"Indonesian products will certainly be unable to compete in the free trade system which has been effective, but we directly and indirectly protect them through the implementation of non-tariff regulation," said Minister MS Hidayat in the Inacraft 2013 held at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), here on Wednesday.
According to Hidayat, the implementation of non tariff barrier regulation can provide greater opportunities for national products.
"We should also bear in mind that foreign industries are willing to enter Indonesia because the country`s economic growth has become more attractive. The government through the relevant ministries did not close the market, but issued a regulation to protect domestic products. I am now asking the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to work together to build creative industry which is a mainstay industry," he said.
Previously, the Indonesian Handicraft Producers and Exporters Association (Asephi) has won the support of a number of ministries and state-owned enterprises for fostering the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives.
Asephi Chairman Rudi Lengkong has targeted a trade transaction of Rp203 billion in the Inacraft 2013 exhibition, up 7.5 percent from Rp193 billion last year.
"The target this year is Rp203 billion consisting of Rp88 billion from business contacts and Rp115 billion from retail sales," Rudi told a press conference in the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) here on Monday.
Rudi continued that Inacraft 2013 is attended by 1,600 craft companies. They are producers and exporters from 33 provinces in Indonesia.
About 650 foreign buyers have also confirmed participation, including Malaysia, Singapore, the Middle East, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Australia Rudi added.
"The exhibition will be visited by those who come not only from Jakarta but also from outside the island of Java, such as Bali, Lombok, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
