The Ministry of Industry has reported an increase in the value of Indonesian footwear exports for the January–March 2025 period, reaching USD 1.89 billion, or 13.8% higher than the same period last year. The Director General of Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Textile Industries at the Ministry of Industry, Taufiek Bawazier, stated that Indonesia ranks sixth among global footwear exporters with a 3.99% market share. The Ministry of Industry is committed to supporting the business climate and expanding export markets for the national footwear industry by strengthening trade agreements, promoting mutual recognition agreements regarding certification, and expanding market access to non-traditional regions. It is hoped that the Indonesian footwear industry will become increasingly competitive and expand into South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, thereby further contributing to job creation, export growth, and inclusive economic development.
According to data from the Indonesia Statistics (BPS), in the first quarter of 2025, the national footwear industry experienced a 6.95% growth. According to Taufiek, this achievement is a strong signal that the national footwear industry is not only surviving but continues to grow and actively expand. Furthermore, by August 2024, the leather and footwear industry sector had absorbed 961,000 workers, marking a 3% increase from 2023. This highlights the industry's crucial role as a labour-intensive sector, contributing significantly to national social and economic stability. From an investment perspective, between January and May of 2025, investments from 12 large-scale companies in the footwear sector have been made, with a total investment value of IDR 8 trillion. These investments have resulted in production capacity reaching 64.6 million pairs of shoes and 214.6 million pairs of footwear components, as well as the absorption of over 80,000 workers. This is a positive signal that Indonesia remains a primary destination for labour-intensive, export-oriented industry investments.
