"It has been agreed when this concept is adopted we will not speak of exporting raw materials any longer. Stop exporting raw materials from now on. I think this will be the starting point of industrial resurgence in this country," he said at a communication forum between the sectors of the Industry Ministry and the South Sulawesi provincial government on Monday.
When the policy to stop exporting raw materials had been in place, the country must then develop processing industries to give added value to the raw materials, he said.
"It will be stupid if we only export raw materials and then we buy their finished goods," he said.
Under the concept of economic corridor policy, economic development would no longer be concentrated in Java. To strengthen the national economic structure, development of industries must be expanded to areas which had raw materials, he said.
The development of industries under this scheme would rely not only on the state budget but also on investment from state and private companies, he said.
Under the scheme, the government plans to build economic clusters and business centers on all of Indonesia`s major islands to support their unique local economies. The five islands are Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
