Indonesia's food sector getting taste of China

A business matchmaking event titled "Chinese Enterprises Go Overseas: In-depth Tour into Indonesia", will take place from Nov 11-15 in Jakarta, offering a vital platform for bolstering bilateral ties and cooperation in the catering and food ingredient sectors.

Representatives from more than 100 Chinese enterprises in investment, trade, food processing, agriculture and logistics will engage in face-to-face interactions with local industry leaders, visit food ingredient production and processing facilities, discuss cooperation projects, and sign agreements.

According to the Indonesia-China Association of Economic, Social and Cultural Cooperation, the event is significant because along with connecting the food industry with the raw materials that produce various ingredients, it will encourage innovation, new ideas and solutions for future development. With the participation of about 150 domestic companies, the event will assist Chinese and Indonesian entrepreneurs in developing projects or pursuing business opportunities in their respective countries.

Cao Derong, president of the China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products, or CFNA, stated that in the current globalized economic environment, cooperation between China and Indonesia holds "extraordinary and increasingly important significance". The matchmaking event will provide a platform for Chinese enterprises to promote deep cooperation and exchanges in various fields, and as a co-organizer, the CFNA will facilitate close collaboration between Chinese companies and local partners in Indonesia, achieving resource sharing and complementary advantages.

Statistics show the output value of Indonesia's food and beverage industry grew by 5.53 percent in the second quarter of this year. During the same period, it contributed 40.33 percent to the output value of the non-oil and gas processing industry, making it the largest contributing sector to the GDP and underscoring its enormous potential for future development.

Zhu Changliang, chairman of Wuhan-based Liang Zhi Long, an enterprise specializing in the design, research and development, and promotion of frozen food ingredients, said Chinese cuisine, as a treasure of Chinese culture with a long history and unique charm, is an important window for showcasing cultural confidence and China's soft power through food.

"In recent years, the domestic catering market has entered a period of stable development, and catering brands urgently need to find new growth areas," noted Zhu. "Chinese cuisine going abroad has undoubtedly become an important strategic approach for major catering chain enterprises to explore overseas markets."

Zhu said Indonesia, with the largest population and economy in Southeast Asia, represents 280 million consumers — a vast market that provides ample room for the development of Chinese cuisine. And with the continuous growth of the Indonesian economy and improvement of people's living standards, consumer demand for high-quality and diversified dining experiences is increasing.

"In addition, the Indonesian government is committed to boosting rapid development of the food industry and related services by implementing a series of preferential policies including tax incentives, land provisions and financing to attract foreign investment and provide strong support for the development of Chinese catering enterprises in the local market," he added.

Zhu said the upcoming visit to Indonesia will spotlight enterprises covering the entire Chinese catering industry chain, including aquaculture and pre-packaged vegetables, seasoning, cold chain and equipment, e-commerce, supply chain, and wholesale food ingredients.

wangjinhui@chinadaily.com.cn