VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia, as one of the best spice-producing countries in the world, seeks to increase people's prosperity through international trade. One of them is with India, the third main destination country for Indonesian spice exports. Indonesian Director General of National Export Development, Didi Sumedi said in a webinar last Wednesday (27/100 that India is now a strategic trade partner of Indonesia.

The webinar was a series of activities at the Trade Expo Indonesia-Digital Edition 2021 that has taken place from 21 October to 4 November 2021 online interactively and until 20 December 2021 with a showcase. This webinar was joined by Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Mumbai Agus Saptono, Deputy for Tourism and Creative Economy Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Odo RM Manuhutu and Regional Director of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India, Pritee Chaudhary.

Didi Sumedi hopes that this activity will be used to expand the spice market in both countries. He also said that Indonesia has abundant spices and exports from January to August 2021 were recorded at more than US$500 million, an increase of almost 13 percent compared to the same period last year. Indonesia's main export products for spices are nutmeg, cloves, white pepper, cinnamon and cardamom.

Meanwhile, Consul General Agus Saptono in his speech said that this webinar aims to provide information and literacy regarding market access for spices and spice products which have been the main trade between the two countries since hundreds of years ago. Spices have also a significant role in the history of public relations between the two countries. According to him, this webinar is also a means of information on strategic approaches for stakeholders, small and medium enterprises that can be a catalyst for the added value of spice products.

Agus Saptono added that the demand for Indonesian spices from the Indian market is increasing rapidly even amid the Covid-19 pandemic. India with a population of around 1.4 billion is a nation that has a habit of consuming food and drink containing spices in their daily lives. This means that India is a market for spices and processed products of extraordinary Indonesian spices.