From the creative hands of young people in South Sumatra, local products are now making their way into the global market. This historic moment occurred when South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru officially launched the first exports of coconut and black pepper derivatives to China, Taiwan, and France.
The launch ceremony, held at Boom Baru Port on Tuesday (April 28, 2026), served as concrete evidence that the region’s young generation is capable of penetrating the international market through innovation and entrepreneurial courage.
The exported products are processed by young entrepreneurs from the “Young Sultans of South Sumatra” community. The commodities shipped include 46 tons of coconut shell charcoal, 25 tons of coconut chips, 500 kilograms of black pepper, and 21 tons of processed crackers.
In his remarks, Herman Deru emphasized that this success is not solely about export value, but also about the mentality and concrete actions of the younger generation.
“It’s not just the export figures that make us proud, but the bold steps taken. This product has been around for a long time, but today, young people are proving that it can penetrate the global market,” he stressed.
He also encouraged concrete support from banks, particularly the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara), to facilitate access to capital for young entrepreneurs seeking to expand into the export market.
The initial export value reached IDR 1.6 billion, a significant figure amidst the current challenges of global trade.
RM Ende Ezeanto, a representative of the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, also expressed his appreciation for this achievement. He stated that South Sumatra’s export performance is showing a positive trend and has the potential to continue increasing if supported by consistent quality and production volume.
Meanwhile, Arifin Susanto, Head of the South Sumatra Financial Services Authority (OJK), highlighted the significant potential of the downstream sector of local commodities. He revealed that processing coconut shells into charcoal briquettes can generate revenue of up to IDR 700 million per shipment.
This first export is a strong signal that South Sumatra is not only rich in resources but also beginning to excel in creativity and added value. In the hands of the younger generation, simple commodities have now transformed into high-value products in demand on the global market.