Building Bridges: DNAP in Bandung - West Java, Indonesia
DNAP Strengthens Bandung–Melbourne Trade Ties in Visit to West Java's DISDAGIN
Bandung, West Java - In late July 2026, DNAP (Distribution Networks Asia Pacific) travelled to Bandung to meet with the Dinas Perdagangan dan Perindustrian Kota Bandung (DISDAGIN), the city government's trade and industry authority, to explore how the trade relationship between Bandung and Melbourne can be deepened. Mohit Rai, Managing Director - DNAP, met with Mr. Ronny Nurudin, Mr. Panji Kharismadi and their colleagues at DISDAGIN for a wide-ranging discussion on the current state of trade between the two cities.
The conversation focused on the practical steps needed to close the gaps that still stand in the way of a stronger commercial relationship - from easier market access for Bandung's producers to a clearer entry point for Australian buyers looking to source from West Java.
A City-to-City Conversation on Trade
The Bandung–Melbourne relationship was front and centre of the discussion. Both sides worked through where trade flows are already strong, where the friction points lie, and what a more structured pathway between the two cities could look like — from easier market access for Bandung's producers to a clearer entry point for Australian buyers looking to source from West Java. It was a candid, working-level conversation rather than a ceremonial one, which is exactly the kind of engagement DNAP values most.
Meeting Bandung's Businesses on the Ground
With the generous support of Mr. Panji and his team, Mohit also spent time with the businesses DISDAGIN works with day to day — from a home industry workshop to a local fashion brand operating out of Bandung's design scene, each representative of the craftsmanship West Java is known for:
- A home industry workshop
A visit to a seaweed-based home industry operation, showcasing the kind of small-scale manufacturing that underpins much of West Java's export base. - A local fashion brand
Time with Bespoke Grove, a Bandung fashion label, offering a look at the city's growing design and apparel scene. - Trade Expo Indonesia 2026 curation
A sit-in on DISDAGIN's curation session for local businesses hoping to represent Kota Bandung at Trade Expo Indonesia 2026 — a genuine window into the depth and ambition of the city's SME sector.
A Visit to Galeri Patrakomala
The trip closed with a visit to Galeri Patrakomala at Baraga Citywalk, Kota Bandung's dedicated showcase for local products — from fashion and leather goods to food and homeware, all under one roof:
- Fashion and apparel
- Leather goods
- Food and beverage
- Homeware
As the gallery's own signage puts it, "the beauty of a city can be seen through its local products." Reflecting on the visit, Mohit said: "Bandung is not short on quality or craftsmanship — what a relationship like this can do is give more of it a genuine path to Melbourne. That is a conversation worth pursuing in earnest, not as a one-off."
DNAP extends its sincere thanks to DISDAGIN — and in particular to Mr. Ronny Nurudin and Mr. Panji Kharismadi — for their generosity in hosting, and for opening doors across Bandung's business community throughout the visit. This trip marks an early but promising step in strengthening ties between Bandung and Melbourne, and DNAP looks forward to turning shared interest into practical trade outcomes for businesses on both sides.
A snapshot of the local products on show at Galeri Patrakomala, Bandung- Indonesia