The Ministry Of Industry Asks Industry Players To Increase Exports After Trade Agreements

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) Febri Hendri Antoni Arif. (Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) encourages entrepreneurs of bounded areas to take advantage of the proceeds of the trade agreement.

This was conveyed by the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry, Febri Hendri Antoni Arif when met by reporters at the Ministry of Industry office, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 30.

"We have many trade agreements, but the utilization is still low," said Febri.

Febri stated that many manufacturers in the industrial area are tied up to sell their products in the domestic market. According to him, entrepreneurs in tied areas should export products because they make greater income and increase the country's foreign exchange, so that it affects economic growth.

He said export push was not limited to the rulers of the tied area. Febri also appealed to industry entrepreneurs outside the tied area to export and take advantage of trade agreements.

The expansion of the export market, according to Febri, was also carried out because the domestic market in the industrial sector was already flooded with imports, especially textiles and textile products (TPT). "Don't enter the domestic market anymore, making this domestic market even narrower," he explained.

Previously, the Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated that the settlement of Indonesia's trade negotiations with a number of countries could expand Indonesia's products in the global arena.

A few days ago, Indonesia signed a collaboration in the form of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) and the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA).

According to Agus, Indonesia's trading principle is not merely pursuing a surplus, but also increasing the volume of trade with major partners in the European Union.

"My deficit and surplus is correct, but it is no less important for my principle is to enlarge the cake from our trade with trading partner countries. That is the principle," said Agus when met by reporters at ICE BSD, Tangerang, Banten, Thursday, September 25.

In addition, Agus said, the agreement could also increase the trade balance, considering that in trade cooperation, the balance sheet is considered important in addition to surpluses and deficits.

"(IEU-CEPA) is enlarging the trade balance between us and EU (Europe), between us and China, Australia. Now with Canada, with the UAE," he said.