JAKARTA - The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) focuses on realizing the pharmaceutical industry and medical devices in order to become an independent sector in the country. That is, being able to meet the needs of the domestic community so that it can gradually reduce dependence on imported products.
"We encourage that the pharmaceutical and medical device industry sector can become the main players and host in their own country. Moreover, the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industry sector falls into the high demand category in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is one of its potentials," Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said in Jakarta, Sunday (5/7).
The Minister of Industry said, the ability of the pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia is currently supported by 220 companies. As many as 90% of pharmaceutical companies are focused in the downstream sector in producing medicines. "The government continues to strive to reduce imports of raw material procurement, especially in the upstream sector of the pharmaceutical industry," he said.
The Ministry of Industry noted, in the first quarter of 2020, the chemical, pharmaceutical and traditional medicine industries were able to grow the most brilliantly by 5.59 percent. This positive performance was achieved amid the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Because, the industry is one sector that still has quite high demand in the market. (LM)