Indonesia Eyes Global Coffee Hub Status, Trade Minister Says
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia is pursuing efforts to position itself as a global coffee hub, Trade Minister Budi Santoso said on Monday, following a proposal by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to enhance the country’s role in the international coffee market.
Speaking after inaugurating the Asian Trade, Tourism, and Economics Council (ATTEC) office in Jakarta, Santoso said the government would take concrete steps to support Indonesia’s ambition to become a central player in global coffee trade. The proposal from Kadin suggested that Indonesia, one of the world’s largest coffee producers, could eventually exert greater influence over global coffee pricing.
“We will take steps so that Indonesia can become a coffee hub,” Santoso said, adding that the idea of setting global coffee prices would be carefully reviewed, given the established market mechanisms that have long governed the sector.
Santoso emphasized that any such initiative must be developed in close coordination with international associations, coffee-consuming countries, and fellow producing nations. He acknowledged that shifting the global center of coffee price-setting would be a gradual process and could not be achieved overnight.
As an initial measure, the minister said Indonesia would strengthen cooperation with international coffee forums to build credibility and expand its influence in the global coffee industry. He expressed optimism that the initiative would improve Indonesia’s standing in the global coffee supply chain and enhance the competitiveness of domestic coffee products.
“This way, Indonesian coffees will become better known abroad. We have many varieties, and we are already a major producer,” Santoso said.
Kadin Chairman Anindya Bakrie supported the proposal, highlighting Indonesia’s strong production capacity. He noted that Indonesia is the world’s third-largest coffee producer after Brazil and Colombia, producing a wide range of varieties, including arabica, robusta, and luwak coffee.
“In the future, ideally, the center of coffee trade can be in Indonesia,” Bakrie said.
