JAKARTA: The government is setting a conservative target for the growth of exports for 2016 and the next three years, while stressing non-oil and gas products: 9 percent per annum.
A more optimistic double-digit target, 11.5 percent per year, is estimated for 2020, Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong said.
“We are more optimistic for 2016, but still on a limited scale. The infrastructure development and deregulation policies will help the economy. Nonetheless, the real effect on growth will be seen in two or three years,” he said in Jakarta on Monday.
Currently, he added, the main Indonesian products scoring the highest growth, 19 percent, were coffee, tea, herbs, jewelry and footwear.
Trade Ministry spokeswoman Ani Mulyati added that the prioritized non-oil and gas products would be textiles and textile products and forestry products such as furniture and handicrafts, as well as jewelry.
The ministry is optimistic the three products will score around 8 percent growth this year, as Indonesia has excellent and unique designs, Ani said.
Meanwhile, an expert staff member at the Trade Ministry, Iman Pambagyo, said that the government was eyeing more market in 2016, such as Australia, the European Union and ASEAN countries.
“We have a pilot project for cow breeding with Australia. As for the EU countries, our focus is to open markets for agricultural and fishery products. In ASEAN, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [RCEP] is supposed to be completed this year,” he explained.
