Luhut Admits Complaints From Several Countries Because Indonesia Is Impressed To Stay Away From Foreign Products

JAKARTA - The government continues to strive for Indonesia to build self-reliance through the production of its own necessities. Moreover, at this time the government also continues to aggressively campaign for the proud national movement (Gernas) made in Indonesia (BBI).

However, this step turned out to be in the spotlight of foreign countries. Some countries think that Indonesia seems to stay away from foreign products.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan admitted that he was complained by foreign parties because he seemed to stay away from foreign products.

"Several foreign countries complained today and asked why Indonesia seems to stay away from foreign products in its e-catalog," said Luhut as quoted from his official Instagram account @luhut.pandjaitan, Friday, August 27.

Responding to the complaint, Luhut also revealed that in the future Indonesia will indeed focus on developing domestic products. According to him, this is in line with the direction of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) so that local products are competitive in the domestic market, even to the global market.

"I emphasize that in the future we will focus on developing domestic products. This is thanks to the direction of President Jokowi, who wants domestic products to triumph in their own country, even if they dare to compete in the global arena," he said.

This effort, said Luhut, is proven by the very large budget allocation for the health sector, which is up to hundreds of trillions.

"I think it's time (the health sector) was reformed by encouraging the use of domestic products in order to create a high multiplier effect, so that it will lead us to become an independent nation and not depend on foreign products," he said.

Furthermore, Luhut revealed about the complaint after witnessing the export release of 200 containers or 150 million single-use syringes or worth 10.5 million US dollars by PT Oneject Indonesia. The company is known to have received orders for 1.2 billion single-use syringes from the UN agency, Unicef and the Ukrainian Ministry of Health for procurement until 2022.

"Look at how we, as Indonesians, can produce medical devices and even market them to the global market," he said.