PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Deputy Governor of West Java, Erwan Setiawan, supports affirmative regulations for local culinary businesses so they can compete in modern shopping centers.

He conveyed this when attending the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Franchise and Business Concept (IFBC) Info Exhibition held by the Indonesian Franchise Association at the Sudirman Grand Ballroom, Bandung City, Friday (29/5/2026).

According to Erwan, Indonesian specialty restaurants are still very limited in large shopping centers compared to international restaurants. One reason is the high rental costs that make it difficult for local businesses to compete.

"There are only one or two Indonesian restaurants in large malls. Why? Because we have a hard time competing on price," said Erwan.

He believes that shopping center managers need to have a special policy to provide cheaper rental prices for local businesses.

Erwan emphasized that amidst the dynamics of the global economy, West Java must remain adaptive and able to create new economic growth spaces through entrepreneurial activities such as IFBC.

He said the exhibition was a strategic space to bring together business actors, potential partners, MSMEs, and the public who wanted to develop their businesses through partnership and franchise systems.

"This mutually reinforcing ecosystem is not just about business, but also about job creation, expanding economic access, and establishing a productive middle class in West Java," he said.

On that occasion, Erwan also appreciated the Indonesian Franchise Association's consistency in encouraging the growth of partnership-based businesses in various regions in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, said the government continues to encourage an increase in the national entrepreneurship ratio, which currently only reaches around 3.29 percent of the total workforce.

According to him, Indonesia needs to increase this ratio to 10 to 12 percent to become a developed country.

"We want to see more young people enter the business world and create new jobs," he said.

The Chairman of the Indonesian Franchise Association, Anang Sukandar, also highlighted the lack of Indonesian restaurants in modern shopping centers compared to restaurants from other countries.

He believes that Indonesia has great potential through its culinary riches and local processed products, which should be able to become a national export strength.

"Indonesia has unique foods from various regions. The potential is extraordinary. What we must promote are the resulting products and their added value," said Anang.

According to him, developing franchise and partnership-based businesses is an important strategy for expanding the market while maintaining the quality and uniqueness of local products.