President Jokowi Releases First Car Export to Australia
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo releases the first export of Fortuner cars to Australia in Karawang regency, West Java province (15/2/2022) (Photo by: Muchlis Jr)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Tuesday (02/15) released the first export of Fortuner cars to Australia manufactured by PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMI).
“By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this morning, I officially release the Export of Two Million Units of Cars manufactured by PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia and the First Export of Fortuner Cars to Australia,” the President said on the occasion held in Karawang regency, West Java province.
The Head of State expressed his appreciation to PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia for its hard work amid the pandemic to seize the opportunity and to enter new export markets.
The products including the Fortuner cars, President Jokowi further said, that are manufactured by high quality of Indonesian human resources have good quality to be exported.
These export products from Indonesia will compete with other products from a number of car producing countries. The success of Indonesian products penetrate export markets has proven that its human resources have capabilities to produce high quality cars.
“Consumers will choose our products if they have good quality and qualifications to be used. This proves that Indonesian human resources have good qualifications in producing cars. Very thorough, very accurate, and very careful, as people’s safety must become a concern,” President Jokowi said.
On that occasion, the Head of State expressed his appreciation to Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita for his contribution to boost car export to almost 80 countries in four continents. The President also appreciated that the local content requirement (TKDN) of cars manufactured by PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia has reached more than 75 percent.
“A lot of components, spare parts, and accessories in the cars are supplied by Indonesian SMEs. It means that it greatly affects the growth of small businesses in our country,” the President said.
For the record, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has delivered in his report that non-oil and gas processing industry recorded a growth of 3.67 percent in 2021 after reporting a contraction of 2.52 percent in 2020 due to the pandemic, while automotive industry recorded an extraordinary growth of 17.82 percent in 2021.
“There are 21 companies focusing on national automotive industry with a production capacity of 2.35 million units per year. The rate of direct, indirect labor absorption is also high. It reached approximately 1.5 million labors in industry chain,” he remarked.
Joining the President at the event were Minister of Investment/Chairperson of the Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia, Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Kenji Kanasugi, Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil, Regent of Karawang Cellica Nurrachadiana, President Director of PT Toyota Astra Motor Susumu Matsuda, and President Director of PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia Warih Andang Tjahjono. (FID/UN) (AP/MMB)
