Video: "Unfriendly" Policies, Indonesia's Footwear Industry Losing to Vietnam

In the midst of global economic and geopolitical turmoil, Indonesia’s footwear and shoe industry still holds growth potential supported by market opportunities, product innovation and technology, and government policies. Chairman of the Indonesian Footwear Association (APRISINDO), Anton J. Supit, stated that the Indonesian footwear industry is developing, bolstered by Indonesia’s potential as a production contractor for global shoe brands and as a world exporter of footwear. Currently, the Indonesian footwear industry must compete with China and Taiwan, which is closely related to competitiveness and the investment climate as well as Indonesian policies that are not friendly to labour-intensive industries like the shoe industry, concerning permits to wage issues. Currently, Indonesia’s shoe exports reach USD 7 billion from a total global trade of USD 400 billion, so the potential is still very large to be captured, besides being able to absorb a lot of labour and drive the Indonesian economy. Amid the current war, weakening purchasing power becomes a challenge for the footwear business that currently relies on the US and European markets. What are the challenges in developing the Indonesian footwear industry? How does the impact of the Middle East war affect this sector? For more details, see the dialogue between Shania Alatas and the Chairman of the Indonesian Footwear Association (APRISINDO), Anton J. Supit, in Manufacture Check, CNBC Indonesia (Friday, 24/04/2026).