"We still have an untapped market. For long, we have only been a market. We indeed want to expand our trade overseas, (particularly in) health products," director of market development and export information at the ministry’s Directorate General of National Export Development, Marolop Nainggolan, said at the 2022 ACHEMA regional conference here on Thursday.
He urged industry actors to participate in trade and industry exhibitions to introduce Indonesia-made products to a global audience.
"We suggest industry actors established in the domestic market to start exporting (their products). We invite you to our office, and we will show you where is the market and who are the business partners that you can meet. If your business is already established in the domestic market, expand overseas. Do not be active only in the domestic market, seek higher business margins," Nainggolan said.
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The export potential for Indonesia-made health equipment products reached US$1.3 billion in 2021, the official pointed out.
"The three products that contributed up to 66.4 percent of the entire health equipment export from Indonesia were gloves, medical, surgery, or dental equipment and instruments, as well as surgical gloves," he noted.
The United States, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Germany are markets that have a great potential for Indonesia-made pharmacy component exports, he highlighted.
Despite the huge export potential, imports of pharmacy and health equipment raw materials are still high, he noted.
"Despite we have great (export) potential, the current problem is we have not many health products that we can export. I must admit that we still need to import up to 90 percent of raw materials for our health equipment (production)," Nainggolan said.
He also lamented the fact that despite its significant development, the domestic health product industry is manufacturing only simple health equipment, such as beds or gloves.
The official then expressed the hope that the Red and White vaccine developed in Indonesia would be produced and exported in the future, as currently all vaccines being used in Indonesia are imported.
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Translator: Ade Irma Junida, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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