Government Strengthens MSME Assistance in Navigating Export Regulations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) continues to strengthen assistance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to ensure they are capable of meeting various export requirements imposed by destination countries.
The Director of Export Development for Services and Creative Products at the Ministry of Trade, Ari Satria, stated that export regulations for primary products, such as food, beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, tend to be stricter than non-food products because they directly relate to human health.
“In destination countries, regulations regarding these items will certainly be more complex than if we were exporting furniture or handicrafts,” Ari said in Jakarta on Sunday.
According to him, business actors need to understand various provisions, ranging from food safety certifications and Halal certificates to other standards required by each destination country.
“Our MSME partners must be equipped with various certifications that are specifically aligned with their target export markets,” he added.
In addition to providing training to business actors, the Ministry of Trade is also actively socialising various new regulations emerging in the global market, including rules regarding sustainability and the environment.
Ari cited several policies that are currently drawing the attention of exporters, such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which regulates plantation products, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBerm), which relates to carbon emissions.
“We must certainly socialise existing overseas regulations to our export partners. Not only MSMEs, but large companies also occasionally require further understanding,” he said.
He added that this assistance is also conducted through the network of Indonesian trade representatives abroad, who provide input regarding certifications and additional requirements before products are marketed in destination countries.
According to Ari, this step is part of the government’s effort to increase the readiness of national exporters so that Indonesian products do not encounter administrative hurdles or rejections when entering international markets.
“The task of our trade representatives, in addition to promotion, is to provide market intelligence. They must understand market potential, regulations, import tariffs, competitors, and even consumer behaviour,” said Ari.