The government of Indonesia is pursuing the value of Indonesia's exports lagging behind Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam by opening new export markets and new products. This was affirmed by Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita after meeting Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the Vice President's Office in Jakarta on Monday. Minister Enggartiasto said that the increase in exports is still palm and coal. While new products in manufacturing such as automotive engines are exported to new destinations such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and a number of countries in Africa.
“…There are two points: new markets and new products; we are still dominant in palm and coal. A new large manufacturing industry ranging from shoes, textiles, automotive, machinery has also started to increase," Enggartiasto Lukita said.
Minister Enggartiasto further said that Vice President Jusuf Kalla requested the investment to be product export oriented that also get incentives from the government. Minister Enggartiasto added that Indonesia's export value in December 2017 reached 14.79 US billion dollars or decreased 3.45 percent compared to exports in November 2017, while compared to December 2016 it increased 6.93 percent. (Rizki/Trans by Rhm)