Indonesia's Trade Minister Honored for Village Export Initiative

JAKARTA, July 4 — Indonesia's Trade Minister Budi Santoso has been honored for his efforts to help rural communities reach international markets through the government's Village BISA Export program.

Santoso received the "Driving Independent Village Economic Transformation" award at the 2026 Bali-Nusra Awards, held in Badung, Bali, on Friday. The award was presented by CT Corp Chairman Chairul Tanjung.

Accepting the award, Santoso dedicated the recognition to villages participating in the Village BISA Export program, describing it as a joint initiative between the government and the private sector to expand exports from rural Indonesia.

"This award belongs to the village communities that have joined the Village BISA Export program," Santoso said. "The program is a collaborative effort to position villages as new drivers of Indonesia's export growth."

Launched in Jembrana, Bali, in September 2025, the program aims to help rural producers develop export-ready products by identifying local economic potential, providing business mentoring, and improving access to overseas markets.

The Trade Ministry says the initiative has mapped the economic potential of thousands of villages and supported micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in reaching global buyers.

The Bali-Nusra Awards, established in 2025, recognize individuals, public institutions, and businesses for innovation and contributions to economic and social development across Bali and the Nusa Tenggara region. (Robert Paiman)