The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, has formed a Task Force for Increasing National Exports through Presidential Decree (Keppres) of the Republic of Indonesia Number 24 of 2023 on 20 September 2023. The determination of this Presidential Decree is to anticipate a decline in export demand in line with the increasing threat of recession in various developed countries such as the United States and the European Union, and the slowing economic growth of China, which is Indonesia's main export market.

The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, was appointed to lead the Task Force as Chair of the Steering Team. Meanwhile, the Secretariat of the National Export Increase Task Force is carried out ex-officio by a work unit in the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.

This presidential decree will strengthen various government efforts and strategies to further improve Indonesia's export performance amidst global geopolitical dynamics. This is in accordance with President Joko Widodo's direction to anticipate slowing export demand in traditional export destination countries by exploring new export destination markets such as India, Africa and Latin America.

According to Airlangga Hartarto, even though it was overshadowed by the global economic slowdown, Indonesia's export performance still showed good performance by recording an increase of 5.47 percent month to month (mtm) in August 2023. The increase in prices for several leading commodities (coal and natural gas) was accompanied by improvements Economic conditions in the main trading partner countries (China, US and India) have encouraged an increase in exports.

"Indonesia's trade balance in August 2023 also experienced a surplus of US$3.12 billion, continuing the surplus trend since May 2020 or for 40 consecutive months." He said in an official statement quoted on Friday, September 29 2023, it was stated that

He explained that the government continues to strive to increase competitiveness, identify potential and map Indonesia's potential export products. The government will also continue to expand information regarding market opportunities for exporters and encourage the active role of Trade Attachés and the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in marketing Indonesian export products abroad. The government is also accelerating the completion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement trade agreement, especially IEU-CEPA, and exploring CEPA with India.

As Chair of the Task Force, Coordinating Minister Airlangga will lead the heads of relevant ministries and institutions to improve national export performance in order to encourage Indonesia's economic growth. The National Export Increase Task Force will coordinate the implementation of export increase programs, develop export resources and industries, determine strategies for diplomatic cooperation, promotion and development of export markets, determine export financing strategies and export insurance services, simplify, synchronize and integrate business processes and export services, and establishing a strategy to increase exports for micro, small and medium enterprises.

Source: https://mediaasuransinews.co.id/ekonomi/pemerintah-bentuk-satgas-peningkatan-ekspor-nasional/