Creative economy ministry showcases export-ready brands at hospitality exhibition

Indonesia's ministry of creative economy is using Food & Hospitality Indonesia (FHI) 2026 to accelerate the international expansion of local culinary brands, as the country's flagship food and hospitality exhibition returns with more than 500 exhibitors from 32 countries.

Running from 21 to 24 July at Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo), the event marks its 20th edition and brings together businesses across foodservice, hospitality, packaging and design, positioning itself as a regional B2B platform for trade, investment and cross-border partnerships.

As part of its participation, the ministry unveiled the EKRAF Pavilion, featuring four export-ready brands from its "Akselerasi Ekspor Kreasi Indonesia" (ASIK) programme: El's Coffee, Novio Fresh, Pempek Cek Molek and Rasakoe. The companies were selected based on their readiness to serve the hotel, restaurant and catering sector.

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The ASIK initiative provides creative businesses with end-to-end support, including business mentoring, product standardisation, certification and export preparation, with the aim of improving their competitiveness in overseas markets.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, creative economy minister Teuku Riefky Harsya described Indonesia's culinary sector as one of the country's key creative economy drivers.

"The culinary subsector is one of the main pillars of Indonesia's creative economy, making a significant contribution to job creation, strengthening economic value chains, and promoting the nation's cultural identity. Food & Hospitality Indonesia 2026 serves as an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration and create broader opportunities for Indonesia's creative economy players," he said.

He added that exhibitions such as FHI play an important role in connecting innovation with commercial opportunities.

"Let us use this opportunity to make Food & Hospitality Indonesia 2026 play a truly strategic role in achieving these goals. This is where innovation meets the market, and creativity is translated into tangible economic value," Harsya said.

The ministry's export drive comes as Indonesia's hospitality and foodservice industries continue to benefit from a strengthening domestic market. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the country's economy grew 5.61% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, while the accommodation and food services sector expanded 13.14%. The industry contributed approximately IDR 639 trillion (US$35.7 billion), or 2.68% of national GDP, in 2025.

Tourism minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana highlighted the growing relationship between hospitality, gastronomy and tourism in strengthening Indonesia's destination brand.

"Today, Indonesia's tourism industry offers not only destinations but also experiences through gastronomy and the quality of its hospitality services, which have become strategic assets in strengthening the Wonderful Indonesia brand. In support of this, FHI plays an important role as a platform that connects local producers with international buyers, encourages investment, and builds partnerships to create a tourism ecosystem that is increasingly innovative, resilient, and globally competitive," she said.

The exhibition aims to facilitate more than 2,000 business matching meetings between exhibitors and domestic and international buyers during its four-day run.

Alongside the exhibition floor, FHI 2026 is hosting industry competitions and educational sessions, including the Tea Masters Cup, Indonesia Barista Championship, World Fashion Drinks Competition and Wine Masterclass, as well as seminars on halal certification and food security.

The event also expands its sustainability agenda through initiatives such as reusable exhibition stands, food waste management, used cooking oil recycling into sustainable aviation fuel, electric vehicle charging stations and the "Beyond Coffee" programme, which features baristas with Down syndrome to promote greater inclusivity within Indonesia's hospitality sector.

Discover what's next in Indonesia's fast-moving digital landscape at DMA Indonesia 2026 on 13 October in Jakarta, where marketing leaders will explore how AI, creator ecosystems, social commerce, and omnichannel strategies are reshaping customer engagement and business growth.

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