RI textile exports to increase<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Textile Association (API) has
\npredicted that this year's exports of textiles and textile
\nproducts will grow by 10 percent to US$6.2 billion.<\/p>\n
An API deputy chairman, Lili Asdjudiredjo, disclosed the
\nassociation's estimate after meeting with Vice President Try
\nSutrisno yesterday. However, he said that textile producers
\nneeded assistance from the ministries of trade, industry and
\nfinance in achieving their export target.<\/p>\n
\"API members themselves have to strive to achieve higher
\ngrowth this year so that we can realize our prediction of 10
\npercent export growth,\" he said.<\/p>\n
At yesterday's meeting Lili was accompanied by another API
\ndeputy chairman, Mintardjo Halim; Chairman of the Textile Society
\nI Made Kembar Kerepun; and API's deputy secretary, Irwandy
\nMuslim.<\/p>\n
Exports of textiles and textile products -- the country's
\nlargest foreign exchange earners among non-oil products --
\ndecreased by 8.1 percent last year, to US$5.6 billion, from the
\nprevious year's exports.<\/p>\n
A number of parties, including the association and the
\nMinistry of Trade, have said that the main cause of last year's
\ndrop in textile exports was tougher competition from other
\ntextile-exporting countries, such as China, Vietnam, Bangladesh
\nand India.<\/p>\n
Involvement<\/p>\n
To increase textile exports, Lili asked the government to
\ninvolve API in a number of international textile-related
\nactivities, such as export promotions and the establishment of
\npromotion houses abroad.<\/p>\n
\"We also want to be consulted, especially when the government
\nwants to introduce new regulations on exports and imports of
\ntextile products,\" Lili said.<\/p>\n
He added that API wanted to be involved in the management of
\nquota allocations among Indonesian exporters which, so far, has
\nbeen monopolized by the Ministry of Trade.<\/p>\n
API has repeatedly put forward its own quota allocation system
\nwhich includes an electronic verification visa system. The
\nassociation says that the use of the system would stop fictitious
\nexports of textiles.<\/p>\n
Last year Indonesia was hit by cases of fictitious exports
\ninvolving a number of companies wanting to get cheap funds from
\nexport facilities.<\/p>\n
Lili questioned yesterday the government's decision to collect
\nvalue added tax at every stage of production, from thread to
\ngarments.<\/p>\n
\"It would be better for us if the government collected value
\nadded tax after all production processes are completed. In this
\ncase, we want a tax postponement facility,\" Lili said.<\/p>\n
Commenting API's wish, Try Sutrisno asked the association to
\npresent its proposal on the postponement of value added tax in
\nthe textile industry to every related government institution.<\/p>\n
\"We have made our proposal to many related parties, and all of
\nthem have expressed agreement, but none of them has taken a real
\nstep. It is as with a cake which everybody says is delicious but
\nnobody wants to eat,\" Lili said. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-textile-exports-to-increase-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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