Green technology needed to restore competitive edge<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The promotion of green products could offset the
\nerosion of the competitive advantage of Indonesia's low labor
\ncosts on the international market, State Minister for the
\nEnvironment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Sarwono told a technical seminar on environmental technology
\nat Hotel Shangri-la that Indonesia's position as an exporter of
\nlow-cost products is increasingly being challenged by such
\ncountries as India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan and China.<\/p>\n
\"In fact, the growth rate of our exports has leveled off
\nbecause of the keener competition from new low-cost exporters,\"
\nhe told the seminar, organized by the trade organization HIDUP
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said Indonesia needs a new approach to maintain and
\nbroaden its share of the international market.<\/p>\n
\"The major element of the new strategy should be the promotion
\nof green products through the development of clean production
\nprocesses,\" Sarwono pointed out.<\/p>\n
HIDUP, established last November, is an association of 35
\ncompanies which produce, sell and promote environmental products,
\nservices and technology.<\/p>\n
\"Our greatest concern is not the imposition of environmental
\nprotection as a condition on international trade but the mounting
\nconsumer movement against products which cause damage to the
\nenvironment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He cautioned that industrial firms which do not attend to
\nenvironmental protection will eventually be edged out because
\nconsumers will turn to the products of companies that do.<\/p>\n
\"The consumer movement is indeed a great concern for Indonesia
\nbecause even today already more than 52 percent of its exports go
\nto countries which have or are about to enforce ecolabelling
\nschemes and other environmental standards,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Even Hong Kong seems to be tougher now regarding environmental
\npreservation.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said 66 Indonesian textile companies recently received
\nquestionnaires from textile and garment buyers in Hong Kong on
\ntheir commitment to environmental preservation.<\/p>\n
The first three sessions of the seminar presented speakers,
\nincluding Ralph Guttmann of American Polybac Corp., Paul Whincup,
\nvice president of Dames & Moore and Peter Daley, vice president
\nof Waste Management International Plc of London.<\/p>\n
Systems<\/p>\n
The seminar discussed systems of waste minimization and clean
\nproduction in an effort to enlighten the business community of
\nthe benefits of products and services and technology from the
\npoint of view of the economy as well as environmental
\npreservation.<\/p>\n
\"Our vision is that environmental technology must be used not
\nonly to protect the environment but also to develop the economy,
\nto create jobs, transfer technology and make Indonesia more
\ncompetitive in the international market place,\" said HIDUP Vice
\nChairman Arian Ardie.<\/p>\n
Sarwono reaffirmed that the government will continue to
\ntighten regulations regarding the protection of the environment.<\/p>\n
\"We should create the image of being the exporter of green
\nproducts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To support the environmental campaign, he said, the
\nEnvironmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) will soon
\nintroduce a business performance rating system which will rank
\nindustrial firms according to their efforts to preserve the
\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
\"The government also is now much more selective regarding the
\ntechnology to be applied at new plants,\" Sarwono added.<\/p>\n
The minister highly appreciated the awareness among an
\nincreasing number of Indonesian businessmen about the need to
\npreserve the environment.<\/p>\n
\"I therefore fully support HIDUP and its programs as we have
\nthe same mission and can work together to protect the
\nenvironment,\" Sarwono said. (vin)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/green-technology-needed-to-restore-competitive-edge-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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