Textile exports rose 10.5 percent in 1996: Tunky<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Export of textiles and textile products rose
\n10.5 percent to US$6.85 billion last year from $6.2 billion in
\n1995, Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
After meeting with President Soeharto, Tunky said the increase
\nwas the highest growth in the last five years.<\/p>\n
The increase was made possible by better management of quota
\nallocations to registered exporters and the United States'
\nflexibility in applying new rules of origin for Indonesian
\ntextile exports, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The new rules of origin would have brought negative impacts
\nto our textile exports. However, we successfully negotiated with
\nthem and the result was our textile exports increased
\nsignificantly,\" Tunky said.<\/p>\n
The United States is one of several countries imposing textile
\nquotas on textile exporting countries, including Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Its new rules on origin, introduced last July, discouraged
\nexports from developing countries and were criticized by many as
\na deviation in international trade policy.<\/p>\n
Tunky said 40 percent of the textile exports had been made
\nunder quotas.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's textile exports, accounting for 15 percent of
\ntotal exports, have fluctuated since the early 1990s.<\/p>\n
The value of textile exports increased from $4.01 billion in
\n1991 to $5.95 billion in 1992 and $6.18 billion in 1993. They
\ndropped by 6.2 percent to $5.79 billion in 1993 before rebounding
\nto $6.2 billion in 1995.<\/p>\n
To further encourage growth this year the government had
\nwaived the requirement for a letter from exporters stating their
\nexport quota, Tunky said.<\/p>\n
The government had also increased the number of small-scale
\nbusinesses and cooperatives allowed to export textiles and
\ntextile products from 92 to 214.<\/p>\n
It also provided special tax, customs and banking breaks to
\ntextile exporters, along with exporters of shoes, electronics,
\nwood and rattan products and leather goods.<\/p>\n
Trade<\/p>\n
Tunky reported a 72 percent increase in trade surplus to $5.2
\nbillion during the first 10 months of last year, increased from
\n$3 billion during the same period of 1995.<\/p>\n
In the period, total exports increased by 10.4 percent to
\n$40.6 billion, consisting of $9.3 billion oil and gas exports and
\n$31.2 billion non-oil exports.<\/p>\n
Total imports increased by 5.1 percent to $31.9 billion,
\ncomprising $2.4 billion oil and gas imports and $29.4 billion for
\nnon-oil and gas imports.<\/p>\n
\"Looking at these figures, we can say our economy is
\nimproving, with export growth exceeding import growth,\" Tunky
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
As a comparison, Indonesia's exports increased by 13.39
\npercent to $45.4 billion in 1995 from $40 billion a year before,
\nwhile imports rose by 22.9 percent to $40.6 billion from $31.98
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
Indonesian exports to Asia-Pacific countries last year
\naccounted for 68 percent of total exports.<\/p>\n
Japan remained the largest market, absorbing 18.3 percent of
\ntotal exports, followed by the United States with 16 percent.
\nEurope followed with 20 percent.<\/p>\n
Almost all leading export commodities performed well last
\nyear, except pulp and paper which saw a cyclical downward trend
\nin prices, Tunky said.<\/p>\n
The performing products included electronics, wood and rattan
\nproducts, textiles, automotive parts and chemical products. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/textile-exports-rose-105-percent-in-1996-tunky-1447893297",
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