TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Industry Minister Saleh Husin realized that the opportunity to develop domestic coffee industry is still wide open on account of huge potential of coffee consumption and the rise in world’s coffee demand.
Saleh has asked Indonesian people and foreigners to buy regional coffees when traveling to Indonesian regions.
“One of the tangible support [for domestic coffee industry] is buying coffee in the regions they visit,” Saleh said in his written statement, Thursday, March 19, 2016.
Indonesia is the third largest coffee producer behind Brazil and Vietnam, with average production of 685 thousand tons per annum – 8.9 percent of total world coffee production.
Saleh said that the middle class’ growth and changing lifestyle of Indonesian people have boost the consumption of domestic coffee product by an average of 7 percent per annum.
“We have 11 regional coffees, such as Gayo, Sindoro-Sumbing, Toraja coffee, not to mention coffees processed directly by farmers and group of farmers,” he said.
According to Saleh, to improve value added, processing industries – both large-scale and medium-scale industries – need support from the government and the society. Currently, there are 11 Indonesian coffees with geographical indication of origin, namely Gayo Arabica coffee, North Sumatra’s Arabica coffee, Lampung Robusta coffee, Arabica Java Preanger coffee, Java Arabica Sindoro-Sumbing coffee, Arabica Ijen Raung coffee, Bali Kintamani Arabica coffee, Arabica Kalosi Enrekang coffee, Toraja Arabica coffee, Arabica Flores Bajawa coffee and Liberica Tungkal Jambi coffee.
Saleh also noted young people enthusiasm for visiting various Indonesian regions. “Travelling can be fun, among others, by siping local coffee; don’t forget to buy gifts,” he said.
In addition, Saleh also asked Indonesian people to help promote Indonesian coffees on social media. “When you drink [coffee], take a selfie and mention the coffee origin when uploading it on social media,” he said. That kind of promotional effort is deemed effective to help coffee industry.
GHOIDA RAHMAH
