VP asks state firms to rely on domestic products

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has asked all state-owned enterprises (BUMNs) not to import goods for any reason and instead use domestic products in view of the ongoing global crisis.

"I don't want to see any BUMNs importing goods for whatever purpose. They can no longer do that," Kalla told Antara newswire during a dialog with members of the NGO Society for Social Empathy (MPS) in Cikarang on Saturday.

The vice president held the dialog after inspecting a PT Misaka Logamindo gas cylinder-making plant in Cikarang as part of a tour of enterprises in the Jababeka industrial area.

Kalla said the global economic crisis was a good opportunity to develop the country's domestic potential.

"All government programs must be void of anything imported. All the goods required should be procured at home. This is our way to empower our domestic industries and we can do it," the vice president said.

Kalla also explained how government policy could have a good impact on domestic industries.

Citing examples, Kalla mentioned the habit of wearing batik shirts, homemade shoes and the kerosene-to-gas conversion program.

"God willing, in 2010 the government will be able to save some 40 trillion rupiah compared with the fuel conversion cost, which only reached between 15 trillion and 20 trillion rupiah."

Therefore, Kalla asked Industry Minister Fahmi Idris to call on all the nation's industries to avoid using imported products.

During the tour, Kalla was accompanied by Industry Minister Fahmi Idris and West Java Vice Governor Dede Yusuf, among others.