Bahlil Represents Prabowo at 41st TEI Opening

TANGERANG — The 41st Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) officially opened on Wednesday (14/10/2026) at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD City in Tangerang Regency, Banten. Indonesia's largest international business-to-business (B2B) trade exhibition will run until October 18, 2026, under the theme "The Ultimate Hub for Global Sourcing".

Coordinating Minister for Downstream Industry and Energy Transition, who also serves as Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia, represented President Prabowo Subianto, who was unable to attend. Bahlil read out the president's remarks at the opening ceremony in Nusantara Hall. Also present were Trade Minister Budi Santoso and Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan.

US$17.5 Billion Transaction Target

"I received a report from the Trade Minister (Budi Santoso) and the team that we are targeting total transactions at Trade Expo Indonesia 2026 of US$17.5 billion. In 2025 the target was just over US$16 billion but the realization reached US$22.8 billion," Bahlil said. This year's target is equivalent to around Rp313 trillion.

"Don't just sign MoUs — those MoUs must be realized," Bahlil stressed, urging that trade deals be followed through.

168 MoUs Worth US$13.2 Billion Signed

On opening day, 168 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were recorded between Indonesian exporters and buyers from 22 countries, worth US$13.2 billion or around Rp236 trillion. The 41st TEI features 1,873 exhibitors, with 16,885 registered buyers — 8,092 of them overseas buyers from 134 countries. Organizers target 30,000 visitors over the five-day event.

Five Flagship Sectors and Trade Strategy

Five flagship sectors are showcased at TEI 2026: food and beverages as well as agriculture, manufacturing, industrial estates, crafts and fashion, and furniture and home decor. The strategy includes business matching, post-exhibition mentoring, and the Buyers Hospitality Program offering free accommodation to selected overseas buyers.

Bahlil also shared economic data: gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.45 percent in the first half of 2026, inflation stayed below 3 percent, and the January–August 2026 trade surplus reached US$7.25 billion. The government is pushing diversification into non-traditional markets such as Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and Eastern Europe, alongside simplifying export procedures.