"The government encourages effort to boost exports of products of industries which still have capacity to increase production. In chemical sector, cement industry could still increase its production as it still has idle capacity. Cement industry has a production capacity of 100 million tons as against domestic consumption of 70 million tons," Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said here on Wednesday.
Airlangga said he wants the automotive industry to boost exports of Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) and Sport Utility Vehichle (SUV) to 300,000 units next year. Currently exports of those types of cars averaged 200,000 units per year.
The Minister said in a bid to increase exports, Indonesia is seeking partnership with a number of countries under Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Airlangga said Indonesia has a big opportunity to expand export market through the partnership agreements such as the Indonesia-European Free Trade Agreement CEPA (IE CEPA).
"With IE CEPA already signed the opportunity to increase export would be high . Various Indonesian products are ready to penetrate global market, such as exports of jewelry to Switzerland," he said.
The Industry Ministry hopes the various attempts could jack up exports of Indonesian products to various countries that Indonesia could reduce deficit in the country trade balance.
Reporting by Sella Panduarsa Gareta
Editing by Albert Saragih, Yoseph Hariyadi
Reporter: ANTARA
Editor: Bustanuddin
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