The online meeting brought together embassy officials, prominent business leaders, importers and entrepreneurs from Senegal, The Gambia and Sierra Leone under the theme: “Information Session on the 41st Trade Expo Indonesia 2026.”
The 41st edition of Trade Expo Indonesia is scheduled to take place from 14 to 18 October 2026 at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD City in Indonesia.
Trade Expo Indonesia is the country's largest and most prestigious international trade exhibition. Hosted by the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia and organised by PT Debindomulti Adhiswati, the event is designed to connect global buyers with Indonesia's most competitive export products and services from trusted suppliers.
Now entering its 41st edition, TEI has become a key sourcing destination for international businesses seeking high-quality products and services, innovative solutions and long-term partnerships with Indonesian exporters.
Speaking at the opening of the virtual session, His Excellency Ardian Wickasono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Senegal, said the Indonesian Embassy in Dakar remains committed to building strong, practical and mutually beneficial economic bridges between Indonesia and West Africa.
He revealed that, through the dedicated facilitation of the embassy during the previous Trade Expo Indonesia, transactions generated from its accredited region reached US$1 million, doubling the previous year's figure of US$500,000.
While describing the growth as encouraging, Ambassador Wickasono noted that total bilateral trade between Indonesia and Senegal, The Gambia and Sierra Leone currently stands at nearly US$300 million.
According to him, Senegal, which serves as a strategic gateway to Francophone West Africa, accounts for the largest share of the trade volume, with bilateral trade exceeding US$220 million in 2025. He attributed this performance to growing demand for Indonesian agricultural products, palm oil, garments and machinery.
The ambassador further disclosed that The Gambia has experienced steady commercial growth, with trade volumes surpassing US$60 million in 2025, highlighting significant untapped opportunities in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and agricultural commodities.
He added that Sierra Leone, an expanding market for industrial equipment, food products and textiles, recorded bilateral trade approaching US$20 million in 2025.
“These statistics are not just numbers. They are proof of a profound, unfulfilled demand. They represent market share waiting to be claimed by those of you in this room,” Ambassador Wickasono told participants.
Providing an update on preparations for the expo, Mr Harwin Hartanto of PT Debindo, the event organiser, disclosed that as of 10 September at 16:00 hours, buyer registrations for TEI 2026 had reached 3,177 participants from 90 countries worldwide.
He further revealed that the number of exhibitors had risen to 499, spread across five exhibition zones.
According to Mr Hartanto, TEI 2026 continues to enhance the quality of its offerings in support of Indonesia's export growth agenda while providing improved facilities and opportunities for buyers and stakeholders.
The meeting concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session during which participants received detailed clarifications on registration procedures, event schedules and travel arrangements for delegates planning to attend the global trade exhibition in Jakarta.
