East Java Government Accelerates Green Industry to Boost Export Competitiveness

Surabaya (ANTARA) - The East Java Provincial Government is accelerating the development of the green industry through guidance and cross-sector collaboration to broaden opportunities and the export competitiveness of domestic products.

Head of the East Java Industry and Trade Office (Disperindag) Iwan said the acceleration had become a necessity because products marketed abroad are required to meet sustainability standards through green industry certification.

“If our industry enters export markets abroad, one of the certification requirements is this green industry standard,” said Iwan at the Jatim Catalyst - Industry-Startup Partnership for Green Transition event in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday.

He explained that the number of industry players in East Java that have already obtained green industry certification remains limited, so the regional government continues to provide guidance, now strengthened through partnerships with various parties so that the transformation process runs more quickly.

According to him, green industry certification involves fairly lengthy stages and parameters, requiring synergy between the government, the business community, support institutions, and clean technology providers.

At present, he said, East Java has considerable capital to accelerate this transformation, given that the manufacturing sector is the main pillar of the regional economy.

In the first quarter of 2026, East Java’s economy grew 5.96 per cent year on year, with its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) reaching Rp888.44 trillion, contributing 14.36 per cent to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The manufacturing sector contributed 31.45 per cent to East Java’s GRDP and grew 5.98 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, higher than national industrial growth, which was recorded at 5.04 per cent.

“The transformation towards an industry that is more efficient, low-carbon, and sustainable is a strategic step that must continue to be driven to maintain a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability,” he said.

Meanwhile, Director of New Energy Nexus Indonesia Diyanto Imam said the organisation had begun cooperation by mapping the needs of industries in East Java so that the solutions provided match the challenges faced by business players.

Therefore, he said, with this approach, the mapping results will later serve as the basis for developing guidance programmes and clean technology adoption for industry players, both small and medium industries (IKM) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

This, he continued, can support the low-carbon industrial development target already programmed by the East Java Provincial Government.

“The green industry is not only for large industries, but we also want to ensure that IKM and SMEs can enter this ecosystem,” he said.