WIITEX 2026 Records Rp 25 Billion in Transactions, West Java Strengthens Commodity Exports
West Java Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan officially closed the West Java International Industry and Trade Expo (WIITEX) 2026, expressing appreciation for all parties involved in its organisation. The event, held at the Exhibition Hall of Summarecon Mall Bandung, saw the Provincial Industry and Trade Office (Disperindag), partners, business actors, and various stakeholders contribute to its success.
According to Erwan, WIITEX is not merely an exhibition, but a strategic space that connects the region’s leading potential with broader market opportunities. "WIITEX 2026 carries the theme ‘The Golden Belt of Java: Coffee, Tea and Cocoa for the Future’. This theme is highly relevant to West Java’s economic development direction because future trade will not only rely on volume, but also on quality, sustainability, and the added value of leading commodities," Erwan stated in a written release on Friday.
Erwan affirmed that coffee, tea, and cocoa are strategic commodities that play an important role in driving regional economic growth. Therefore, their development must be continuously encouraged through innovation, downstream processing, brand strengthening, and market access expansion. He also appreciated the various activities held during WIITEX 2026, ranging from a bean-to-bar cocoa processing workshop and an auction of leading commodities to a talk show on sustainable trade. "This shows that WIITEX 2026 is not just about promotion, but also education, networking, and the future of smarter, more competitive trade," Erwan said.
Amidst global economic dynamics, Erwan assessed that West Java must continue to appear as a resilient, adaptive, and innovative region. He noted that events like WIITEX serve as a means to strengthen exports, expand markets, and enhance the competitiveness of West Java’s leading products at both national and international levels. Furthermore, Erwan encouraged the development of cocoa commodities in West Java to reduce dependence on imported raw materials still used by several chocolate processing industries. "West Java has considerable potential land for cocoa development. I hope that in the future we can produce our own raw materials so we are not too dependent on imports, especially when exchange rates fluctuate," he added, noting that development could utilise potential lands, including those owned by Perhutani and unproductive idle community lands.
Meanwhile, Head of the West Java Industry and Trade Office Nining Yuliastiani reported that over the three-day event, recorded transactions reached Rp 25.09 billion, equivalent to US$1.4 million. This value came from export transactions, business matching, and the auction of leading commodities held during the exhibition. "The total transactions recorded over the three days reached Rp 25.09 billion or around US$1.4 million. This is a combination of export activities, business matching, and commodity auctions," Nining said. She noted that one of the most sought-after commodities in the auction was West Java’s premium tea, which has high quality and is widely used as a blending material and for value-added downstream products. "West Java’s premium tea received a very good response. It is not only needed for domestic purposes but is also in demand by export markets from various countries," Nining stated.
Nining explained that international buyer interest in West Java’s leading commodities continues to increase. Initially, representatives from 11 countries were registered for business matching, but the number grew to 14 countries during the event. Additionally, around 80 buyers and sellers participated in a hybrid format, both online and offline. According to Nining, WIITEX has successfully become an effective platform to connect business actors with buyers, sellers, and exporters from various countries. "They can find various leading commodities that have undergone quality and quantity curation, giving them confidence to continue business cooperation," Nining said. She is optimistic that the expo will further strengthen the market expansion of West Java’s leading products while increasing business actors’ awareness of the importance of quality standards, sustainability, and global market preferences that increasingly prioritise health and sustainability aspects. With the conclusion of WIITEX 2026, the West Java Provincial Government hopes that the business networks built, trade opportunities created, and increased capacity of business actors will continue to develop and make a real contribution to the growth of industry, trade, and the economy of West Java.