Jakarta – The Government continues to strengthen Indonesian culinary showcased abroad. By 2024, it is targeted to reach 4,000 Indonesian culinary businesses established worldwide and culinary exports could reach 2 billion USD.
Senior Advisor of the Executive Staff of the President, Helson Siagian said that the government through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) has prepared a funding, training and mentoring scheme for Indonesian culinary entrepreneurs abroad, namely through Indonesian Restaurant Fundraising (IndoStar) Program.
“This program provides opportunities for Indonesian culinary entrepreneurs to advance their business and also to find potential investors. Within this way, Indonesian culinary business abroad will get massive,” said Helson after taking part in Indonesian Restaurant Fundraising (IndoStar) Pitching Day 2023 which was held online, Sunday (5/11).
For further information, Indonesian Restaurant Fundraising (IndoStar) is part of the Indonesia Spice Up The World (ISUTW) program, which is the government national movement targeting to promote Indonesian culinary and spices at the international level.
There are four pillars from ISUTW program. First, herbs, spices and food processing product export. Second, activated Indonesian restaurants abroad. Third, promoting Indonesian cuisine abroad. Fourth, Indonesia as gastronomy destination.
“This program is in line with the President Joko Widodo statement, that Indonesian herbs and spices supremacy needs to be known,” Helson stated.
Furthermore, Helson said that IndoStar as part of ISUTW initiative got a positive response from Indonesian culinary overseas. Currently, he added, there are 50 IndoStar participants spread across five continents: 14 participants in Asia, 12 participants in Europe, 11 participants in America, 10 participants in Australia, and 3 participants in Africa.
Helson as Senior Staff in the Executive Office of the President believes that there are still many good fortunes for businessmen to strengthen the showcase of Indonesian culinary abroad. Besides, the target is not only for Indonesian people abroad, but also for the local people who are already mundane with Indonesian cuisine taste.
“Of the eight restaurants that pitched today, the average target market is not for Indonesian people abroad, but for the locals. This convinces us that Indonesian cuisine is doubtlessly ready to go global,” said Helson in response to the IndoStar Pitching Day participants 2023.
