Menperin Wants Indonesian Car Bodies to Supply Buses to Saudi Arabia to Meet Hajj and Umrah Needs

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita (photo: theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita sees a number of domestic industry potentials that are able to supply Saudi Arabia's needs related to Hajj and Umrah.

The automotive body industry is a sector that produces the body of motor vehicles on a chassis or base frame, such as buses, trucks, and special vehicles.

Therefore, Agus wants Indonesia to also supply the needs of these buses because the Indonesian bodywork industry is considered to be quite good.

"He also imported buses to serve pilgrims from all over the world, I know. Is it true or not? He doesn't produce buses, right? Why don't we fill the buses from Indonesia, right? Our buses are good, right. Try to see the (Indonesian) bodies are good," said Agus in Business Matching 2025 as seen on the YouTube of the Ministry of Industry of Indonesia, Monday, December 15.

Based on the information he knows, currently Saudi Arabia does not produce buses itself. Therefore, the potential to supply buses still exists, especially with the large number of Indonesian pilgrims or umrah.

"You can imagine how big the bus needs are for our congregation there. I am also a little polite, if I am not mistaken, please correct me later by Mr. Director General of Ilmate, who I know Saudi Arabia does not produce buses," he said.

Apart from buses, the national halal industry opportunity can be developed through the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem, which also includes several other product needs.

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Some of these products are halal food, health products, cosmetics and personal care, worship equipment to modest fashion.

Agus also wants more related industries to be included in the supply chain for Hajj and Umrah needs.

"Considering the potential of the market is so large and also Indonesia is a very large Muslim country, so there must be many pilgrims from Indonesia. The magnitude of the movement of pilgrims, both Hajj and Umrah, must be able to be considered as part of the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem," he said.