Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita welcomed the revision of the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 8 of 2024 concerning Import Policies and Regulations which is targeted for completion this week.
"His face is smiling, right? Well, hopefully," said the Minister of Industry when met at the Mata Lokal Fest 2025 event in Jakarta, Thursday.
According to him, the domestic manufacturing industry must be protected, because this sector is the backbone of the national economy.
In the first quarter of 2025, for example, the industrial sector contributed 17.50 percent to gross domestic product (GDP).
In addition, data from the World Bank also confirms that the national manufacturing value added (Manufacturing Value Added/MVA) reached 255.96 billion US dollars or Rp4.26 quadrillion (exchange rate of Rp16,634), this figure is the 12th highest globally.
"So manufacturing must be maintained. It must be guarded, it must be protected," he said.
The Minister of Industry said that the revised policy was not aimed at increasing market protectionism, but rather to protect workers from declining industrial productivity.
"So we don't need to look at the dynamics, what's important is the end result. We are result oriented, which leads to strengthening manufacturing in Indonesia," he said.
Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso confirmed that the revision of the Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) Number 8 of 2024 will be completed this week.
"So now the discussion is still ongoing, hopefully it will be finished this week, hopefully it will be finished," said Budi after the launch of the Thursday Use Local (Local) Movement program at the Ministry of Trade Office.
