Jakarta, Feb. 18 -- Indonesia's Trade Minister Budi Santoso has said the government is optimistic that the national economy and trade will continue to grow, given that the country has recorded a trade surplus for 56 consecutive months now.

"Amid global challenges that are getting more complex and multidimensional, Indonesia's trade balance continues the monthly surplus, which has occurred since May 2020," he said.

At a CEO gathering organized by the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) in Jakarta on Monday, he invited business players to support his ministry's programs.

The programs include securing the domestic market, expanding exports, and increasing export-oriented micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The minister sa...