Exploring Jamu's Cultural Heritage as a Sustainable Industry
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Indonesia has a long-standing tradition of using jamu as part of its cultural and health practices. This tradition is supported by the country’s rich biodiversity, with 30,000 plant species potentially serving as raw materials for medicines.
Over time, jamu has evolved into more modern products relevant to contemporary needs, demonstrating Indonesia’s potential to become a global medical excellence hub.
The Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) encourages healthy living through jamu consumption while strengthening the herbal industry ecosystem via regulations, SME support, and cross-sector collaboration. BPOM also oversees production and distribution to ensure safety.
Currently, there are 71 standardised herbal medicines and 20 phytopharmaceuticals out of over 18,000 registered jamu products. With an estimated annual economic potential of Rp350 trillion, the jamu industry is a strategic sector requiring continued development.
National Jamu Day presents a key opportunity to revitalise jamu’s role not just as cultural heritage, but as a sustainable industry.
To this end, CNBC Indonesia is hosting the Health Forum 2026 under the theme ‘From Cultural Heritage to a Sustainable Jamu Industry’. The event will take place on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, from 10:00 to 12:00 WIB.
The forum will provide a platform for regulators and industry players to discuss strategies for enhancing jamu’s competitiveness and relevance in the future.
As a special CNBC Indonesia TV talkshow, the Health Forum examines jamu’s role as an evolving Indonesian cultural heritage integrated into modern, sustainable healthcare.
Attendees include BPOM Chief Taruna Ikrar, BPOM Deputy for Traditional Medicine, Health Supplements, and Cosmetics Oversight Mohamad Kashuri, Jamu Entrepreneurs’ Association (GP Jamu) Chairman Jony Yuwono, and PT Phytochemindo Reksa President Director Patrick Kalona. They will discuss BPOM policy directions, cross-sector collaboration, and opportunities to make jamu more relevant, competitive, and accepted in both domestic and global markets.