Indonesia's Trade Minister Emphasizes Strengthening Export Sector for Economic Growth

Indonesia's trade minister, Budi Santoso, has stressed the importance of strengthening the country's export sector to support broader economic growth. This comes after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised its projection for Indonesia's economic growth to 4.9 percent in both 2025 and 2026. The trade minister cited the country's strong export performance, with exports growing 7.7 percent between January and August 2025 compared to the same period last year, and a significant widening of the trade surplus, jumping 53.3 percent from $19 billion to $29 billion during the same period. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa also expressed optimism about achieving even stronger growth in the final quarter of the year, reaching as high as 5.67 percent, driven by increased household consumption and fiscal stimulus.

Key Takeaways:

• Trade Minister Budi Santoso emphasized the importance of strengthening Indonesia's export sector to support broader economic growth, following the IMF's revised economic growth projection to 4.9 percent in 2025 and 2026.
• Indonesia's export performance remains strong, with exports growing 7.7 percent between January and August 2025 compared to the same period last year.
• The trade surplus widened significantly, jumping 53.3 percent from $19 billion to $29 billion during the same period, with the country maintaining a trade surplus for 64 consecutive months since 2020.
• Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa expressed optimism about achieving even stronger growth in the final quarter of the year, reaching as high as 5.67 percent, driven by increased household consumption and fiscal stimulus.
• Improved liquidity, supported by the placement of state funds in state-owned banks, is helping to drive domestic spending and stabilize the economy.
• Indonesia is seeking to balance export-driven growth with domestic consumption amid global economic uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics.

Statistics:

• Indonesia's economic growth is projected to be 4.9 percent in both 2025 and 2026, according to the IMF.
• Exports grew 7.7 percent between January and August 2025 compared to the same period last year.
• The trade surplus widened significantly, jumping 53.3 percent from $19 billion to $29 billion during the same period.
• Indonesia has maintained a trade surplus for 64 consecutive months since 2020.
• Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa expressed optimism about achieving even stronger growth in the final quarter of the year, reaching as high as 5.67 percent.
• Improved liquidity is supporting domestic spending, with state funds placed in state-owned banks driving economic growth.

Sources:

• International Monetary Fund (IMF) - World Economic Outlook, October 2025
• Antara News - "Indonesia's Trade Minister Says Country Must Strengthen Export Sector to Support Economic Growth" (October 17, 2025)
• Antara News - "Indonesia's Finance Minister Sees Stronger Growth in Final Quarter" (October 15, 2025)