Jakarta, Aug. 12 -- Trade Minister Budi Santoso has expressed optimism about the newly signed Indonesia-Peru Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IP-CEPA) leading to growth in the national fashion industry.

"We now have the CEPA, which is essentially a trade cooperation deal that opens avenues for additional areas of collaboration," he said after the launch of the Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week (JMFW) 2026 at the Kartika Expo Center in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The minister emphasized that the new pact could potentially help domestic textile companies expand their market reach to South America, beyond their traditional export destinations in Europe and the United States.

"After that, we may as well attempt to penetrate the African mark...