Pekanbaru designates durian sticky rice cake as city's culinary icon

The Pekanbaru City Government, Riau Province, has designated ‘kue talam ketan durian’ (durian sticky rice cake) as a culinary icon, which will be served as a signature welcome food for guests visiting the region.

The Mayor of Pekanbaru, Agung Nugroho, stated that the administration has signed a joint agreement to strengthen the durian sticky rice cake as a flagship product for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and as a traditional welcoming dish for the City of Pekanbaru.

“This agreement is the result of a collaboration between the city government, the Pekanbaru Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), and local MSME entrepreneurs. We have agreed that this durian sticky rice cake can serve as a welcome food within the Pekanbaru City Government offices, hotels, and even at the airport,” he said in Pekanbaru on Monday.

He continued that the joint agreement was signed by the Pekanbaru Department of Industry and Trade (Disperindag), the Pekanbaru PHRI, and the owners of the largest souvenir shops in Riau. This effort is part of a larger strategy to elevate local MSME products while introducing the culinary identity of Pekanbaru.

According to the Mayor, Pekanbaru previously lacked a signature food that was widely recognised as a city icon. Therefore, the durian sticky rice cake was chosen to be introduced more extensively to both the public and tourists.

He explained that the product holds great potential for growth, similar to several famous souvenir brands that originated from local startups. He cited entrepreneurs such as Viera, Insogira, and Nadhira Napoleon as examples of those who successfully built businesses from the ground up to achieve widespread recognition.

“We hope that the durian sticky rice cake can also develop into a flagship product capable of driving the local economy and creating new business opportunities for MSME players,” Agung expressed.

Furthermore, the Pekanbaru City Government is also working to introduce the region’s signature cuisine to an international level. As part of this effort, the local government has submitted a proposal to the Michelin Guide, the institution renowned for evaluating the best culinary destinations and products globally.

“I hope this step can help introduce Pekanbaru’s culinary richness to the world while simultaneously increasing the city’s tourism appeal,” Agung added.