Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government has set itself the target of increasing its non-oil/non-gas exports by 12.3 - 13.5 percent in 2012, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said.

"In order to achieve qualitative growth of our non-oil/non-gas exports, we need to increase our export promotion efforts, improve the trading climate, bolster our export competitive edge and increase our international trade diplomatic capability," the trade minister said here on Monday.

The growth target set for non-oil/non-gas exports next year is higher than the target set for the same commodities this year which is only between 11 per cent and 12 percent.

Data at the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) showed that in the January 2011 period, Indonesia`s non-oil/non-gas exports had reached 50.03 billion US dollars, or an increase of 29.34 percent compared with that in the same period a year earlier.

In 2010, the realization of the country`s non-oil/non-gas exports far exceeded the government`s set target of 8.5 percent.

Based on the BPS data, the non-oil/non-gas exports in 2010 were recorded at 129.68 billion US dollars or an increase by 33.02 percent compared with that a year earlier.

However, Indonesia`s non-oil/non-gas exports dropped 2.82 percent in April 2011 to US$12.93 billion, according to the BPS.

"The biggest drop in the exports was recorded for iron ore, slags and ash. namely US$412.1 million. Other commodities that recorded a drop in exports are machinery, electrical equipment, copper and mineral fuels," BPS deputy head of statistics, distribution and services, Djamal said when presenting the BPS statistical data here on Wednesday.

Minister Mari said that her ministry has submitted a fund allocation to support efforts to increase non-oil/non-gas exports in 2012.

In this case, the trade ministry has proposed a fund of Rp201.59 trillion which accounts for 10 percent of the total indicative ceiling of funds for boosting external trade.

The trade ministry has also proposed a fund of Rp358.09 billion for national export development and Rp115.26 billion for increasing international trade cooperation.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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