PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Deputy Mayor of Bandung Erwin officially released one container of export goods from PT. Cresco to Japan in the Mekar Raya Industrial Area, Mekar Mulya, Panyileukan District, Monday (4/21/2025).

This activity is an important momentum for the revival of the export industry in the city of Bandung. This export also confirms the role of this city as a center for superior products that are able to compete in the global market.

Erwin expressed his pride and appreciation for PT. Cresco's contribution, which is considered an example of a manufacturing company with high innovation, quality, and sustainability.

The footwear products, especially sleepers, that were exported this time have succeeded in penetrating the Japanese market, a country with very strict export quality standards.

"Today is a day full of enthusiasm and hope. Export is not just about shipping goods between countries, but also sending a message that Bandung City has superior human resources and high-quality products," said Erwin.

Erwin emphasized that the Bandung City Government (Pemkot) is committed to building a competitive industrial and trade ecosystem.

One of them is through providing training, facilitating licensing, and support for MSMEs to move up a class.

According to him, collaboration between the government, business world, academics, and the community will be the key to the success of regional economic development.

"We have a vision to build an MSME incubation center in 30 sub-districts in Bandung City. Hopefully in the future MSMEs can collaborate with export players such as PT. Cresco," he added.

This event was also attended by the Chairman of the Mekar Raya Industrial Area, Sunarto. He explained the dynamics of the area which was pioneered by Mayor Dada Rosada in 1999.

In the past, this area was inhabited by more than 23 thousand employees, but now only about 3 thousand remain. Of the almost 90% of companies that used to be active as exporters, now only three companies remain that still export regularly.

Sunarto hopes that PT. Cresco's export activities will be a positive signal to revive the industry in the area.

Meanwhile, Acting Head of the Bandung City Trade and Industry Agency (Disdagin) Ronny Ahmad Nurudin said that even though the national economic conditions are facing challenges, Bandung's export performance continues to show a positive trend.

Until March 2025, the realization of Bandung City's export value has reached USD 92 million, with the main destination countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Japan, Germany and the United States.

"Exports to Japan are even higher than to America, reaching USD 8.4 million, while to America they are around USD 7.7 million," said Ronny.

Bandung's leading export products include metal jewelry from the Ahmad Yani area, ready-to-wear clothing from Cipta Griya, and textiles and tea from PT. Perkebunan.

Bandung City's export target this year is USD 326 million, up around USD 1 million compared to the previous year, with growth of around 0.3 percent.

Ronny admitted that a number of business actors faced obstacles. One of them is the increase in raw material prices due to the weakening of the rupiah exchange rate against the US dollar.

This is a challenge because the value of export transactions is usually determined in advance so that profit margins are depressed.

Disdagin also acts as an agency issuing Certificates of Origin (SKA) for export goods, which currently not only serves business actors from the city of Bandung, but also from the Greater Bandung area.

After the symbolic release ceremony, the group also conducted a review of the PT. Cresco production area, seeing firsthand the manufacturing process of footwear products exported to Japan.