strengthen the national export ecosystem, with a particular focus on micro, small, and medium enterprises (Usaha Mikro, Kecil, dan Menengah/UMKM). The Export Center plays a role in promoting the Ministry of Trade's flagship program, "UMKM Dare to Innovate and Adapt (Berani Inovasi Siap Adaptasi/BISA) for Export," which, from January to July 2025, facilitated business matching for 800 UMKM with a potential export value of USD 90.04 million. The Export Center will connect to 46 Indonesian trade representatives in 33 countries, comprising Trade Attaches and Indonesian Trade Promotion Centers (ITPC). This collaboration will assist in product marketing, bridging negotiations, and facilitating business matching.
Minister of Trade Budi Santoso emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Export Center and local governments in selecting and fostering export-oriented UMKM, particularly in the non-oil and gas sector. The Balikpapan Export Center is set to become a regional export development hub, with the aim of reaching a broader audience through the dedicated efforts of export extension workers at the regency and city levels in East Kalimantan. The Balikpapan Export Center will cover the Kalimantan region, and the Batam Export Center will cover the Sumatra region, both under the coordination of the Directorate General of National Export Development (Ditjen PEN). The Export Centre provides a comprehensive range of professional services to assist businesses in navigating the complexities of international trade. These services include expert consultation on export procedures, product standardisation, access to financing, and promotion of the utilisation of international trade agreements.
