Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The government's policy of mapping various strategic industries in Indonesia will help increase the country's productivity amid the continuous global economic slowdown.
"It is now time for the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education to map the strategic industries, and assess the technological progress and the industrial sector's productivity," Deputy Chairman of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Zulkifliemansyah, said in a press release in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He added that the country needed innovative industrial policies, that are technologically sound and scientific.
He continued that the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education should be exempted from dealing with derivative matters and should focus in formulating policies to ensure expansion of technology, thus helping the growth of national industry.
He cautioned that with the world economy rather weak, the nation's economy can take a hit if there is any economic shake-up since the foundation is fragile.
"The best way to ensure the country achieves a high economic growth target of 7-8 percent is to push the industrial sector as the prime mover, by making it more competitive," he stated.
Zulkifli reiterated that the rather weak foundation of the national economy was visible when one studies Indonesia's position in the Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015, where the country trails ASEAN nations such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
The data is also in line with the wide income gap among people. The Gini ratio has reached 0.40, and in urban areas, it is even worse at 0.42.
"The government's scheme to boost short-term infrastructure development is well targeted, but needs to be backed by long-term industrial schemes," he advised.
Zulkifli rued that the government has not fully formulated a well planned policy for re-industrialization, focusing on solidifying the economy's foundation.
As reported, the National Economy and Industry Committee (KEIN) is visiting Japan to gain an understanding as well as working for a strategic cooperation that can be beneficial for Indonesia's industrial sector.
"KEIN wishes to learn from Japan how to boost the country's industrial expansion, especially in the infrastructure, rural industry, agro, energy, and Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) fields," KEIN's chairman, Soetrisno Bachir, noted.
Meanwhile, according to Bachir, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has stated that they will enter Indonesia to help the infrastructure expansion process, along with rural industries and maritime. Also on the list is improving the quality of human resources.
Indonesia's strategic industrial products have already penetrated the Middle Eastern market through international exhibitions, involving defense and security industry, such as 'The 11th Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference," held (SOFEX) in Amman, Jordan.
The exhibition was officially opened by the King of Jordan, King Abdullah II, in May.
Indonesia's participation in this exhibition was intended for market introduction as well as finding opportunities. Also, it helped in promoting strategic industry in the Middle East. (WDY)
