Rini plans road shows to restore confidence<\/p>\n
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Minister of Industry and Trade Rini M. Soewandi is planning
\nroad shows to Indonesia's main export markets to restore
\nconfidence in Indonesia amid fears that many buyers could stop
\npurchasing from Indonesia following the deadly Bali bomb attack.<\/p>\n
It is feared that many buyers might shift orders to other
\ncountries should Indonesia's efforts to identify the perpetrators
\nof the bomb attack and to crack down on terrorists fail to
\nsatisfy the global community.<\/p>\n
\"The road shows are aimed to win back foreign buyers'
\nconfidence so that they will continue buying from Indonesia. Ibu
\nRini will explain actions being taken by the government to
\nresolve the Bali tragedy,\" director general for international
\naffairs at the ministry, Sudar SA, said.<\/p>\n
Japan, the United States and Singapore are the country's
\nlargest export markets. Top export products include textiles,
\nelectronics, footwear, wood products as well as agriculture
\ncommodities.<\/p>\n
The timetable for the road shows is being arranged.<\/p>\n
According to Sudar, thus far the Bali incident had not had a
\ndirect impact on the country's exports as most export contracts
\nfor the rest of the year had been signed prior to the Bali
\nincident.<\/p>\n
\"Our focus concerns export orders for next year. We want to
\nminimize the adverse impacts of the Bali incident on our export
\nperformance for next year,\" said Sudar after a meeting with
\nseveral business associations on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The meeting, which was presided over by Rini, was aimed at
\nseeking input from local association executives concerning
\nsolutions to the Bali bombing and to explain to them the actions
\nbeing taken by the government.<\/p>\n
Rini also plans to hold a similar meeting with representatives
\nof foreign buyers here next week.<\/p>\n
\"During the meeting, Rini urged businesspeople to remain calm
\nand continue their business activities as usual,\" said Sudar.<\/p>\n
Exports from the country have decreased over the past couple
\nof months amid the global economic slowdown.<\/p>\n
Aside from consumption, export is the key driver of the
\ncountry's economic growth amid the lingering economic crisis and
\nthe drop in domestic and foreign investments.<\/p>\n
Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) says that
\nfrom January to August, the country's exports fell to US$37.35
\nbillion from $39.34 billion in the same period last year.<\/p>\n
Rini earlier claimed that labor conflicts were one of the
\nmajor factors causing the dismal export performance because
\nforeign buyers had shifted their orders to other countries due to
\nfears that local exporters could face problems in meeting
\ndelivery schedules.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun
\nKuntjoro-Jakti also held a similar meeting with several foreign
\nand domestic investors.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, businesspeople warned the government that
\nit must capture the perpetrators of the Bali bombing and take
\ntougher action against terrorists to restore confidence in doing
\nbusiness in Indonesia. If Indonesia failed, the impact on the
\ncountry's economy would be enormous, they said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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