Flashy lights illuminated a room at the Bank Indonesia (BI) headquarters in Jakarta, where high-rank officials in batik were gathered to discuss one thing: What could be done to bring back Indonesia’s manufacturing heyday to boost economic growth?

Representatives of BI, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister, the Industry Ministry, the Trade Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Public Works and Housing Ministry, as well as regional governments and the private sector, convened in the quest for the ultimate answer.

After a full-day coordination meeting, the central bank leadership announced on Wednesday evening six measures to spur the manufacturing, an important element of Indonesia’s economy, but one that has in recent years seen a persistent decline in its contribution to the country’s gross domestic product.

“The six strategic steps are designed to [create] a stronger manufacturing sector to achieve greater economic growth in the country,” said BI Governor Perry Warjiyo, who led the central-regional coordination meeting.

Contributing around 20 percent to Indonesia’s GDP, the manufacturing industry’s share has persistently declined from its peak of more than 30 percent in 2002. The government is convinced that reviving manufacturing can boost economic growth, which slid to the lowest level in two years at 5.05 percent year-on-year in the second quarter.

The development of the manufacturing industry would revolve around the automotive industry, textiles and footwear, as well as industries that support the development of these, such as rubber and steel, the public stakeholders agreed.

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