"No negative growth is recorded today. I think 6.8 percent is the maximum average growth of the manufacturing industry," he said here on Tuesday.
Data from the Industry Ministry show all non-oil/gas industrial sectors recorded positive growth last year, with the base metal, iron and steel industry taking the lead with 13.06 percent, followed by food, drink and tobacco industry 9.19 percent, textile, leather product and footwear industry 7.52 percent.
The growth of all the non-oil/non-gas industrial sectors was expected to remain high this year.
The industry minister expressed hope the growth of the non-oil/gas industries would exceed 7 percent this year.
The government would focus on encouraging the growth of domestic industries, particularly small-and medium-sized industries as well as supporting industries.
"What is the most suitable now is that if large-sized industries have been well established they must be connected to supporting industries. If we want to build an automotive plant it must be connected with component industries and other industries," he said.
The connectivity between large industries and supporting industries must be applied to all industrial sectors, he said.
"Only by doing so can they grow together," he said.
He said the government would not tolerate any large investor which did not involve local entrepreneurs to support its business activities.
"They must involve local companies. That is my request," he said.
Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for Research and Technology Bambang Sujagad said the government should maintain the existing conducive business climate to allow the growth of non-oil/non-gas manufacturing industries to remain high.
"Wage problems must be settled properly, otherwise they will affect the industrial growth this year, particularly the growth of labor-intensive industries," he said. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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