The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, generally known as Jokowi, wants Indonesia to be an automotive "production hub". (Image via Merdeka.com)

Jokowi wants Indonesia's vehicle export to break 1 mil units by 2024

The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, generally known as Jokowi, set the target for Indonesia’s automotive manufacturers to break the one-million-unit export record by 2024. Up until now, the number remains stagnant at around 300,000 units.

The demand from the Indonesian president was delivered when he was giving his speech in the first export of Isuzu Traga at PT Isuzu Astra Motor Indonesia’s (IAMI) plant, Suryacipta Industrial Area, Karawang, West Java, Thursday.

Jokowi congratulated Isuzu Astra Motor Indonesia on exporting 120 units of Isuzu Traga to the Philippines. Isuzu Indonesia also planned to send 6,000 units more in 2020. The president said that in three years, Isuzu Indonesia might as well export Isuzu Traga to 20 countries, including the Middle East, South America, and Africa.

Jokingly speaking, Jokowi did not want to know how they are going to do that, but it must happen by 2024. The message was not for Isuzu’s ears only but also for all automotive manufacturers in Indonesia, said he.

The president wanted Indonesia to become an automotive “production hub”.

The former Governor of Jakarta also mentioned that the President Director of PT Astra International, Prijono Sugiarto, had “shaken” hands with both Communication and Information Technology Minister and Industry Minister. What a “serious” sign, said the President.

Jokowi revealed that Indonesia’s automotive export value currently stands at US$8 billion, but projecting that if the target is fulfilled by 2024, the number might be tripled to US$24 billion.

An increase in export will certainly help the Indonesian government in suppressing the current account deficit’s figure and cranking up Indonesia’s trade balance, a target set to be accomplished in 4 – 5 years.

For Jokowi, once Indonesia has managed to cover these problems, it is ready to compete with any nation.

Source: https://bit.ly/2PyUjca