General Chairman of Gerakan Garuda Biru Indonesia Conducts Business Roadshow to China
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, GUANGZHOU – Nofalia Heikal Safar, General Chairman of Yayasan Garuda Biru Indonesia and Yayasan Salman Peduli Berkarya, conducted a roadshow to China over eight days. The visit began in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and concluded in Beijing from 23-30 April 2026.
According to Nofalia, her visit was to attend the Canton Fair, or China Import and Export Fair, in China, which has been running since 1957. By observing the exhibition directly, she aims to develop Indonesian culinary businesses as well as other Indonesian products that can be exported to the Land of the Bamboo Curtain.
After conducting observations, she found that products that can be sold to China include major commodities from Indonesian farmers. These include pepper, nutmeg seeds, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and turmeric.
“Since our country Indonesia is the second largest supplier of pepper and the largest first for nutmeg seeds or nutmeg flowers to China,” said Nofalia, accompanied by Heikal Safar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan Garuda Biru Indonesia and Yayasan Salman Peduli Berkarya, in a press release in Jakarta on Monday (27/4/2026).
“Other products like kemiri and vanilla are also in demand, supported by high demand for the culinary and traditional medicine industries,” Nofalia added. According to her, based on recent developments, the promotion of culinary collaboration between Indonesia and China is more focused on building kitchen infrastructure for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme.
She wants to establish strategic partnerships, rather than conventional commercial restaurant expansion. Nofalia revealed that a collaboration has been formed between the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce China Committee (KIKT) and China for the construction of 1,000 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG). These kitchens will later support the MBG programme.
“Investment in MBG kitchens, Chinese entrepreneurs offer participation and investment in the project to build 1,000 Gotong Royong MBG kitchens in Indonesia,” said Nofalia.