President holds meeting with associations to boost textile exports

 First of all, how we can increase our exports, both in terms of value and quantity.
 
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) held a meeting with businesspersons in the textile industry at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday to deliberate on approaches to boost the garment industry through measures including stepping up exports.
 
"First of all, how can we increase our exports, both in terms of the value and quantity," President Jokowi remarked during the meeting with the Association of Indonesian Textile (API) and the Indonesian Fiber and Filament Yarn Makers Association (APSyFI).
 
The head of state is on the lookout for businesspersons willing to invest in the country's textile industry, as the government has prepared an apparel park, a special zone for the textile industry.
 
"It is a special zone that will pool in all elements from (textile) raw materials to its industry in one place," Jokowi elaborated.
 
The president has also highlighted the flow of garment and textile products to bonded areas.
 
"There are flows of goods also produced by our textile industry, and this will become our tough competitor in the market," Jokowi pointed out.
 
At the meeting, the president was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Sutarto, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang, Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto, Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia, and presidential spokesman Fadjroel Rachman.
 
Other attendees at the meeting included API Chairman Ade Sudrajat, President Director of PT Sritex Iwan Lukminto, Vice Director of PT Pan Brothers Anne Patricia Sutanto, President Director of PT Rayon Utama Mandiri Purnomo, Vice Director of PT Busana Apparel Marisa Manimanen, President Director of PT Mulai Kniting Hanan Supangkat, President Director of PT Jaya Perkasa Garment Bintoro Dibyoseputro, and President Director of PT Adikencana Mahkotabuana Joy Citradewi.
 
Chairman of APSyFI, concurrently President Director of PT Asia Pacific Fiber Ravi Shankar, APSyFI Secretary General Redma Gita Wirawasta, Director of PT Polyfun Canggih Sinatra Arti Ardi, President Director of Indorama Grup S.P Lohia, and Director of PT Asia Pacific Rayon Basrie Kamba were also present at the meeting.
 
President Jokowi remarked that the meeting was a follow-up of the earlier meeting with the associations in September.
 
"We are optimistic that with the formation of the new cabinet, we would continue what we had discussed earlier," the president stated.