In a significant move to bolster the presence of Korean food products in Indonesia, the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) has unveiled a comprehensive support initiative to assist Indonesian businesses involved in importing South Korean food products. This program offers targeted assistance across multiple domains, including customs clearance consultations, localization support for food labeling, and considerable subsidies for product registration with Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM). In addition, the initiative provides pre-registration services for Korea’s halal certification, a critical factor for meeting Indonesia’s consumer demands and regulatory standards.
Lee Seung Hoon, the Chief Representative of the Korea Agro-Trade Center (aT Center) in Jakarta, outlined the program’s objectives in a recent statement. He explained that this initiative is part of a global strategy aimed at aiding foreign importers in overcoming the complexities of localization and customs requirements specific to each market. By addressing these challenges, the program is designed to streamline the entry process for Korean food products into the Indonesian market, providing a smoother transition into local distribution channels.
“This program is structured to offer customized consultation and resources tailored to the unique demands of each importer,” Lee stated, highlighting the program’s flexibility. Indonesian importers may benefit from substantial financial support, with up to 80% of registration and certification costs covered. The initiative sets an annual limit of 200 million won per company (around 2.5 billion Indonesian rupiah), providing a strong foundation for importers to expand their Korean product portfolios with reduced regulatory expenses. This financial assistance is pivotal, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, as it allows them to access Korean food products without bearing the entire financial weight of compliance and certification.
As Indonesia enforces strict halal certification requirements, this initiative places significant emphasis on helping importers meet these standards. Korean food products can be registered with SIHALAL for Indonesian halal certification, and support is provided for Korean halal certifications like KMF (Korea Muslim Federation) and KHA (Korean Halal Authority). Lee stressed that this step is crucial for Korean food companies looking to establish a strong market presence in Indonesia, where the demand for halal-certified food is a key driver in consumer choice. This localized approach seeks to enhance the appeal of Korean products and adapt them to the specific expectations of Indonesian consumers.
Through this initiative, aT Corporation aims to strengthen the global competitiveness of Korean food products, while substantially reducing the localization burden for Indonesian importers. In extending an invitation to Indonesian importers, Lee emphasized the corporation’s commitment to fostering trade partnerships and encouraging broader participation in the program. The support offered by aT Corporation underscores Korea’s proactive stance in international food trade, as it actively pursues ways to make its products more accessible and aligned with local market needs.
With this initiative, the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation has strategically positioned itself as a vital partner for Indonesian businesses. By easing access to regulatory and certification resources, aT Corporation is paving the way for Korean food products to gain greater acceptance and visibility in Indonesia, ultimately reinforcing the foundation for long-term trade partnerships between the two countries.
