Denpasar (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is ready to disburse Rp4.7 trillion (around US$298.3 million) for the procurement of goods and services from domestic industries in 2024.

The ministry's Goods and Services Procurement Department Head, Triyantoro, expressed hope on Tuesday that the ministry's commitment would bolster the production of domestic industries, especially those active in laboratory equipment production.

He remarked that the ministry plans to procure laboratory equipment for universities, most of which are in a state of disrepair.

"We could not delay further the purchase of the goods because we need them immediately. Continuing to use outdated equipment will hinder our capabilities," Triyanto stated at a business matching event for domestic-made products in Denpasar, Bali.

The official expressed hope that domestic industry actors would respond positively to the ministry's commitment, thereby helping the government reduce its dependence on imported products.

Moreover, it will be consistent with the government's goal to surpass the 95 percent target for domestic product use, he affirmed.

The event was initiated by the Ministry of Industry on March 4–7 in Denpasar to promote the use of domestic products, with 182 booths from 18 industrial clusters participating.

The ministry targets the realization of domestic-made products' contract value by the central and regional governments in the first quarter of 2024 to reach Rp250 trillion (around US$15.87 billion).

While opening the business meeting, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita expressed optimism that the target is reached, as the government has identified the potential value of government spending utilized to purchase domestic-made products at Rp1,223 trillion (around US$77.64 billion).

On the event's third day, the total value committed to purchasing domestic-made products reached at least Rp90 trillion (around US$5.71 billion).

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Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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