SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) successfully facilitated business matching initiatives for micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM), resulting in $13.86 million (approximately IDR233.14 billion) in transactions between January and March 2025.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso explained that the total comprises $3.91 million in confirmed purchase orders (POs) and $9.95 million in potential deals. 

“This shows that Indonesian UMKM products are increasingly favored in global markets,” Budi stated as quoted on Antara in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Throughout Q1 2025, Kemendag conducted 219 business matching activities. These included 145 pitching sessions between UMKM players and Indonesian trade representatives abroad, and 74 direct meetings with international buyers.

Fajarini Puntodewi, Director General of National Export Development, emphasized the collective effort behind the success. 

“Much of this achievement is due to the active contribution of UMKM mentors who guide and recommend businesses,” she said as quoted on Antara. “This strong collaboration has been key to reaching optimal results.”

Kemendag aims to maintain the momentum into the second quarter by increasing the number of participating UMKM and improving curation efforts to match buyer demands. 

“We’re committed to continuing business matching activities with the same intensity and involving even more UMKM,” Puntodewi affirmed as quoted on Antara. “We are also coordinating with UMKM mentors to select businesses that meet buyer needs.”

In March 2025 alone, business matching activities generated $5.09 million in transaction value, including $563,000 in confirmed POs and $4.53 million in potential deals. Japanese buyers accounted for $489,000 in confirmed POs, ordering items like peanut snacks, herbal moringa drinks, freeze-dried fruit, frozen sweet potato paste, tempeh chips, and earthenware. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia placed $73,000 in POs for tempeh and soy sauce.

Puntodewi remains optimistic that international trade representatives will continue promoting Indonesian UMKM, further increasing export opportunities.

Writer: Andi Raisa Malaha Thambas