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Industry minister optimistic that automotive industry can rival Thailand's
Industry Minister Saleh Husin expresses optimism that the countryâs automotive industry could compete with Thailand's, which currently leads the automotive market
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ndustry Minister Saleh Husin expresses optimism that the country's automotive industry could compete with Thailand's, which currently leads the automotive market.
'Several parties have estimated that the domestic market will continue to increase and evolve, in line with increasing incomes. Thus, we are optimistic that in the near future, Indonesia could rival Thailand,' Saleh said during his visit to PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia in Karawang, West Java, on Friday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
He said that one of the ways to strengthen Indonesia's position as one of the leading automotive producers in ASEAN, or even the world, was for the country to focus on the development of a components industry.
With the development of a components industry, Indonesia was expected to be able to reduce the assembling industry's dependence on imported components, Saleh added.
Toward that end, Saleh also encouraged Toyota Manufacturing to develop a components industry by inviting more industry partners to Indonesia instead of just developing the assembling industry.
'[The company is] expected to continue improving the use and utilization of local products and engineering services in its production activities,' he added.
Saleh said that he could not deny the contribution of the automotive industry toward national industry because it had provided employment and helped fulfill the needs of transportation facilities to support the mobility of passengers, goods and services in the country.
The Industry Ministry recorded that the automotive sector has supported a 1.3 million-strong workforce to date. Meanwhile, sales of car in 2013 increased to 1.2 million units from 1.1 million in 2012. (ask/hhr)
