The government has started to prepare a strategy to boost exports in 2018 to support its ambitious target for economic growth of 6.1 percent.

“The target is far from this year’s goal of 5.1 percent, so we need to revise our trade strategy for next year,” Trade Ministry secretary general Karyanto Suprih said at a media briefing in Jakarta on Friday.

Representatives of the ministry held a meeting with a number of CEOs – ranging from the food industry to textile exporters – and trade attaches from dozens of countries on Friday to come up with the new strategy and new growth target for 2018.

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The ministry’s director general for foreign trade, Oke Nurwan, said goals included boosting exports and domestic trade both in and outside the oil and gas sector as well as reducing the country’s import dependence by improving local manufacturing.

A blueprint of the trade strategy is expected to be published in May. (bbn)