Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government of West Java has flagged off an export of one container of coconut charcoal briquette products worth US$19,200 to Japan. It is said to be the first export products of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
"This achievement was clocked by CV Coco Indonesia Maju, as a participant in the Export Coaching Program (ECP) for the West Java region. The program is a collaboration between the Export and Trade Services HR Training Center (PPEJP) and the West Java Provincial Industry and Trade Service," Secretary General of the Ministry of Trade Suhanto noted in a statement received here, Monday.
The first export was released by Head of PPEJP Sugih Rahmansyah, Head of Foreign Trade of the West Java Provincial Industry and Trade Center M. Lukmanul Hakim, representatives from the West Bandung District Trade Service, Free Trade Agreements (FTA) Bandung Center, and West Java ECP counselor Abdillah Sani.
The release was also witnessed virtually by Indonesian Ambassador to Japan and Micronesia Heri Akhmadi in the company of the Tokyo Trade Attaché Arief Wibisono.
Ambassador Akhmadi highlighted the immense popularity of coconut charcoal briquettes in several countries, including Japan.
"The Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Tokyo is ready to facilitate business owners in Indonesia to promote their products to Japan. We hope that the assistance program would be more intensive to encourage Indonesian exports to Japan," he stated.
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Related news: Some 54 MSMEs contributed to year-end exports worth Rp79.7 billion On the same occasion, Rahmansyah also lauded CV Coco Indonesia Maju, as a West Java millennial MSME, for having succeeded in accomplishing its first export despite it being only the fourth of the eight ECP stages.
"This export release is expected to inspire other ECP participants as well as MSMEs throughout Indonesia to export their products to increase national exports and contribute to economic recovery," he noted.
This achievement is realized due to the commitment and role of the Ministry of Trade's PPEJP in synergy with ministries and agencies, state-owned enterprises, the private sector, and local governments.
The total trade between Indonesia and Japan in 2021 had reached US$32.5 billion. Meanwhile, during the January-July 2022 period, the total was recorded at US$20.2 billion, up 38.9 percent, as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
Indonesia's exports to Japan were recorded at US$11.8 billion, while Indonesia's imports from Japan were clocked at US$8.4 billion.
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