The ministry's Director General of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Textile Industry, Muhammad Khayam, noted in a statement here on Friday that the ministry had concentrated efforts to propel industrial performance to contribute significantly to the country's economy.
"Recently, we have synchronized the industry's performance target set for 2020 with the real on-field conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic," Khayam remarked.
Khayam spoke of the industry having targeted a growth of 0.40 percent in 2020 and 5.3 percent in 2024.
In the second quarter of the year, the industry's contribution had reached 4.5 percent, backed by positive growth of the chemical, pharmaceutical, and traditional medicine industry, at 8.65 percent, when the economy contracted 5.32 percent.
Khayam elaborated that in the second quarter of 2020, the industry had contributed US$14.59 billion to the total exports, with investment realization touching Rp32.39 trillion comprising Rp20.06 trillion of foreign investment and Rp12.33 trillion of domestic investment.
"Workforce in the sector reached 6.96 million of the total workers in the processing industry at 18.46 million," he stated.
The ministry has targeted chemical, pharmaceutical and textile industry exports to reach $34.14 billion in 2020, with realization of investment at Rp84.65 trillion and absorption of 7.37 million workers.
"To achieve the target, we have designed five strategic policies of human resource development in industry, development of facilities, industry empowerment, fiscal and non-fiscal facility, and bureaucratic reform," Khayam remarked.
Secretary of the Directorate General of Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Textile Industry Sri Hastuti Nawaningsih highlighted the government’s issuance of some regulations to boost national economic recovery, including application of stringent health protocols while boosting the industry's productivity and utilization.
Nawaningsih affirmed that the ministry had reduced imports by 35 percent in 2020 under the government’s endeavors to strengthen the domestic industry.
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Translator: Risbiani F, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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