At an event marking the release of the consignments of exports, held in Lamongan, East Java, on Friday, Suparmanto said the exports this time involved 133 companies.
"It consists of 79 companies in the non-SME category and 54 companies in the SME category, with total exports in December, 2020 valued at US$1.64 billion, or equivalent to Rp23.75 trillion," the Trade Minister said in his speech, which was broadcast online by the Presidential Secretariat.
At the event, which was attended by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Suparmanto said non-SME companies that recently started exporting participated in the export release this time. The companies include PT Universal Strategic Alliance from Mojokerto, East Java.
"They succeeded in exporting cigar products valued at US$86,400, or equivalent to Rp1.28 billion, to the Japanese market," the Trade Minister said.
In addition, he said, seven companies succeeded in diversifying their portfolio of export products. They include PT Bumi Pangan Utama from Banten province with flour shrimp products, PT Mukura Dasdhot from Banten province with three-dimensional rooster products, and PT Makmur Jaya Sejahtera from Bali with fish fillet products made from snapper opaka, red snapper, and grouper.
PT Kewalram from West Java province diversified its export portfolio with embroidered women's apparel products, PT Tri Sinar Purnam from Central Java with iron pipe connection products, PT Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo from East Java with sorbitol products for toothpastes, and PT Mega Suryamas from East Java with soap noodles products.
"The total export value resulting from the diversification of new products from non-SME companies reached US$24.42 million, or the equivalent of Rp354.16 billion," he informed.
Meanwhile, at the release event, President Widodo said increasing exports is crucial for improving the national economy.
Increasing exports will help business actors to grow and create jobs, he stated.
"In addition, it is also (going) to generate foreign exchange and reduce the current account deficit," President Widodo said.
The Head of State said in the current pandemic situation, the global economy is experiencing sluggishness, which has dampened demand from export markets.
"But we must not give up. We have to look more carefully, seeing the export market opportunities that are still wide open in countries that are currently experiencing a pandemic," he added.
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Translator: Hanni S, Azis K
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
