Jokowi's Call To Hate Foreign Products Could Endanger International Relations

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Public policy observer from the University of Indonesia, Agus Pambagio, considers President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) words calling for hating foreign products to endanger the conditions of international relations.

Agus understood the palace's explanation that the intention of Jokowi's appeal was to motivate domestic business businesses such as MSMEs to compete in the market. However, Indonesia is in need of foreign products, especially during this pandemic such as the COVID-19 vaccine.

"They said the president's intentions were good, but in international relations communication, it could be dangerous. On the one hand, we are asking for various support facilities because of the pandemic, but on the other hand, we hate the products. We must be careful regarding this matter", Agus said in a YouTube medcom id broadcast on Sunday. , March 7.

Another challenge is the lack of imported goods that occurred after Jokowi's words. Agus questioned whether Indonesia was able to meet the needs of essential and nonessential products in the market.

"If imported goods are reduced, what can we do? These are questions not to diminish, but let's be serious about how to overcome this. Can we make it or not?", he said.

As previously reported, President Jokowi called the public to start hating foreign products and turn to love domestic products. The aim of that statement was to increase sales from local producers in the future.

The president emphasized that the love for local products will place micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in a strategic place.

Seeing the hectic public response, Jokowi explained that the statement was a natural action so that Indonesia would not only depend on imported products. So that the Indonesian people can prioritize domestically made products.

"Yesterday I told them to love Indonesian products, to be proud of Indonesian products and we may be don't like foreign products. Why can't we dislike foreign products? Why are you so fussy about it?", said Jokowi.

The Chief Expert of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Dany Amrul Ichdan admitted that a number of ambassadors from importing countries such as the United States to China questioned President Joko Widodo's intentions in calling for hate foreign products.

"Friends at the American Embassy, the Chinese Ambassador, the Taiwanese Ambassador asked, 'what does it mean?' about what the President said", said Dany.

Then, the presidency and the Indonesian ambassador in the country explained that Jokowi was only raising the spirit of foreign products and MSMEs. Jokowi has no intention of offending foreign countries exporting their products to Indonesia.

"I explain that this gives a domestic spirit, but not in the context of hating the country, or products from outside, It's about our awakening. So, It's all internal context", he said.