Antara News·Indonesia·Monday, November 2, 2026 at 04:01 PM UTC

Modern retail is stepping stone for MSME exports: Trade Minister

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Ricky, Kenzu

Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Budi Santoso stressed that the entry of micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) products into modern retail networks is a strategy to break into the global market while boosting the national trade ecosystem.

"If products have already entered retail, they must be of good quality. It means exporting will be easier,” Santoso said after attending the opening of National Retail Day 2026, held together with National Quality Month, here on Monday.

According to him, modern retail networks are an effective means to raise competitiveness, strengthen quality standardization, and widen market access for local businesses.

Santoso explained that the share of MSME products in modern retail outlets has now reached about 80 percent.

The government, together with associations such as the Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo), continues to provide assistance so local products not only dominate the large domestic market but can also meet export criteria.

The government also facilitates global market links through international exhibitions, the “MSMEs Can Export” program, and various bilateral and regional trade agreements being prepared to widen overseas market access.

“The domestic market is very large, and we must be able to open market access for local products. With quality products, consumers are automatically protected and public purchasing power also rises because the ecosystem runs well,” Santoso said.

To strengthen export penetration, he said the ministry has placed 46 representatives from its Trade Attaché and Indonesia Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) network in 33 countries, ready to assist businesses.

The minister also signaled that international trade agreement cooperation will continue, including finalizing the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA) to open export market access for flagship products such as coffee and chocolate to the European Union.

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