Ministry Of Industry Encourages Textile Association For Domestic Production Of Masks And PPE

Illustrated. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry asked the Indonesian Textile Association (API) for its members to produce masks and personal protective equipment (PPE). This is to meet the currently high domestic demand, especially to supply the needs of health workers in handling patients exposed to the corona virus or COVID-19.

"Apart from the PPE industry, we also encourage domestic textile producers to also supply PPE and masks. Because, at this time we still need quite a lot to deal with the spread of the corona virus in Indonesia, "said Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in Jakarta, Friday, March 27.

In the context of handling COVID-19, product diversification carried out by the textile industry is one of the fast ways to meet the very high needs of PPE and masks at this time.

"This can be a solution to maintain the performance of the textile industry amid the declining domestic market," added Agus.

The Minister of Industry revealed that in an effort to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, it is projected that up to the next four months, 12 million pieces of PPE are needed.

"With conditions like this, the possibility of demand can increase up to 100 percent, even 500 percent," he said.

Therefore, the Ministry of Industry has mapped the potential of the PPE industry in the country, including the textile industry that is willing to produce PPE and masks. The PPE needed includes clothing, caps, towels, gloves, foot protection, hand protection and goggles.

"We continue to actively coordinate with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Ministry of Health for the smooth operation of the distribution permit and the import of raw materials," Agus added.

The Ministry of Industry gives appreciation to industry players who play a role in helping the government in efforts to reduce the spread of the corona virus in Indonesia.

"We also ask the pharmaceutical industry to optimize the production of drugs or vitamins needed at this time," he explained.

According to the Minister of Industry, the pharmaceutical industry needs to develop Original Indonesian Modern Medicines (Fitofarmaka) which are based on natural ingredients. This is because Indonesia has the potential for the development of these drugs, because its biodiversity is more than 30,000 plant species.

Also Encourage the Automotive Industry

In fact, the Ministry of Industry also encourages domestic automotive manufacturers to be able to produce medical devices, such as ventilators or breathing aids.

"For the supply of the ventilator, a simple prototype will be made that can be mass produced through cooperation between the automotive industry and the component industry," he said.

Furthermore, one form of support for industrial players in order to produce, the government has issued a second economic stimulus in the form of temporary exemption from import duty for industrial raw materials, ease of importation of raw materials, and guarantee of strategic food supply availability.

Supply of Raw Materials

Meanwhile, Director General of the Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Textile Industry (IKFT) of the Ministry of Industry Muhammad Khayam said that his party had specifically asked the Indonesian Nonwoven Association (INWA) so that its members could provide the raw material needs for the production of PPE and masks.

"The Indonesian Nonwoven Association has also been asked to supply shortages of PPE and masks raw materials. So that to produce PPE and masks there are no longer obstacles to the need for raw materials, "he explained.

In addition, a number of companies that are members of the Association of Bonded Zone Companies are also preparing infrastructure to produce masks and PPE in the context of handling COVID-19.

Khayam also revealed that raw materials from China began to be sent to Indonesia last week. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry continues to encourage domestic industries to further increase their production capacity.

"Even the textile BUMNs, namely PT Industri Sandang Nusantara, were asked to take a role in handling the COVID-19 virus by producing masks," he added.

The production of PPE and masks in the country is planned to be distributed to a number of areas on a priority scale.

"For now, there are several companies that are ready to help supply PPE raw material needs. Like PT Multispunindo, PT Sritex, Duniatex Group, PT Hadtex, and several other textile and textile product (TPT) companies, "he said.

The diversification of production by the textile industry is expected to meet the needs of PPE and masks, which are currently tending to increase.

"The government and industry are working together to overcome the scarcity of PPE and masks on the market due to the increasing demand," he said.