Jakarta – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia), the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemendag RI), and Astra have joined forces to launch the Smart Export Strategy class at the 2025 Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI), held in BSD, Tangerang, on Friday, October 17, 2025.

This program addresses a persistent issue among Indonesian MSMEs: while many have high-quality products, they often fall short when it comes to strategy. Of the more than 66 million MSMEs in Indonesia, only around 35,000 to 40,000 are actively engaged in export activities.

Meanwhile, the national target calls for 500,000 new exporters by 2030, while MSMEs currently contribute less than 15% to total exports. This significant gap highlights the urgent need to improve human capital in the export sector.

Juan Permata Adoe, Vice Chairman for Export Development Coordination at Kadin Indonesia, described the collaboration as a vital step toward strengthening Indonesia’s global competitiveness amid a global economic slowdown.

"Indonesia needs assertive exporters, not reactive ones. Global players win markets because they prepare strategies — not because they wait for opportunities,” Juan said.

Similarly, Sugih Rahmansyah, Head of the Center for the Development of Export-Oriented Human Resources and Trade Services (PPEJP) at the Ministry of Trade, emphasized that exporting is no longer just about logistics or shipping goods.

"It’s about understanding markets and managing bargaining positions. We aim to produce exporters who think globally and strategically from the production stage — not only after the product is ready to ship,” he said in a written statement.

From the private sector, Rahmat Samulo, Chairman of the Dharma Bakti Astra Foundation (YDBA), views strengthening export-focused human resources as a long-term investment in Indonesia’s economic resilience.

"We don’t see this training as a CSR activity, but as an investment. If SMEs understand strategy, they can level up and enter the global supply chain,” Rahmat stated.

With the theme “Discover Indonesia’s Excellence: Trade Beyond Boundaries,” TEI 2025 serves as a platform for shifting Indonesia’s export paradigm — from commodity-based to strategy- and value-added-based. The Smart Export Strategy class is more than just a training session; it marks the beginning of a national movement to strengthen export capabilities, placing human capital at the core of competitiveness.