Jakarta (Antara): Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan flagged off an export consignment of polyester products in Sumedang district, West Java province, on August 13, 2022.
The export of 10 containers of polyester products worth US$400 thousand (Rp5.9 billion) is expected to help expand the market for Indonesian products and encourage post-pandemic economic revival, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has said.
According to a statement issued, he flagged off the exports to Germany, Poland, Malaysia, India, and Estonia the same day.
Furthermore, he noted that in 2021, Indonesia was ranked as the 15th largest textile and textile product exporter.
In the period from January to May 2022, the value of Indonesia’s textile exports reached US$5.5 billion (Rp81.8 trillion), an increase of 22 percent compared to the same period of 2021, when they were recorded at US$4.2 billion (Rp62.5 trillion).
Meanwhile, the value of global textile imports in 2021 was US$403.62 billion. The exports swelled by 22.46 percent in 2020–2021.
The 10 containers of polyester products dispatched by the minister on Saturday were produced by PT Kewalram Indonesia in Sumedang district, West Java province.
Globally, the five largest textile importing countries are the United States, Germany, China, France, and Vietnam. They are among the 60 export destinations served by PT Kewalram Indonesia.
Minister Hasan lauded the efforts made by the corporation to contribute to increasing Indonesia’s export value and encouraging national economic recovery.
Meanwhile, general chairperson of the Indonesian Textile Association (API), Jemmy Kartiwa Sastraatmaja, said that the association will continue to support the government’s policy to increase exports of Indonesian textile products.
Good protection and regulation of the domestic textile industry are required to provide more equitable opportunities for the development of local products so that they can compete with foreign products entering the Indonesian market, he added.
Meanwhile, director of PT Kewalram Indonesia, Masuvathi Ramier Krishnamurthy, said that the company appreciates the Trade Ministry’s efforts to enable export activities and accommodate the aspirations of textile business players.
The company has been operating since 1976 and manufactures a variety of yarns, fabrics, and apparel products.
