Indonesia calls for investment to expand sago exports to Japan
Indonesia's share of Japan's sago starch market rose from 2 per cent in 2021 to 14 per cent in 2025, its industry minister said.
Indonesia is seeking more investment, higher-value processing and closer industrial ties with Japan to expand its sago starch exports, Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji said at the 2026 Sago Business Forum in Jakarta.
Sarmuji said Japan remained a major export destination and that growing Japanese industrial demand offered scope for closer trade links. He cited Indonesia's rising market share as evidence of greater international acceptance of its sago starch.
The minister called for investment to increase production capacity and connect sago-producing regions with overseas buyers. Developing products with greater added value would help Indonesia compete internationally, he said, while suitable processing technology was needed to meet industrial requirements and international standards.
Sarmuji said the forum was intended to present Indonesia's processing capabilities, highlight regional investment opportunities and bring businesses from both countries into discussions. He invited Japanese companies and investors to explore partnerships.
Japanese Embassy Counsellor Keisuke Kosonuma said Japan needed a sustainable sago supply, while Indonesia accounted for about 85 per cent of the world's sago-growing areas. He expressed hope that cooperation would lead to business ventures, investment and technological innovation that add value and create local jobs.
