Indonesia Aims for 8% Growth, Ministry Prioritizes Export Expansion
- VoxPop/M Ali Wafa
Jakarta, VoxPop – Director General of National Export Development, Fajarini Puntodewi, stated that boosting exports has become a top priority for the Ministry of Trade, in line with the government’s efforts to achieve 8% economic growth.
“Exports need to be pushed even harder if we want to reach that target,” said Fajarini Puntodewi on Thursday (Apr 24).
Based on the Q1 2025 trade balance, Puntodewi stated that export-import performance remains fairly strong, particularly in January and February.
Export value recorded US$62.98 billion, marking a 7.84% year-on-year (YoY) increase.
In addition, the trade balance for the first three months of 2025 posted a surplus of US$15.76 billion, nearly half of the 2024 total surplus of US$31.04 billion.
To reach the 8% economic growth target, the ministry has set a gradual export growth trajectory—7.1% in 2025, projected to increase to 9.6% by 2029.
The ministry is also setting export targets specifically for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as a supplementary effort to support national economic growth.
“MSMEs’ contribution is still relatively small. According to BPS data, it's only around 15%. But based on our SKA calculations, it might actually be under 10%. So, we really need to push this,” she emphasized.
Ilustrasi Perempuan yang menjadi pemimpin di suatu perusahaan.
- dok. Grant Thornton Internasional
Among Indonesia’s six main islands, Java Island continues to be the export powerhouse, projected to contribute IDR 1.9 quadrillion.
From the industrial side, medium- and high-tech products are expected to account for 24.96% of domestic economic growth.
Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of women’s active participation in the economy, particularly in the export sector.
She stated that gender equality is not just about being the same, but ensuring that women receive the rights and opportunities they need.
“As women, we want access to what we actually need. It’s not about doing everything the same—like lifting heavy sacks—but about ensuring women are equally empowered to pursue their needs and develop their potential,” Puntodewi explained.
