First Participation at TEI: Kalara Borneo Attracts International Buyers

BSD City, October 19, 2025 -This year marks our first appearance at the Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI). We came with a simple goal: to introduce our cacao-based chocolate products from Kalimantan to a broader market. Yet, our debut at this international-scale event opened more doors than we initially expected.

Throughout the exhibition, our booth attracted the attention of numerous international buyers ,from specialty retailers to food ingredient importers for manufacturing. We received many technical inquiries about our cacao sourcing, production process, and product variations, as well as discussions about potential distribution partnerships.

Support from Bank Indonesia, under whose guidance we participated, proved invaluable. From preparing presentation materials and export-ready packaging to connecting us with relevant buyers, their assistance made a real difference. When meeting prospective partners face-to-face, we found that the introduction process became much smoother and more targeted.

As a result, our products sold out completely during the event, and we received several Letters of Intention (LoI) from buyers expressing interest in further collaboration. While these LoIs are not yet final contracts, they serve as a strong indication that our products hold genuine potential in international markets.

Our experience at TEI taught us a vital lesson: product quality must go hand in hand with operational readiness and proper export documentation. We also learned that international buyers pay close attention to supply consistency, quality standards, and traceability of raw materials. Moving forward, we plan to strengthen our supply chain, increase production capacity, and refine our quality standards to meet larger-scale demand.

This first participation was more than just about sales figures,it helped us build networks, understand market expectations, and gain confidence that local products from Kalimantan can compete globally. We are grateful to everyone who supported us, including the Bank Indonesia team, and to all buyers and visitors who took the time to stop by our booth.

Looking ahead, we will follow up on the LoIs received and prepare concrete steps to meet future demand. This is only the beginning of Kalara Borneo’s journey in the international market, and we are committed to learning, improving, and growing further.