Six Ministries Join Forces to Promote Indonesian Cuisine Globally

Jakarta: Trade Minister Budi Santoso expressed optimism that Indonesian cuisine can compete in global markets. The country’s signature spices are seen as a strong asset to promote Indonesian culinary heritage abroad, while also boosting international tourist arrivals to Indonesia.

Minister Budi delivered the statement during the launch of the Rasa Rempah Indonesia program, or S’RASA, at Skydeck Sarinah, Jakarta, on Thursday, August 28. The launch was attended by State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri, Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya, Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir, and representatives from the Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry.

S’RASA is a continuation of the Indonesia Spice Up the World (ISUTW) program, which concluded in 2024. The initiative focuses on promoting Indonesian cuisine through its identity, storytelling, and cultural heritage, showcased at Indonesian restaurants abroad. In its pilot stage, S’RASA will be rolled out in Tokyo, Sydney, Amsterdam, London, and New York.

In a statement published on the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s website Friday, August 29, 2025, Budi described S’RASA as a bridge for Indonesia’s culinary diplomacy. “Through tasting experiences, international communities can learn more closely about Indonesian culture. At the same time, this also opens opportunities for the export of spices, seasonings, packaging, and even kitchen equipment to global markets,” he said.

SOEs Minister Erick Thohir highlighted the importance of cross-ministerial collaboration under the direction of President Prabowo Subianto. Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri noted that the program aligns with Indonesia’s quality tourism strategy centered on gastronomy, while Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya emphasized its potential to accelerate local culinary entrepreneurs’ access to global markets.

Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir pointed to the gastrodiplomacy dimension supported by Indonesia’s diplomatic network worldwide. Meanwhile, Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry Deputy Bagus Rachman added that the initiative opens pathways for MSME spice products to go global.

The launch was marked by the signing of a cooperation agreement among the six ministries. Trade Ministry data showed that between January and June 2025, Indonesia’s exports of coffee, tea, and spices reached USD 1.63 billion, an 86.5 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

The program is also supported by several national food companies, including Bango soy sauce, Indofood, and Acaraki.

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