PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk or BNI through the BNI Xpora program brought three small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the food and beverage sector to participate in the Seoul Food & Hotel (SFH) 2025 event, the largest food exhibition in South Korea which took place at Kintex, Seoul, on June 10-13, 2025.
BNI Treasury SEVP Ita Tetralastwati explained that BNI's participation in “Indonesia in Korea - SFH 2025” is a tangible form of synergy between BNI and various stakeholders, including Bank Indonesia (BI), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (KBRI Seoul), and the Ministry of Trade through ITPC and Trade Attache in Seoul.
This collaboration aims to expand the reach of Indonesian SME products to the export market, in line with BNI's mandate as a global bank.
"Through participation in SFH 2025, BNI aims to open opportunities for fostered SMEs to penetrate the global market, especially in South Korea. This is the third time BNI Xpora has attended this event as part of an effort to encourage SMEs to upgrade and strengthen the contribution of national exports," Ita said in a written statement.
The three SMEs facilitated by BNI in this exhibition include PT Maxindo Karya Anugrah which produces healthy snacks made from fruits and vegetables, PT Indo Tropikal Group which presents candy products made from ginger and Indonesian specialty coffee, and PT Alam Scientia Asia which focuses on the production of healthy and nutritious food.
The Indonesian Pavilion at the exhibition featured products from SMEs fostered by BNI and BI. The pavilion became a strategic meeting point between Indonesian SMEs and buyers, importers, distributors, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and retailers from South Korea and abroad who are looking for food products, beverages, catering services, and raw materials for the culinary industry.
The opening ceremony of the Indonesian Pavilion was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Ita together with Ad Interim Chargé d'Affaires of the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul Zelda Wulan Kartika and Director of the BI International Department Elsya Chani.
SMEs’ participation in the exhibition also opens up opportunities for collaboration and business exploration with international partners in attendance, and allows Indonesian businesses to understand the needs and tastes of global consumers firsthand.
Ita added that the participation of SMEs in SFH 2025 is expected to have a concrete impact in increasing the volume of exports to South Korea and other partner countries. “We want SMEs to gain international experience and establish sustainable business networks,” she said.
This step is in line with BNI's mission to become the main facilitator of Indonesian SME exports through the BNI Xpora program which integrates business coaching, access to financing, and international market promotion in one sustainable ecosystem.
With an active presence in global-scale exhibitions such as SFH 2025, BNI continues to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening the competitiveness of Indonesian SMEs in the international arena and supporting national economic growth through the foreign trade sector.