VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said that the cocoa processing industry contributed significantly to foreign exchange amid the pandemic, with an export value of US $549 million in January-June 2020, an increase of 5.13 percent compared to the same period last year.

"Of the production of the cocoa processing industry, we intend 80 percent of the output for the export market. In 2019, processed cocoa products contributed more than the US $1.01 billion in export value," the Minister of Industry after the virtual inauguration of the Pasuruan Cocoa Technical Center Mondelez International, as written in the official statement, Thursday (8/10/2020).

As reported by ANTARA, the Minister of Industry said that the cocoa processing industry has produced various variants, such as cocoa liquor, cocoa cake, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder with the main export in the form of cocoa butter which has spread to countries such as the United States, Netherlands, India, Estonia, Germany, and China.

"For that, we need to continue to spur performance and development to be more competitive in the global arena. We are also working to expand market access for processed cocoa products, and encourage innovation through the use of technology and research activities," said the Minister of Industry.

He is optimistic that the cocoa processing industry can develop well because it is supported by Indonesia's potential as the third cocoa bean processor in the world with a total installed capacity of 800 thousand tons per year from 13 companies.

"We rank the Indonesian cocoa processing industry 3rd in the world after the Netherlands and Ivory Coast," said the Minister of Industry.

Another potential, according to a report by the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) in 2018/2019, is that Indonesia's cocoa bean production is 220 thousand tons, which places Indonesia in 6th place as the largest producing country after Ivory Coast, Ghana, Ecuador, Nigeria and Cameroon.

With the characteristics of Indonesian cocoa beans, which have a high melting point and are rich in fat content, the cocoa processing industry can produce high-quality products in terms of taste, aroma, and even health benefits.

The Minister of Industry welcomed the establishment of the Cocoa Technical Center by Mondelez International in Pasuruan, East Java, with an area of ​​5 hectares and an investment of US $13 million

Executive Vice President and President of Asia, Middle East and Africa of Mondelēz International Maurizio Brusadelli said that sustainable supply of cocoa is the key to long-term growth for Mondelez International in Asia and throughout the world.

"People want delicious snacks and feel comfortable eating them, knowing where the raw materials are obtained and produced in a way that has a better impact on the environment and community," concluded Maurizio. (RRI)