Eximbank Boosts SME Exports to Canada Through Market Expansion Programme

The Market Access Expansion Programme run by the Indonesian Export Financing Institution (LPEI)/Indonesia Eximbank and the Ministry of Trade has successfully opened the Canadian market for seven export-oriented small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Through collaboration with the Trade Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa, the seven SMEs secured export contracts worth USD 190,000, or approximately Rp 3.4 billion, signed on 11 March 2026. The seven SMEs are PT Kultiva, CV Menara Desa, PT Wins Organic, PT Anak Garuda Sejahtera, PT Indo Tropikal, CV Dua Sholeha, and PT Azaki International. As of 12 June 2026, six SMEs had realised product shipments with a total value of USD 170,000, while PT Azaki International’s shipment worth USD 20,000 is scheduled for July 2026. Products exported include ready-to-eat processed tempeh, coconut sugar and palm sugar, ginger sweets, fried shallots, and fruit crisps. This success is the result of ongoing collaboration between Indonesia Eximbank and the Ministry of Trade in strengthening support for export-oriented SMEs to penetrate international markets. Maria Sidabutar, Head of the Consulting Services Division at Indonesia Eximbank, explained that the Export Market Access Programme aims to help export-oriented SMEs penetrate and compete in the global market. The programme serves as one of Indonesia Eximbank’s strategic instruments for building a sustainable pipeline of new exporters. Beyond increasing production capacity and product quality, the programme also ensures SMEs are prepared in terms of regulations, logistics, and international market penetration strategies. ‘Indonesia Eximbank, through the Export Market Access Programme, provides end-to-end assistance to SMEs, from product curation, quality and packaging improvement, fulfilment of export standards, business matching, to facilitation of international market access expansion. This export release is tangible proof that Indonesian SMEs can penetrate the global market when supported by the right ecosystem,’ Maria stated. The synergy continues through a second market access expansion activity to Canada on 12 May 2026, involving 12 export-oriented SMEs that passed the curation process. Currently, product samples from the SMEs have been sent to prospective buyers in Canada. The products introduced cover various food and beverage categories, including biscuits, skin crisps, spices, gluten-free snacks, ready-to-drink beverages, and sweets. In addition to providing assistance and market access facilitation, Indonesia Eximbank also supports the shipment of product samples to Canada. These samples will be evaluated by prospective buyers as part of the trade cooperation exploration and development process. ‘Through these various initiatives, Indonesia Eximbank, together with the Ministry of Trade and the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa, will continue to expand SME market access abroad, particularly to Canada, enhance the competitiveness of national products, and encourage the emergence of new exporters capable of contributing to sustainable Indonesian export growth,’ Maria added. Trade Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa, Mahdewi Silky, noted that Canada remains a promising market for healthy foods, organic products, and tropical fruit-based products from Indonesia. Indonesian products have received a positive response in the Canadian market, especially banana chips, mango-based processed products, and mango raw materials which hold potential. This positive trend is reflected in the export value of Indonesian processed food products under HS codes 16-21 to Canada, which increased significantly from USD 56.35 million in 2023 to USD 116.56 million in 2025, representing a growth of 106.85% over the past two years. ‘The increase in Indonesian processed food exports to Canada over the past two years shows that the Canadian market opportunity for Indonesian value-added products remains very large. The Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa will continue to strengthen synergy with the Ministry of Trade, Indonesia Eximbank, and business actors to expand the promotion of Indonesian products and open more trade cooperation opportunities in the Canadian market,’ Mahdewi stated.