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A Glimpse into Indonesia’s Trade Expo 2026

The Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2026 has commenced, marking its 41st edition as the largest international trade exhibition in the country. Organized by PT Debindomulti Adhiswasti, this significant event opened at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in BSD City, Tangerang, on October 14, 2026, and will continue until October 18. Under the theme "The Ultimate Platform for Global Sourcing," the expo aims to significantly bolster the export capabilities of Indonesian companies.

Opening Ceremony Highlights

The inaugural event was inaugurated in the presence of the Indonesian President, Prabowo Subianto, by the Coordinating Minister for the Energy Transition, Bahlil Lahadalia. In his address, he emphasized the importance of downstream activities and industrialization as key drivers of high-value exports and economic resilience. "Downstream transformation is essential for enhancing the value of Indonesia's natural resources while strengthening national economic independence," he stated.

Minister of Commerce Budi Santoso noted that the TEI 2026 has registered buyers from 134 countries and features 1,873 exhibitors. The event sets ambitious targets of attracting 30,000 visitors and facilitating potential transactions worth $17.5 billion. On the first day alone, 168 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between Indonesian exporters and buyers from 22 countries are expected to be signed.

Connecting Indonesian Businesses with the Global Market

The TEI is designed to connect Indonesian businesses with international buyers across various sectors. The exhibition showcases a wide array of products including food and beverages, agricultural products, manufactured goods, fashion, handicrafts, furniture, and decorations. It also features industrial zones that present investment opportunities, thereby covering consumption products and investment avenues on a national level. The expo aligns with the Ministry’s priorities—securing the domestic market, developing export markets, and transitioning from local to global by reinforcing local products and encouraging more businesses to explore export opportunities.

Budi reiterated the government’s commitment to pursuing trade negotiations with various countries to open new export markets, stating, "To date, 25 trade agreements have been implemented, while 13 are under negotiation." The Ministry is keen on supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in export endeavors by leveraging 46 Indonesia Trade Promotion Centers located in 33 countries. Initiatives such as Desa BISA Ekspor are focused on developing village products for export, while local retail partnerships are boosting domestic sales.

Additionally, the Campuspreneur initiative collaborates with 25 universities to inspire students to form businesses and engage in exporting. Zulkifli Hasan, the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, highlighted emerging opportunities within non-traditional markets, especially in South Asia including Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, as well as in Africa.

Awards and Recognitions

During the opening ceremony, the Ministry presented the Primaniyarta Award to outstanding exporters and regional leaders, along with the Primaduta Award to international collaborators, diaspora members, and Indonesian representatives abroad. There is also a new Campuspreneur Award given to students who accomplish the highest transaction volumes during TEI 2026.

Support and Partnerships

The TEI 2026 receives robust backing from partners including Pertamina as a strategic partner, Bank Mandiri as a banking partner, and BPDP as an event partner, alongside the support from Kadin Indonesia and LPEI. The exhibition's seamless orchestration is attributed to the efforts of Debindo.

This year's Trade Expo promises to be a game changer, poised to elevate Indonesia's standing in the global trade arena, fostering economic growth and product competitiveness.