Jakarta. Indonesia reaffirmed its push into the North American food and beverage market by participating in the Salon International de l’Alimentation (SIAL) Canada 2026, held on April 29–May 1 in Montreal.

As one of the largest F&B exhibitions in North America, the event featured more than 800 exhibitors from across countries and drew over 21,000 professional visitors, offering a strategic platform to expand business networks and global market access.

Indonesia’s participation was a joint effort by Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Ottawa and Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) Vancouver, supported by banking partners and businesses to strengthen promotion and market penetration of Indonesian products in the region.

The Indonesia Pavilion showcased a range of flagship products, including coffee and cocoa, coconut derivatives, processed foods, spices and herbs, gluten-free cassava-based products, and fisheries products. These were presented by 10 Indonesian companies: Across Indonesian Seas, Exotique Foods, Gulapa, Indofood, Java Spices, Konimex, Ladang Lima, Maxi Snacks, Mayora, and Northern Tide Fisheries.

The pavilion was officially opened by Indonesian Ambassador to Canada Muhsin Syihab and attended by key figures, including the Philippine Ambassador to Canada, the Executive Director of Trade Facilitation Office Canada, the CEO of SIAL Canada, an Advisory Board Member of Canada-ASEAN Business Council Quebec, and the General Manager of Bank Republik Indonesia (BRI) New York.

In his remarks, Muhsin said Indonesia’s participation reflects the country’s strength in delivering high-quality, value-added food products to the global market. “Today, Indonesia presents selected companies offering high-quality products, ranging from coffee and cocoa to processed foods, spices, and fisheries products, highlighting Indonesia’s strength as a resource-rich country and an innovative hub for value-added food production,” he said.

He added that Canada remains a promising and modern market where consumers increasingly demand high-quality, sustainable, and innovative products. “Indonesian products, from specialty coffee and natural spices to fisheries and processed foods, are well positioned to meet these evolving preferences,” Muhsin said.

Indonesia’s processed food and beverage exports (HS 16–22) to Canada have shown strong growth in recent years, rising from about $56.4 million in 2023 to $116.6 million in 2025, more than doubling by roughly 106%. The increase was driven by higher exports of cocoa products (HS 18), processed fruit and vegetables (HS 20), and other food preparations (HS 21).

Trade Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa, Mahdewi Silky, said the growth signals continued opportunities in the Canadian market. “With the planned implementation of the Indonesia–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-CA CEPA) later this year, along with ongoing negotiations of the ASEAN–Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA), we are optimistic this momentum will further strengthen trade and investment ties and boost Indonesia’s exports to Canada,” she said.

The exhibition also served as a platform for Indonesian businesses to expand market reach. Indra Aries Purnomo, International Business Manager at Konimex, said: “At SIAL Canada 2026, we introduced a range of products from candies to wafers that have entered the Canadian market since last year. We hope this participation will further strengthen our presence and open opportunities for partnerships with local partners.”

Similarly, Ika Dewi, founder of Gulapa (Berkat Petani Indonesia), showcased coconut-based products, particularly organic coconut sugar. She expressed hope that Indonesian coconut derivatives would gain wider acceptance in Canada, where demand for organic and gluten-free products continues to rise.

Indonesia’s participation also generated strong business prospects. During the exhibition, the Indonesia Pavilion recorded potential transactions exceeding $20 million, or around Rp 329 billion, stemming from exploratory deals between participating companies and potential buyers and partners from Canada and across North America. The figure reflects strong market interest in Indonesian F&B products and signals positive export prospects ahead.

As a follow-up, the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa and ITPC Vancouver will pursue these opportunities by facilitating real transactions and fostering sustainable partnerships between Indonesian exhibitors and Canadian business partners.