ER
INDONESIA Spice Up The World (ISUTW) is one of the government’s main programs involving cross-ministerial/agencies as an effort to expand the marketing of Indonesian spice products or processed food and spices. In addition, it also strengthens the Indonesian culinary industry by developing Indonesian restaurants abroad or as part of restaurant gastrodiplomacy.
According to the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, in the Weekly Press Briefing held online, Monday (7/19) said, Indonesia Spice Up The World is expected to increase Indonesia’s opportunities in the world culinary industry. Tourism Ministry fully supports the program initiated by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs & Investment by departing a supporting delegation to the United States in the near future.
“This program has been designed well for a long time. This is a choice, postponed or carried out with adaptation. This adaptation is what I took as a step to ensure that our economic recovery is not delayed. That we will not be fully physically present, but hybrid,” said the Minister Sandiaga Uno.
Sandiaga explained, based on data, the export value of processed spices/spices and commodities/fresh Indonesian spices experienced a positive trend with an average growth of 2.95% over the last five years. In 2020, the export value was recorded at US$1.02 billion.
The target of ISUTW until 2024 is to increase the export value of spices and herbs to US$2 billion. In addition, there are also 4,000 Indonesian restaurants abroad.
“Our tourismand creative economy players need markets abroad, they hope that this pandemic can open up opportunities for Indonesian spices to develop. We must not discourage and prepare for creative economy actors, especially our Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to defend. We must be present and they need this market,” Sandiaga stated.
Sandiaga explained that the United States is a big market for the development of the Indonesian spice and culinary market. About 20-25% of the Indonesian spice export market.
“So, there is also a big opportunity for Indonesian restaurants there. In coordination with the Indonesian Consul General team there, there are about 100 to 150 restaurants that can participate in realizing 4,000 Indonesian restaurants abroad,” Sandiaga noted.
The presence of the Tourism Ministry delegation will be the first step in the ISUTW program by coordinating with the Indonesian Embassy and the Indonesian Consulate General in New York. Strengthening networks through meetings with culinary activists, spice importers, and non-Indonesian restaurant entrepreneurs in New York to take an active role in enlivening the program and encouraging the opening of new Indonesian culinary-based restaurants in New York.
Besides holding a meeting related to the International Year of Creative Economy with PTRI to re-emphasize Indonesia’s position and opportunities for international cooperation; as well as strengthening other strategic networks, including in the fields of music, special interest tourism, and MICE.
“Although I have received approval from the leadership, I have decided not to go but participate in hybrid activities,” Sandiaga concluded. [traveltext.id/photo special]
