"We hope consumers would appreciate better local products more. Do not be tempted by (famous) brands; use local products," he said here on Friday.
He made the statement in relation to the government's policy prohibiting the sale of imported used clothes, as it is believed they could hurt the domestic micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) market.
Products made by local MSMEs are healthier because they are new and free of mold, he said. The prices are affordable and the products are more stylish as well, he added.
There are also several local brands that have entered the global market, which shows that the quality of local MSME products is good and has improved.
"However, if compared with branded products whose prices are lowered because they are secondhand, no one will be able to compete with them. No one in any country can compete with the prices of (secondhand) branded products that are sold at Rp20 thousand–Rp50 thousand," he said.
By buying local MSME products, the community can also help support the economy and the creation of jobs, Rachman added.
As a follow-up to President Joko Wiododo's directive regarding the ban on the sale of imported used clothes, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs has made an agreement with the Indonesian E-commerce Association (idEA) to close or blacklist online shops that continue to sell imported secondhand products on marketplace platforms.
Marketplace platforms have also been asked to disseminate information that the sale of imported used clothes is illegal.
"They must warn (the sellers that) if continue (they) to do it (selling imported used clothes, they) will be blacklisted. Thus, the sellers will be blacklisted," he said.
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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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