Indonesia can again be proud, because one of the electronic products, namely the refrigerator made by the nation's children through PT. Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia (PMI) can be accepted by the international market. On Friday (23/9/2022), PT PMI held the First Export Release of Refrigerator Products to Cambodia, which was previously the market of Panasonic Vietnam. For information, exactly a year ago on September 23, 2021, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita attended the Release of the First Export of PT PMI Washing Machines to the Japanese market, which was the result of the relocation of production from Panasonic China. PT PMI's activities are to relocate production from abroad to supply domestic and global markets from Indonesia, in accordance with the direction of the Minister of Industry regarding import substitution programs and activities to increase exports of domestic products. "I convey my highest appreciation to all ranks of Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia for their support of the government's efforts to encourage export activities of the electronics industry," said Minister of Industry Agus in Jakarta, Monday (26/9). According to him, this effort is one clear proof that the synergy between the government and the electronics industry is going well. "The receipt of this Panasonic refrigerator product proves that the quality of electronic products made by Indonesian children has been recognized by the international market," he added.
Refrigerator products are one of the products that have a high export value in Indonesia. In 2021, the export value of refrigerators will be USD 374.4 million. The high export value of refrigerators from Indonesia, one of which is the contribution of PT PMI which has exported 40% of refrigerators from local production to Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Cambodia is the 8th country for PT PMI in terms of refrigerator export destinations, in addition to Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar, UAE, Kuwait and Oman. Apart from refrigerators, PT PMI has also exported other electronic products, such as audio products, water pumps and washing machines. PT PMI has been operating in Indonesia since 1970. Currently, PT PMI has a workforce of 1,990 and more than 30 export destination countries covering the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe and America regions. "The increase in exports carried out by PT PMI provides a positive multiplier effect for the Indonesian economy, such as employment and potential expansion of investment, where the composition of PT PMI's exports is 21% of total production in Indonesia," explained Vice President Director PT PMI, Daniel Suhardiman. At the release of the refrigerator export, the Director General of Metal, Machinery, Transportation Equipment and Electronics (ILMATE) of the Ministry of Industry, Taufiek Bawazier, was also present and gave a speech. In his remarks, the Director General of ILMATE said that the Ministry of Industry pays full attention to increasing the utilization of domestic producers and maintaining the industrial business climate by formulating various policies and instruments. These policies and instruments include the Commodity Balance, Domestic Component Level (TKDN), and standardization. “Various policies to increase utility and maintain the industrial business climate have been issued. One of the programs currently running at the Ministry of Industry is the Commodity Balance," he said. Most of the electronic products with high imports, and the already strong national industry have been proposed to be included in the commodity balance. "It is hoped that the implementation of this program can increase the utility of the domestic industry, reduce imported products, and support the national industrial downstream program," said Taufiek. Reflecting on last year's trade balance, refrigerator commodities made a positive value. Director of the Electronics and Telematics Industry (IET) Ali Murtopo Simbolon invited PT PMI to deepen the structure and supply chain for refrigerator products in order to increase the fulfillment of the domestic market and export market. "Therefore, we encourage PT PMI to invest in the electronics component sector," he said. Ali added that the development of an ecosystem for electronic products other than refrigerators is still wide open, considering that the Commodity Balance policy will soon be implemented and the potential for the domestic market is still large.
