Indonesia sells 35 containers of kerupuk at Thaifex 2016

Indonesia’s traditional kerupuk (crackers) have become the star among other food commodities displayed at the Indonesian booth during Asia Thaifex 2016 in Bangkok, which is known as Asia’s biggest food and beverage expo.

The snacks registered total orders of 35 containers worth Rp 12.9 billion ( US$950,000 ) at the event held from May 25 to 29, said an Indonesian trade attaché member in Bangkok, Rita Tri Mutiawati. The Trade Ministry and Industry Ministry collaborated on sponsoring Indonesian companies joining the event.

“Thanks to the sponsorship of the Central Java administration’s trade and industry service center, Indonesia Selamat Sejahtera booked orders from China for 15 containers of prawn crackers, and South Korea also ordered 20 containers of fish crackers,” she said.

Aside from kerupuk, Rita further said Indonesian seafood products manufactured by Fresh On Time were able to gain international buyers from the US, Mexico, and the European Union ( EU ) while similar products by Medan Tropical sealed a distribution agent in Thailand and the EU.

From the 41 Indonesian companies who joined Thaifex, 21 were sponsored by the Industry Ministry, 10 were sponsored by the trade attaché and four were sponsored by the Central Java administration. Only six companies joining the event were without government sponsorship.

The companies showcased their products ranging from seafood, instant seasonings, confectionaries, hot sauces, coffees, herbal medicines, biscuits, snacks, wafers, green tea, to cashew nuts. Indonesia’s representatives competed with 964 other companies in the event.

“Thaifex is the door to export food and beverages products to other countries. Indonesian food and beverage manufacturers should not miss this opportunity,” Rita said, adding that there were one-to-one business matchings being made between Indonesian firms with other countries’ firms.