JAKARTA - Indonesia and Japan continue to strive to improve comprehensive economic cooperation, especially in the industrial sector. This synergy step was strengthened through a meeting between the Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita and the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Kōichi Hagiuda.
“We congratulate Minister Kōichi Hagiuda who served as METI on October 4, 2021. We also appreciate that he considers Indonesia as one of Japan's main trading partners, so that Indonesia is the first country to receive his official visit," said Minister of Industry Agus in Jakarta, Monday (10/1).
The Minister of Industry said that there were already a number of economic cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, including the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA), which is currently in the stage of general review (GR) negotiations. "Then there is also cooperation with the New Manufacturing Industry Development Center (MIDEC)," he said.
The automotive industry is one of the most important sectors and a major contributor to GDP. Currently, there are 21 industrial companies of four-wheeled or more vehicles with a production capacity of 2.35 million units per year, by absorbing 38 thousand direct workers. The total invested reaches IDR 140 trillion, and provides a livelihood for the 1.5 million people who work along the industry value chain.
Currently, Indonesian automotive products have been successfully exported to more than 80 countries. During January-October 2021, there were 235 thousand units of CBU vehicles with a value of IDR43 trillion, 79 thousand sets of CKD with a value of IDR1 trillion, and 72 million units of components with a value of IDR24 trillion. (LM)