Trade Ministry calls on university students to become exporters

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Trade Ministry is encouraging university students to develop local agricultural products for international markets through its "Campuspreneur" initiative, aiming to harness youth entrepreneurship to drive national export growth, officials said Saturday.

The program supports student-led ventures across product development, packaging, branding, and global buyer matchmaking, Director General for International Trade Negotiations Johni Martha said during an agribusiness workshop with IPB University students.

"Through Campuspreneur, the Trade Ministry seeks to encourage students to cultivate business ideas and potential while still in university," Martha said. "Students who are starting a business should look toward global market opportunities from the outset."

The initiative forms part of the government's broader "From Local to Global" campaign, which works alongside national micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) export schemes to leverage Indonesia's network of 25 active international trade agreements.

The commercial viability of the student initiative was demonstrated at the 41st Trade Expo Indonesia earlier this month, where 25 university-backed enterprises generated $24.57 million in potential transactions, including $21.46 million secured through letters of intent.

Market Development Director Miftah Farid highlighted processed agricultural commodities—particularly coffee and cocoa—as primary growth drivers for student exporters, urging young entrepreneurs to focus on value-addition and strict quality control to meet rising global demand.

Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia , Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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