Rendang Should Be Standardized To Boost Exports

PADANG, W Sumatra, July 9 (Antara) - Clear standardization guidelines for rendang, the typical culinary delicacy of West Sumatra, must be outlined to facilitate high exports to various countries, according to Chief Economist Bureau Heri Nofiardi. "Standardization is in terms of taste, meat used, and packaging technology that should be durable," he stated here on Monday. Nofiardi highlighted the need for standardization based on the export potential of rendang, as it has been named as one of the world's best foods by CNN. Every village offers a distinctive taste of rendang, so tourists will not be bored. Moreover, the many variants are a cultural treasure to be grateful and proud of. On the other hand, especially for the industry, it can pose an obstacle for exports in the absence of a clear standard for each variant of rendang. In fact, standardization is important for production at the industrial scale. Premium-, medium-, and ordinary-quality rendang must be clearly standardized, so that consumers can make their choices based on their needs. In addition, the rendang business is still limited to the scale of small and medium enterprises, so it is difficult to cater to large orders. "Imagine if a large number of orders were to be received, then they would need to be fulfilled by several different UMKMs. Thus, the taste of rendang will differ across packages, for which the customers can complain," he added. Standardization will be one of the priorities of the West Sumatra provincial government in a bid to boost the regional economy. "Rendang has great potential for exports, so just prepare its standardization. We will facilitate the related parties to discuss this," he remarked. Rendang in West Sumatra not only uses meat as the main ingredient but following culinary developments, rendang has also evolved, with the use of various other ingredients, such as shell, eggs, and chicken. Various types of rendang can be found at the rendang village, as one of the tourist destinations of Payakumbuh, which is some 180 kilometers north of Padang City.