Indonesia Exports Rendang Seasoning to Norway, Iceland

TheIndonesia.co - The Ikaboga Women's Cooperative in Padang, West Sumatra exports one tonne of rendang and kalio spices to Norway and Iceland. Exports to Scandinavia followed similar exports to Germany.

"This is the second export for rendang seasoning to Europe and the first for the Ikaboga Cooperative. We fully support efforts to market West Sumatra products to various countries," said West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi when releasing exports in Padang, Monday, August 29, 2022.

He said previously exports of rendang were to Germany, which was facilitated by the Minang diaspora in the European country. This time the export of rendang and kalio spices to Norway was facilitated by a West Sumatran entrepreneur in Europe, Emmy Jorgensen.

"West Sumatra is very lucky to have many diasporas in various countries in the world who are very concerned with the development of their hometown and are even willing to go to great lengths to market West Sumatra's typical products in Europe," he said.

Mahyeldi said the costs incurred in managing the export of rendang seasoning to Norway will be borne by the West Sumatra Provincial Government as a form of concern and support from the local government for MSMEs.

Indonesian Ambassador to Norway and Iceland, Todung Mulya Lubis through the zoom meeting connection, appreciated the export of rendang seasoning, which was once designated as the most delicious food in the world according to CNN's version.

"Norwegian people are not many, only 5.5 million people. But this is a rich country and people really like to try new things," he said.

He believes that the exported rendang and kalio spices will get a market in Norway. "If possible, not only in Norway but also for Scandinavian countries," he said.

A West Sumatran entrepreneur in Norway, Emmy Jorgensen, said that his party had conducted market tests before exporting rendang and kalio spices to the country and had received a positive response. "This long process since nine months ago has finally succeeded with the export of one ton of this spice," she said.

She plans to make the rendang spices more widely distributed to several Scandinavian countries. Emmy also expressed her gratitude for the support from the Ministry of Trade, which has helped the licensing process so that exports are realized.