Tangerang, Banten, Oct. 17 -- Indonesia's trade minister said on Friday the country must strengthen its export sector to support broader economic growth, following an upward revision of the nation's 2025 economic outlook by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"Our exports must contribute to economic growth. We will continue to develop them," Trade Minister Budi Santoso said, responding to the IMF's latest projection that Indonesia's economy will grow by 4.9 percent in both 2025 and 2026.

He said the country's export performance remains strong, with exports growing 7.7 percent between January and August 2025, compared with the same period last year.

The trade surplus also widened significantly, jumping 53.3 percent from $19 billion t...