Govt predicts solid non-oil and gas exports<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the National Agency for Export
\nDevelopment (NAFED) Gusmardi Bustami said he was upbeat the
\nupward trend in non-oil and gas exports would continue until the
\nyear-end, thanks to returning foreign buyers' confidence in
\nIndonesian goods.<\/p>\n
Gusmardi said the growth of the non-oil and gas exports in the
\nnext semester could exceed the 28 percent increase recorded in
\nthe January to April period of this year.<\/p>\n
He said the sharp increase in the exports during the January
\nto April period indicated that foreign buyers' confidence had
\nreturned even amid the prevailing political and legal
\nuncertainties in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"There is business confidence now because exporters are making
\ntheir deliveries as scheduled,\" Gusmardi told reporters on the
\nsidelines of an exhibition on farming machinery.<\/p>\n
The government reported last week that exports from January to
\nApril rose by 27.8 percent to US$14.7 billion from $11.5 billion
\nduring the same period last year.<\/p>\n
Commodities that recorded export growth of over 100 percent
\nthis year are, among others, electricity equipment, $1.7 billion
\nfrom $815.7 million; pulp, $269.1 million from $121.7 million;
\ncopper, $149.9 million from $49.1 million; toys, $128.2 million
\nfrom $26.5 million; and musical equipment, which gained $53.8
\nmillion from $18.4 million.<\/p>\n
Total exports, including oil and gas, rose nearly 40 percent
\nin the January to April period to $19.10 billion from $14.05
\nbillion in the same period last year. The oil and gas exports
\nalone rose more than 72 percent from $2.51 billion to $4.33
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
Gusmardi said the increase in exports from January to April
\nshowed that Indonesian products had become more competitive in
\nthe international market.<\/p>\n
\"Export growth in recent months was driven by, among others,
\nthe sharp depreciation of the rupiah,\" Gusmardi explained.<\/p>\n
According to him, Indonesian products were also of good
\nquality, which, combined with the weaker rupiah, had attracted
\nmore buyers.<\/p>\n
\"Our products have their own market due to their low prices
\nand good quality,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Gusmardi, whose office is largely responsible for promoting
\nIndonesian products abroad, said that more attention should be
\npaid to promotion.<\/p>\n
He suggested that participants of international trade events
\nshould be granted incentives, such as travel expenses that were
\ntax deductible.<\/p>\n
\"Promotion doesn't yield immediate results but rather plants
\nthem,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
The exhibition of farming machinery featured various producers
\nof small machinery, such as rice mills, rototillers and water
\npumps.<\/p>\n
The exhibition, held in the lobby of the Ministry of Trade and
\nIndustry, was attended by several ambassadors, including from
\nPakistan, Jordan, Bangladesh, North Korea and Laos.<\/p>\n
Jordanian Ambassador Mohamed Ali Daher and Pakistani
\nAmbassador Afzat Akbar Khan both said that Indonesia's farming
\nmachinery exporters had good market prospects in their countries.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Ali Daher said that agriculture constituted a major
\nincome source in Jordan and would pose a good market for
\nIndonesian farming machinery exporters.<\/p>\n
Whereas Ambassador Akbar Khan said that Pakistan's agriculture
\nindustry, which like Indonesia largely comprises small farmers,
\ncould benefit from Indonesian rototillers.<\/p>\n
According to the government, exports of farming machinery
\nreached an average of $11 million each year, with the main market
\nlocated in the Middle East and Africa. (bkm)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-predicts-solid-non-oil-and-gas-exports-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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