Khofifah and Indonesian Ambassador Discuss East Java-Malaysia Trade
Surabaya - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa met with the Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Raden Dato’ Muhammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo, in Kuala Lumpur to discuss strengthening trade and educational cooperation between East Java and Malaysia.
“For several years now, we have consistently conducted trade missions to various provinces and friendly countries. This is part of efforts to expand markets while strengthening East Java’s position as a competitive trade hub,” Khofifah said in a statement received in Surabaya on Thursday.
During the meeting, the two parties explored opportunities to enhance economic cooperation, including through business matching that connects business actors from both countries.
“The trade relationship between East Java and Malaysia has tremendous potential for further development. We see strong synergy opportunities in the processing industry, food, and other flagship products,” she said.
Khofifah affirmed that East Java is ready to become a national trade powerhouse by relying on strengthened inter-regional, inter-provincial, and international market trade.
“For this East Java-Malaysia trade and investment mission, we conducted ten business matching sessions,” she said.
Based on data, East Java’s exports to Malaysia in 2023 reached $1,539.3 million, while imports amounted to $572.37 million. This resulted in a trade surplus of $967.06 million.
“These commodities form the backbone of non-oil and gas exports that continue to show positive growth,” Khofifah said.
Leading export commodities include copper, animal fats and oils, chemical products, cocoa and its derivatives, as well as wood and its derivatives.
Imports are dominated by plastics and plastic goods, organic chemicals, machinery and mechanical appliances, processed foods, and cocoa.
“The global market continues to develop and presents new opportunities. East Java is ready to meet these needs with high-quality and competitive products,” she said.
In addition to trade, Khofifah emphasised East Java’s strengths in food resilience and sovereignty, which are important assets in market expansion.
Strengthening the livestock sector is carried out through innovations, including the construction of Grand Parent Stock (GPS) (the highest generation of broiler chicken parent stock) to improve production quality and reduce import dependency.
“This synergy is a great strength for East Java. With research and innovation support, we are optimistic about enhancing product competitiveness while expanding market reach,” she said.
Furthermore, educational cooperation and human resource development also received attention through university collaborations and student exchange programmes.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Raden Dato’ Muhammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo, appreciated East Java’s strategic role as a national economic powerhouse.
“We view East Java as a strategic partner with tremendous potential. Through intensive discussions and collaborations, we are optimistic that these cooperation opportunities can be followed up to provide tangible economic benefits for both parties,” he said.