Jakarta, 21 September 2020 – The Ministry of Trade through Directorate General of National Export Development (DGNED) is organising “Indonesia Coffee Week” on 17-25 September 2020. In collaboration with Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Gayo Coffee Protection Society (MPKG) and the ARISE+ Indonesia programme, DG NED will also host a webinar with the theme “Approaching October Harvest Season: A Webinar on Market Linkage of Traceable PGI Gayo Arabica Coffee to the EU Market”. The event series aim to promote and increase awareness of GI as an important component in increasing exports through branding development strategies, development of tourism potential and Indonesian Geographical Indication (GI) products.

The highlight of the Indonesia Coffee Week and Virtual Buyers Mission (VBM) webinars will be a coffee tasting and toasting ceremony at the Nusantara Coffee House Café attended by the Minister and Vice Minister of Trade as well as the EU Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam. The event will also be virtually witnessed by all Echelon 1 officials of the Ministry of Trade, DGIP of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, several Indonesian Ambassadors in Europe, Regents in Aceh region, MPKG coffee farmers and buyers from Europe, which showcase full support of the Ministry of Trade and the European Union for the promotion of Gayo Coffee in the European market.

Minister of Trade, Agus Suparmanto said “Collaboration and support from multi stakeholders as currently provide new hope in increasing coffee exports, mainly geographical indications, through the development of an integrated strategy towards export destination markets amid the pressure of the current global crisis”. Minister Agus added that the support of the EUfunded ARISE+ Indonesia programme is a valuable asset for the development of Indonesian exports, not only coffee, but other products that can be developed in this cooperation, he concluded.

On the same occasion, the Ambassador of the European Union to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, H.E Vincent Piket, said, “Protection of geographical indications matter economically and culturally, as it helps to create value for local communities through products that are deeply rooted in tradition, culture and geography. The EU takes pride in having a robust GI system and supports the protection of GIs in Indonesia. Both sides have exchanged lists of GIs to be directly protected by the EU-Indonesia CEPA, once negotiations have been concluded.”

This topic of the IEU-CEPA was also discussed in the meeting between Vice Minister of Trade and HE Vincent Piket this evening. “Both Indonesia and the EU reassured our document has been signed electronically using electronic sertificate which has been published by Balai Sertifikasi Elektronik. This is our commitment to expedite our efforts to conclude the IEU-CEPA negotiation as soon as possible. One of the benefits is the protection and recognition of our various domestic GIs,” stated Vice Minister Sambuaga after the meeting.

To increase Indonesian exports, the Ministry of Trade has taken various steps and strategies, trough : 1) Improving competitiveness and product development / export design through the Export Product Clinic and Design, collaborating with designers, and Indonesia Design Development Center (IDDC) ;2) Strengthening product standards and international requirements to increase global market access through the facilitation of certification of HACCP, GMP, Halal, Organic and Intellectual Property Rights (patents, brands, geographical indications, and industrial designs) and 3) Training for prospective new exporters, especially SMEs, through the Indonesian Export Education and Training program (PPEI).

About Gayo coffee and Indonesian coffee exports
Gayo coffee is one of the geographical indication (GI) coffees, whose taste and peculiarities has been well recognized by the world. In 2017, with technical assistance from the EUIndonesia Trade Cooperation Facility (TCF, 2011-2016) Gayo coffee received its Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) status in the European Union. The bilateral cooperation to promote and improve the branding of Gayo coffee now continues through the 15 million euros ARISE+ Indonesia programme (2019-2023). In addition to Aceh Gayo coffee, the programme provides technical assistance for capacity building and branding of Bali Kintamani Arabica coffee, Koerintji cinnamon (Jambi), Kulon Progo brown sugar (Yogyakarta), East Luwu white pepper (Southeast Sulawesi), Sumbawa honey (West Nusa Tenggara) and Amed salt (Bali).

Gayo coffee has great potential to increase its contribution to the Indonesian coffee exports, especially to the main markets such as the European Union and the USA. In 2019, Indonesia’s coffee exports stood at USD 883 million, which was an increase of 8% compared to the previous year (USD 815 million). However, Indonesia’s coffee exports still experienced a significant downward trend of 7.9% during period of 2015-2019. Improving collaboration between all parties would be a solution to reverse the trend of increasing Indonesian coffee exports.