Jakarta, 03 September 2022 – BUMN Minister Erick Thohir directly opened the Coffee Market exhibition which was held by Roemah Indonesia BV and Project Management Office (PMO) Kopi Nusantara, at Posthoornkerk, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on 1-7 September 2022.
The big agenda is titled “Indonesian Coffee Market; Coffee Revolution” will uniquely bring visitors to know more about the national coffee journey. While trying a variety of original coffee from Indonesian plantations, they will also be presented with an exhibition on the history of coffee production, as well as various types of coffee and their derivative products.
BUMN Minister Erick Thohir said the Coffee Market aims to elevate Indonesia’s position so that it becomes an important actor in the supply chain for the Indonesian coffee trade at the international level. “In addition to trying to market coffee with better added value so that export sales increase significantly, at this exhibition the diversity and sustainability of coffee to nature, as well as its sustainability in the future are also well narrated,” he said.
The Coffee Market was filled with presentations by Amir Sidharta and Bonnie Triyana, as the curators and designers of the world’s first exhibition on the history of Indonesian coffee. Apart from talk shows with world-renowned coffee figures, coffee lovers can also watch live coffee cupping and coffee pairing sessions, as well as enjoy Indonesian specialty coffee in the unlimited brewing session area. At the event, Indonesia brought coffee samples of more than half a ton with 97 types of coffee, ranging from green beans to their derivative products. The coffees come from 11 regions, namely Ijen, Gayo, Mandailing, Karo, Lampung, Kerinci, Java Preanger (Garut and Bandung areas), Dieng, Bali Kintamani, Flores and Toraja.
Previously, in early 2022, SOE Minister Erick Thohir had launched the Kopi Nusantara Project Management Office (PMO) initiative. This step was taken to increase domestic coffee productivity with the Makmur program scheme which has so far been implemented in other commodities, such as rice, sugarcane and corn. The aim of PMO Kopi Nusantara, said Erick, is to improve the coffee business ecosystem from upstream to downstream. “Why are BUMNs being knocked out, because 96% of the coffee industry is smallholder plantations. Our ultimate goal is the welfare of the farmers,” said Erick.
Erick said the European Union is listed as the world’s largest coffee consumer, reaching 2.4 million tons per year, or 24% of the world’s total coffee consumption. That is also one of the reasons the Coffee Market event was held in Amsterdam. Since old time,
he continued, the Netherlands is a potential market for Indonesian coffee commodities, with Indonesian coffee exports reaching $5.16 million in 2020. “In addition, the average Dutch drink four cups of coffee a day. This shows a huge market potential for Indonesian coffee in the Netherlands, which has a long history,” said Erick.
The Ministry of SOEs hopes that this moment of the Coffee Market in Amsterdam can be a milestone in the increasing recognition of Indonesian coffee by the global community and for Indonesia to become the global market leader for the coffee industry in the world. “I wish you congratulations and success for the Pasar Kopi: Indonesia Coffee Market event in Amsterdam,” said Erick.
Dwi Sutoro, PTPN III (Persero) Marketing Director of Nusantara Plantation Holding, who is also the Chairman of PMO Kopi Nusantara, said that his party is actively participating in the Coffee Market which will be held in Amsterdam. According to him, this activity is in line with PMO Kopi Nusantara’s mission, which is to improve the domestic coffee industry supply chain ecosystem.
“We bring the best Indonesian coffees from our pilot project locations, including Ijen Coffee from East Java which has historical value and geographical indications that will attract the attention of global consumers,” he said.
Among the various stories of coffee and its actors that will be presented at the Coffee Market in Amsterdam are planting in villages on the border of Sulawesi forests, utilization of unused Sumatran lands, reforestation of critical lands in West Java, and gardens of the Waerebo indigenous people in Flores. . The Indonesian coffee ecosystem includes, among others, the highlands which grow Arabica coffee, smallholder coffee plantations in the lowlands which produce robusta, as well as peatlands where Liberika coffee can grow well.
In the last 10 years, the Indonesian coffee industry has experienced quite significant growth, namely 250%. Now Indonesia ranks fourth in the amount of coffee produced. This leading commodity is the third largest foreign exchange earner after palm oil and rubber.
The implementation of the Coffee Market in Amsterdam is expected to bring together foreign consumers, especially the European Union, in enjoying a variety of coffee from Indonesia. Apart from that, it is also hoped that this event will lead to wider business expansion, so that Indonesia can become a major exporter of processed coffee products for the world market.
In this agenda, Indonesia will also sign coffee purchase contracts between stakeholders who are members of PMO Kopi Nusantara, including the PTPN Group, and importers in the Netherlands and its surroundings. Meanwhile, the initial transaction value reached more than USD 3 million.
Apart from Roemah Indonesia VB and PMO Kopi Nusantara, the implementation of the Indonesian Coffee Market is supported by SOEs, environmental activists, and business people, including Holding Perkebunan Nusantara, BRI, PT Telkom Indonesia, Pertamina, Bank Mandiri, BNI, ID Food, PT Pupuk Indonesia , SCOPI, SCAI, NUSA Indonesia Gastronomy, Classic Beans Cooperative, Tuku Coffee Shop, and Dua Coffee. Also present at the event were representatives of Members of Commission VI of the Republic of Indonesia DPR RI, Chief Editors, Directors of SOEs, Buyers and Strategic Partners.