The Minister of Industry (Menperin) plans to move the entry points of seven imported goods to eastern Indonesia, aiming to reduce the impact of layoffs (PHK) on the industry, especially the textile sector. Through this policy, he hopes domestic products can compete with imported goods, particularly in terms of price, as transportation costs in eastern Indonesia are much higher. However, he emphasized that this is not a tightening or ban on imported goods entering the country, but a transfer of entry points, at least for these seven imported goods. So, goods imports will not be tightened, but for these seven items, the government will determine entry points through eastern ports, making the domestic industry more competitive.
These seven goods include textiles and textile products (TPT), other textile products, electronics, footwear, apparel, ceramics, and cosmetics or beauty products. The plan is to redirect special entry for specific imported goods to Sorong, Bitung, or Kupang. This policy will be immediately reported to President Joko Widodo in a limited meeting (Ratas) this week. What is certain is that he will coordinate discussions with the Ministry of Trade and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Ministry of Finance. The materials are almost complete; the day after tomorrow they will go to the President for instructions. According to data from the Ministry of Manpower, from the beginning of the year to August 23, 2024, the number of layoffs in the country reached 45,762 people. The most affected industries are manufacturing or processing industries, such as textiles, apparel, and footwear. Meanwhile, the most affected regions are Central Java, Banten, and West Java.