Trade Minister: Global supply chain disruptions open export opportunities for Indonesia

Geopolitical crises typically redraw the global trade map. When the global supply chain is disrupted there will be gaps in markets as suppliers are hampered. The government can seize export opportunities arising as disruptions to the global supply chain alter the international trade map. Geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East region threaten to disrupt supply from certain supplier countries. According to Trade Minister Budi Santoso, these conditions could open opportunities for other countries, including Indonesia, to fill gaps in markets in various export destinations. The move is intended to ensure domestic businesses can continue to diversify their markets even amid global trade disruptions. The Ministry of Trade will also coordinate with exporters to understand directly the obstacles faced by firms. “We will meet with exporters to identify technically where the problems lie,” he said. He added that more accurate calculations require input from business actors and an assessment of the international trading environment. Nevertheless, the government continues to monitor global developments to keep Indonesia’s export activity moving. Budi emphasised that the government is currently mapping a number of export destinations that are relatively less affected by geopolitical conflict to serve as alternative markets for Indonesian products. He noted that countries in Southeast Asia and Africa have potential to become alternative export destinations, as they are considered relatively less affected by current global geopolitical conflicts. Furthermore, he explained that the government will utilise the business matching programme to bring Indonesian exporters together with prospective buyers from those countries. Earlier, the Ministry of Trade noted that the UMKM Berani Inovasi, Siap Adaptasi Ekspor (UMKM BISA Ekspor) programme has facilitated 1,217 business actors with transactions valued at US$134.87 million or around Rp2.27 trillion in 2025.