The Ministry Of Industry Encourages Domestic IKM Players To Be Able To Produce Masks And PPE

Illustrated. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry stated that domestic small and medium industry (IKM) players are ready to produce masks and personal protective equipment (PPE). This is an effort made by business actors to assist the government in accelerating the handling of the corona virus or COVID-19 in Indonesia.

Director General of Small, Medium and Miscellaneous Industry (IKMA) of the Ministry of Industry, Gati Wibawaningsih, said that the IKMs are spread across West Java, Central Java, DKI Jakarta, Banten, East Java and West Nusa Tenggara.

"As many as 88 percent of the 50 IKM who filled out our questionnaire stated that they were able to produce PPE and masks," he said, through a written statement received by VOI, in Jakarta, Monday, April 6.

Gati explained, the mask production capacity of each IKM ranges from 50 to 500 pieces per day. Meanwhile, for PPE production capacity, they are able to make 20 to 250 pieces per day.

Of the 50 IKM that are able to make masks and PPE, only 55 percent understand the standards for making masks. Gati said the other 77.5 percent admitted that they were only able to produce masks and PPE that did not have medical standards.

As is known, masks have become a rare item after Indonesia tested positive for COVID-19 in early March. In fact, the price was soaring. Often with the increasing number of positive patients, masks are urgently needed and the government through the Ministry of Trade has imposed a ban on the export of these goods.

Gati said, the Ministry of Industry continues to encourage IKM players to be able to produce non-medical masks, considering that the need for these items is currently very high. These masks can be an alternative to society, when medical masks are hard to come by.

Moreover, said Gati, the requirements for producing non-medical masks were not too burdensome. So that IKM players are considered capable of doing it.

"For non-medical masks, two layers must be made so that they can filter more optimally. So, IKM makes them freely and there is no requirement for a distribution permit, because what must have a permit and fulfill SNI is a medical mask," he said.

On the other hand, Gati said, encouraging IKM to produce non-medical masks at this time, could be a solution to maintain the domestic IKM business in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak by utilizing the fabrics they have or partnering with textile providers.

However, Gati reminded IKM to self-declare or declare the use of the mask products made, for example by stating that the masks are non-medical masks.

"If they declare anti-bacterial, waterproof and other things, this must also be proven first if the cloth they use meets these quality requirements," he said.

Meanwhile, for hand sanitizer products, Gati encourages IKM to have a production permit and distribution permit for Household Health Supplies (PKRT) from the Ministry of Health.

According to Gati, several IKMs are currently able to make the products needed in the context of handling COVID-19 and are getting attention from related agencies so that they can spend their budget on IKMs that are able to produce products that are right for use in current conditions.