Indonesias Export in 2017 Rises by 16.22%
Thematic forum event of the Coordinating Agency for Community Relations (Bakohumas) at Santika Premiere Hotel, Yogyakarta, Thursday (5/4). (Photo by: Edi/Public Relations Division of Cabinet Secretariat).
Indonesia’s export volume in 2017 reached US$168.7 billion, rising by 16.22 percent compared to US$145.1 billion in 2016.
“Indonesia’s export growth is the highest in ASEAN after Vietnam,” said Secretary General of Ministry of Trade Karyanto Supri at at thematic forum of the Coordinating Agency for Community Relations (Bakohumas) held at Santika Premiere Hotel, Yogyakarta, Thursday (5/4).
According to Karyanto, there are 3 important aspects in exports: size, spread, and sustainability and from those three aspects, he added, sustainability is the strongest point in Indonesian exports.
He added that Ministry of Trade continues to improve the size and the spread aspects by learning from other countries, adding that in 2018 the Ministry expects 11 percent export growth supported by 59,2 million micro, small and medium enterprises in Indonesia.
In the meantime, the Ministrys Director of Trade Security Pradnyawati, explained that Indonesia’s exports are mostly based on low skill products but not yet in accordance with the structure of world market demand – 81% of manufactured products and 19% of primary products – while Vietnams exports have advantages due to its high skill-based products and technological intensity.
AEC Center manager Primajoko added that Indonesia will sign an agreement with Japan, Pakistan and the European Union this year. “Export products from Indonesia include synthetic lash extension from the city of Purbalingga, products from state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL, and products from private food company PT Indofood,” Primajoko said.
Meanwhile, representative of the Textile Entrepreneurs Association Liliek Setiawan explained that there are only 3 countries in the world that have upstream to downstream business, namely India, Indonesia, and China. and of the three countries, according to Liliek, only Indonesia does not have the raw materials.
We can import raw materials but still we must ensure the sustainability of the materials,” Liliek concluded.
Also attending the event were General Secretary of the Ministry of Trade Karyanto Supri, Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Public Relations and Protocol Al Furkon Setiawan, Head of Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Trade Marolop Nainggolan, Communication and Partnership Director of Ministry of Communication and Informatics Dedet Surya Nandika, Director of Trade Security of the Ministry of Trade Pradnyawati and representatives from public relations division of several Ministries and Indonesian Police. (EN/AS/ES) (RI/EP/Naster)
