The Minister Of Trade Freed Up Exports Of Textile Products Worth 400 Thousand US Dollars

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan released PT Kewalram's polyester yarn exports in Sumedang, West Java, Saturday. (ANTARA/HO Ministry of Trade)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan, released the export of textile products from PT Kewalram in Sumedang, West Java. The textile products exported were 10 containers of polyester yarn worth 400 thousand US dollars to Germany, Poland, Malaysia, India, and Estonia.

"The release of these exports can be a momentum to expand the export market for Indonesian products in the future and become a driving force for the Indonesian economy in the recovery period after the pandemic", said the Minister of Trade in a written statement quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, August 13.

The Trade Minister said that in 2021 Indonesia will be in the 15th position as the largest textile and textile product (TPT) exporter, with an increase of 25.28 percent compared to 2021. In the January-May 2022 period, the value of Indonesia's textile exports to the world reached 5, 5 billion US dollars, up 22 percent from the same period the previous year which reached 4.2 billion US dollars.

Meanwhile, the value of world textile imports in 2021 will reach 403.62 billion US dollars, with a 2020-2021 growth rate of 22.46 percent. The increase means that fashion product sales are starting to recover globally in 2022.

The top five largest textile importing countries in the world are the United States, Germany, China, France, and Vietnam. These five countries are included in the 60 countries that have been PT Kewalram's export destinations so far.

"I appreciate PT Kewalram who continues to encourage increased exports by becoming one of the productive textile producers so that it can contribute to Indonesia's economic recovery. We will continue to support companies like this. If an advanced export-oriented company, Indonesia will also advance", added Trade Minister Zulkifli.

Meanwhile, General Chairperson of the Indonesian Textile Association (API) Jemmy Kartiwa Sastraatmaja said that his party would continue to support the government's policy to increase exports of Indonesian products, especially textiles.

According to him, it is necessary to protect and regulate the domestic textile industry to have the same opportunities so that they can compete with foreign textile products entering the Indonesian market.

Director of PT Kewalram Masuvathi Ramier Krishnamurthy added that his party appreciates the steps taken by the Ministry of Trade which have facilitated export release activities as well as listening to the aspirations of textile business actors.

PT Kewalram is a large integrated textile company that includes spinning, embroidery, garment, and dye houses and produces a wide range of textile products such as yarns, fabrics, and apparel.

PT Kewalram's products have met various internationally recognized quality standards, such as the Global Recycling Standard (GRS) Certification, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Organic Content Standard (OCS), Recycling Claims Standard ( RCS), COTTON USA License, Supima License, and BCI Cotton and Fair Trade Certificate.

The company, which has been operating since 1976, is one of the recipients of the first ISO 9001 & OEKOTEX accreditation for quality management in Indonesia.