Indonesia Drives Exports at China-ASEAN Expo, 2025 Transactions Reach Rp2.17 Trillion
Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) held a Kick-off Meeting for Indonesia’s participation in China-ASEAN Expo (Caexpo) 2026 at the ministry’s Jakarta office on Friday, 13 March 2026. The meeting was attended by various ministries, agencies, local governments, business associations, and entrepreneurs. The event aimed to align government and business sector efforts in maximising export opportunities to China through the Caexpo momentum this year. Previously, Indonesia’s participation in Caexpo 2025 recorded total transactions of US$132.07 million, equivalent to approximately Rp2.179 trillion.
Indonesia will participate in the 23rd Caexpo 2026 at Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, Nanning, China, from 17–21 September 2026. Fajarini Puntodewi, Director General of National Export Development at Kemendag, stated that Caexpo 2026 could be utilised by business actors to introduce Indonesia’s various flagship products whilst strengthening trade, investment, tourism, and industrial cooperation between Indonesia and China.
“China is Indonesia’s primary trading partner with a large and growing market. The recovery of China’s manufacturing sector and policies to boost domestic consumption have expanded opportunities for Indonesian tropical agriculture products, processed foods and beverages, fisheries, and value-added commodities to enter the Chinese market,” Puntodewi said whilst opening the kick-off event.
According to Puntodewi, these opportunities are further expanding amid global economic dynamics and geopolitical uncertainty. Indonesia can capitalise on this situation to increase exports to key partner countries such as China whilst continuing to promote export market diversification.
China is Indonesia’s primary trading partner, with export value reaching US$67.03 billion in 2025, of which 96.6% originated from the non-oil and gas sector. Over the past five years (2021–2025), Indonesia’s export trend to China has shown positive growth averaging 4.01% annually. Furthermore, Indonesia-China diplomatic relations reaching 75 years and Indonesia’s membership in BRICS have opened opportunities for strengthening economic cooperation between the two nations.
Digital transformation and the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the trade sector are also assessed as capable of increasing supply chain efficiency and expanding technology-based trade integration.
“China is also accelerating the development of an AI ecosystem, including strengthening Nanning’s role as a centre for China-ASEAN collaboration. The China-ASEAN AI Innovation Center serves as a gateway for physical trade, computing centres, and data processing that can support digital transformation in the region,” Puntodewi said.
Puntodewi stated that Kemendag continues to drive export increases through programmes such as “From Local to Global.” She invited business actors to take advantage of business pitching presentations with the Indonesian Trade Attaché in Beijing and Indonesia Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) Shanghai, as well as business matching sessions to explore cooperation opportunities with potential Chinese buyers.
“We invite entrepreneurs and exporters to take advantage of the opportunity to introduce their products and explore China’s market opportunities alongside Indonesian trade representatives,” Puntodewi added.
Miftah Farid, Director of Primary Product Export Development at Kemendag, explained that Caexpo is an annual international exhibition serving as a platform for strengthening trade, investment, and industrial cooperation among ASEAN countries and China within the framework of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
Miftah added that previous Caexpo exhibitions were attended by approximately 1,910 companies from ASEAN countries and China, with visitor numbers exceeding 226,000 people.
Indonesia’s participation in Caexpo 2025 previously achieved total transactions of US$132.07 million, equivalent to approximately Rp2.179 trillion, and generated nine memoranda of understanding for cooperation with Chinese partners in trade, investment, education, halal certification, and technology sectors.
“This achievement demonstrates Caexpo as one of the effective trade promotion platforms for opening market opportunities and strengthening Indonesia’s economic cooperation with China and the ASEAN region,” he said.
At Caexpo 2026, Indonesia is planned to occupy Hall D5 with a pavilion spanning 2,000 square metres. Indonesia will showcase three main pavilions representing economic strength, regional potential, and national technological innovation. The Commodity Pavilion will display export-oriented flagship products, the City of Charm Pavilion will promote regional investment potential, and the Artificial Intelligence Pavilion will showcase technological innovation.
Indonesia’s participation in Caexpo 2026 will also be supplemented with supporting activities including business matching, business forums, investment promotion, and exploration of trade and industrial cooperation with partners from China and ASEAN countries.