President Jokowi Urges Regional Governments to Input Local Products into E-Catalog

President Jokowi at the Evaluation of Affirmation Actions to Increase Purchase and Utilization of Domestic Products in the framework of the Proudly Made in Indonesia National Movement, at the Jakarta Convention Center, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday (05/24). (Photo: Agung/PR)

In a bid to encourage purchasing power of local products and to boost regional economic growth, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has asked regional government officials to immediately include local and superior products into the Local E-Catalog.

“I ask the governors, regents, mayors, regional secretaries to immediately input local and superior products into the Local E-Catalog,” said the President when giving directives at the Evaluation of Affirmation Actions to Increase Purchase and Utilization of Domestic Products in the framework of the Proudly Made in Indonesia National Movement, at the Jakarta Convention Center, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday (05/24).

He acknowledged that to date, of 34 provinces and 514 regencies/cities, only 46 regional governments have Local E-catalogs.

“There are only 46 regional governments. Even though the requirements are no longer complicated to create a Local E-catalog,” said the President.

The President also reminded the Head of the Goods/Services Procurement Policy Institute (LKPP) not to hamper local entrepreneurs who want to register their products to the E-catalog. In addition, he also asked the relevant ranks to be wary of products that enter the E-catalog as an aggregator, namely imported products which was rebranded as local and registered it in the E-catalog.

“Buy the product overseas, use local brand then input it in the E-catalog. We must be aware of this. They use imported products and rebrand it as local brand,” he said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also asked the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI), and other business associations to encourage local entrepreneurs to produce high quality products with attractive designs and packaging as well as good branding.

“So that later more and more local products will all enter the E-catalog. It will trigger the regional economy, and I am sure that it will open up a lot of job opportunities in the regions,” he said.

With the increasing number of local products entering the E-catalog, the President expressed hope that it will be able to move the public economy, especially those that support the production of these products. (TGH/UN) (EST/MMB)