Nutmeg, cinnamon sticks and cloves isolated on white
Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning has recently launched the Spice Downstreaming Roadmap 2025–2045 (Nutmeg, Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Javanese Curcuma) on 10 December as an elaboration of the mandate of the 2025–2045 National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) to increase the downstreaming of superior natural resources.
The launch of this Roadmap reaffirms Indonesia’s identity as a True Spice Country and restores its position as a major player in the global supply chain. This roadmap sets the strategic direction for the development of the spice industry through strengthening production, domestic and international marketing, and building an enabling ecosystem based on research, innovation, and inclusive governance.
Currently, Indonesia controls 75% of the global nutmeg market with exports valued at US$185.2 million. However, the quality of Indonesian nutmeg is still below that of Grenada due to suboptimal cultivation systems and post-harvest handling. Indonesia Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN) hopes to drive the transformation of this industry towards a more modern, sophisticated and sustainable farming practise.
Minister of National Development Planning, Rachmat Pambudy said, “The launch of the Spice Downstreaming Roadmap must be part of our trade journey. In fact, this trade roadmap has existed for hundreds of years, the foundation that once made European countries successful.” He elaborated that Indonesia was once known as the Mother of Spices but that glory has now benefited other countries. “We are now preparing a new approach: not just selling spices, but also selling an ecosystem that strengthens their added value.”
The Ministry of Trade’s efforts to strengthen Indonesia’s culinary industry can provide a gateway to downstream processing, as Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan have done through the expansion of global restaurant chains. This added value is the one that will drive Indonesian spices back into the global market.
To ensure the success of the new roadmap, there is a need for collaboration between farmers, traders, and industry to optimize the spice potential. This roadmap aims to restore spices as a cultural, economic, and diplomatic force in the nation’s efforts to realize the Vision of Golden Indonesia 2045.
