Government Sets Export Growth Target of 4.1 Percent in 2014

Jakarta (Antara) - The Indonesian Trade Ministry has set the export growth target at 4.1 percent for this year to reach US$190 billion, compared to a year earlier. "To achieve the export growth target, the ministry had adopted five main strategies," Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi said in a meeting with journalists here on Friday. The five strategies include intensifying promotion, safeguarding trade, improving competitive edge by issuing regulations, providing facilitation and encouraging the downstream industry, he said. He added that non-oil/non-gas exports are projected to increase 6.5 percent to US$158 billion-US$159 billion this year, as compared with last year. The strategies will be synchronized with the programs of stakeholders, both government and private agencies, at central and regional levels as well as with the programs of Indonesia's representatives abroad, he said. "Compared to 2012, Indonesia's exports in 2013 tumbled 3.9 percent to US$182.6 billion, with non-oil/non-gas exports declining 2 percent to US$149.9 billion," he said. He added that the exports of crude palm oil and its derivatives, textiles and textile products, electronics, rubber and rubber products, wood, pulp and furniture, chemicals, metal products, machinery and processed food will be boosted to achieve the target of export growth. The exports of prospective products, including footwear, jewelry, plastic products, shrimp, fish, cacao, handicrafts and spices, are projected to increase 9-10 percent to US$17.1 billion-US$17.3 billion, he said. The main markets for Indonesian exports comprise China, Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain and Britain. Meanwhile, the markets for prospective exports are Taiwan, Hong Kong, Turkey, Myanmar, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Australia, South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria. (*) Reporting by Vicki Febrianto