RI Joins BRICS, Minister Of Industry Agus Has An Impact On Manufacturing Industry
JAKARTA - Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita assessed that the joining of Indonesia in the BRICS economy will have a strategic impact on the progress of the national manufacturing industry sector, particularly regarding the acceleration of digital transformation and strengthening global competitiveness.
Meanwhile, RI officially joined as a member of the BRICS in January 2025, becoming the 10th member after Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
BRICS is an economic alliance of developing countries that represents more than 40 percent of the world's population and nearly a quarter of global gross domestic product (GDP).
"Indonesian membership in BRICS is a strategic step to expand international cooperation, especially in industrial development, technology investment and strengthening global supply chains," Agus said in a written statement, Tuesday, May 20.
According to Agus, joining Indonesia in BRICS opens opportunities and has a positive impact on Indonesia, including in the economic, diplomacy and financial sectors. Economically, BRICS can open wider market access, access to funding from the New Development Bank (NDB) and diversify trading partners.
Meanwhile, diplomatically, BRICS is a platform to fight for global economic reform and strengthen Indonesia's position on the international stage. Meanwhile, financially, BRICS can help reduce dependence on the US dollar and create an alternative financial system.
Agus added that Indonesia's involvement in BRICS will open up great opportunities to encourage the transformation of the domestic industry towards industry 4.0. This is in line with the Making Indonesia 4.0 roadmap.
"Indonesia is committed to advancing digital transformation, smart manufacturing and industrial automation to increase national productivity and competitiveness. This is in line with the spirit of BRICS in strengthening technology and innovation cooperation," he said.
He said the government continues to encourage the strengthening of the main industrial sector through technological innovation, accelerating the development of sustainable green industries and building an inclusive and strong supply chain.
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In addition to the large industrial sector, Agus also emphasized the importance of support for small and medium industries (IKM). Through the collaboration of BRICS, Indonesia will expand the access of IKM players to digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to increase production efficiency and market penetration.
"Digitalization and AI do not only belong to large industries. Our IKM must be able to access this technology so as not to be left behind. This is the importance of cooperation in BRICS to reduce the technological gap," said Agus.
Furthermore, Agus highlighted Indonesia's great potential in the bioindustry sector and the circular economy. With biological wealth and renewable natural resources, Indonesia can become a supplier of global bioindustry.
"Indonesia has a great opportunity to become a world bioindustrial barn. BRICS cooperation will accelerate the development of bioindustrial technology and encourage an environmentally friendly circular economy," Agus explained.