Minister Of Industry Agus Gumiwang: Indonesian Manufacturing Industry Out Of The Middle Income Trap

Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. (Photo: Doc. Kemenperin)

JAKARTA - Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita assessed that strengthening the manufacturing industry can help Indonesia get out of the trap status of middle-income countries and grow as high-income countries or developed countries by 2045.

The reason is that he is observing the positive trend of the manufacturing industry in Indonesia, especially during the recovery period after being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We all hope that manufacturing can be a prime mover (the main driver of the economy) so that we can graduate from the middle income trap as soon as possible, because if we look at the performance of the Indonesian manufacturing industry, it is quite promising," Agus Gumiwang said while giving a virtual presentation at the Indonesia Development Forum session in Jimbaran, Badung, Bali, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, November 23.

Data from the Ministry of Industry shows that the Purchasing Manager of the manufacturing industry's Index (PMI) in Indonesia reached 51.8 points. Agus said the figure continued the trend of PMI numbers above 50 for 12 not consecutively.

"(The trend) shows that the (manufacturing) industry is expanding," said Agus.

He also said that the non-oil and gas processing sector is currently the most contributing to the national economy by 16.10 percent, while the growth of the sector in the third quarter of 2022 reached 4.88 percent year-on-year (yoy).

In addition, the industry of transportation equipment and the metal goods industry, computers, electronic goods, optics and electrical equipment grew by 10.26 percent and 12.56 percent yoy. The growth indicator gave optimism for the manufacturing industry sector," he said.

Therefore, he supports the efforts of the Ministry of National Development Planning (PPN)/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) to strengthen the manufacturing industry for national economic transformation so that Indonesia can escape the middle-income trap.

At the peak of the Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) 2022 event, which is made by the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa said that industries in Indonesia need to use a new paradigm, including increasing complexity and transportation, as well as making the industry quickly adapt to market demand and needs.

Therefore, the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas in collaboration with SOEs and universities launched two initiatives, namely the Roadmap for the Development of the 2022 2045 Archipelago Industrial Ecosystem' which was created with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) and the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), as well as the 20232045 Main Plan for the Development of Indonesian Digital Industry. jointly made with PT Telkom Indonesia.