RI's Green Cars Can Become Main Export Commodity

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesia's low-cost green cars (LCGC) can become the main export commodity in light of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, said Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa. "We would be grateful if Indonesia's low-cost green cars could become the main export commodity. After all, Indonesia's automotive sector has continued to grow. I hope the ministry of industry will develop the LCGC into Indonesia's main export product," added the minister on Wednesday. He said one of the goals of the Indonesian government in light of the AEC in 2015 is to turn the country into a production base for certain products such as automotives or textiles so that Indonesian products will be competitive in the free market. "Indonesia can serve as a production base for automotives, textiles, and others. If we are careless, companies in the automotive industry will go to Thailand. The products must be exported so that they do not flood the domestic market," he added. Hatta hopes that Indonesia will be able to supply LCGC to other countries in the ASEAN region, which require energy-efficient cars. "A significant number of LCGC may be exported because there will be a huge demand for environmentally friendly cars in other countries," said the minister. Besides, the birth of the LCGC is expected to fulfil the government's dream of creating a national car, which will boost the development of automotive support industries and support the country's emission reduction target by 26 percent before 2020. "We are capable of becoming a base for the production of export commodities. This product may give rise to a national car too. So, these cars are not for export only because they will be able to support the development of supporting industries in the country. In addition, we have established an eco-friendly program to cut emissions by 26 percent before 2020," asserted the coordinating minister for economic affairs. Director General of Technology-Based Industry at the Ministry of Industry Budi Darmadi said on Tuesday that the Indonesian government is keen to introduce LCGC by inviting foreign automotive investors to Indonesia. "Indonesia is ready to implement the LCGC system and is expected to invite foreign investors and get them involved in the green car scheme," added Budi Darmadi on Tuesday. (*)