Day: June 16, 2022

Domestic cosmetics are not inferior in quality to foreign products; moreover, local products are more suitable for the climate and the people, Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Minister Teten Masduki has opined.

“Our cosmetics are amazing. Maybe it’s true that Indonesians are more suited to using local cosmetics because they are suited to our climate more,” he said at the launch of the first iCantix&co outlet at Plaza Indonesia, here on Thursday.

Masduki lauded Plaza Indonesia for providing a space, such as the iCantix&co outlet, for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to showcase and sell their products.

He said he believes that the decision to offer a space for cosmetics MSMEs in malls like PI is the right one, considering that local cosmetics sales are at a high.

In 2020, global cosmetics sales reached US$145.3 billion, and they are expected to continue to grow by 3.6 percent per year during the 2020–2027 period.

Most Indonesian skincare products were exported to Southeast Asian nations, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, the main export destinations for the products. In 2020, the cumulative share of the three countries in Indonesia’s skincare exports reached 63.2 percent.

“I have heard the explanation that here there are 120 local brands, some already have 15 products, some have only 2 products. This really offers an opportunity for MSMEs. As long as the products are good, they can sell here,” Masduki said.

Outlets such as iCantix&co are a solution for MSMEs, who still have limited average production capacity, he added.

“I appreciate iCantix for providing a business concept that is very suitable for MSMEs so MSMEs can continue to develop their products,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, CEO of iCantix&co, Haryani Simin, said that her team has helped more than 100 domestic beauty brands to meet the demand for skincare products, ranging from hair care, skincare, body care, to perfumes.

iCantix&co kicked off online in 2021, sharing beauty and personal care tips. In 2022, the team is using the online and offline marketing concept.

“Many (citizens) are able to offer choices to meet the demands of the domestic cosmetics market. I hope the national beauty industry continues to grow in domestic and international scope, and we promote #CantikAlaIndonesia together,” she added.

Source: Antara News

Standardization and accreditation are necessary to maintain the quality of Indonesia’s products so that they can become more competitive in the global market, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has said.

During a meeting between the National Standardization Agency (BSN) and National Accreditation Committee (KAN), he noted that standardization and accreditation would align with the President’s and Vice President’s instruction, which is to bolster productivity.

In an official statement issued on Thursday, he explained that an increase in productivity can help Indonesia advance and develop like other Asian countries.

Standardization and accreditation can also play a role in supporting the government’s targets for integrating strategy, planning, and policy to bolster economic growth and environmental sustainability, as determined by the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

In line with this, within the national economic recovery effort, the Indonesian government is committed to not only restoring the economic condition to what it was before the crisis, but also improving it, such as by implementing circular economy.

Circular economy is not just about waste management, the minister explained.

It is also an approach to transforming material design, product design, and production process so that the created materials and products can be recycled, he added.

As a result, this will ensure a longer utilization cycle, he said.

In Indonesia, the concept of circular economy has become a part of the government’s policy.

An example of this is the implementation of the low-carbon development concept, as described within the 2020–2024 Mid-Term National Development Program (RPJMN) as well as the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Achievement Road Map.

Hartarto said that circular economy should not only be implemented within the government’s policies, but also by all parties, including the business world, because export destination countries have started to impose several requirements related to sustainability.

Source: Antara News

Indonesia is promoting the use of biofuels for achieving a fair, equitable, and people-centered energy transition, according to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

“Speaking of green jobs, the biofuel industry is the second-largest renewable energy sector in terms of employment, behind solar energy. It is estimated that the biofuel industry employs around 2.4 million people globally, not including other related upstream and downstream sectors,” expert staff for strategic planning at the ministry, Yudo Dwinanda Priaadi, said at a webinar themed “Biofuels for Green Economy,” held as part of the 2022 G20 Indonesia Presidency series, hosted by the ministry on Thursday.

Biofuels could also make a significant contribution to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda and carbon neutrality, he added. The sustainable production and use of biofuels could also provide several socioeconomic benefits, he said in a statement delivered here on Thursday.

“Among other things (the benefits) are increasing the diversity and security of energy supply, increasing access to modern energy services, improving air quality, and encouraging sustainable economic development,” he added.

Biofuels could boost productivity and support the green economy through large-scale development and investment, Priaadi pointed out.

“In Indonesia, the mandatory biodiesel program in 2021 has produced around 16.3 million kiloliters, an increase from 13.3 million kiloliters in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This figure in 2020 is even higher than 2019’s 12 million kiloliters. I also hope that the massive scale of green economy development will also (be implemented in) other G20 countries,” he said.

The national biofuel program will be strengthened by a green refinery program, whose pilot is on in Cilacap city, Central Java, he informed.

The first phase of the project will produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) or green diesel, a second-generation biofuel product from refined, bleached, and deodorized palm oil (RBDPO).

Biofuels can also help the G20 create a green economy and establish stronger international cooperation. Although biofuel sources are limited to certain countries, the downstream economic sector of biofuels and their derivatives is related to all G20 member countries.

“This will make international cooperation in the energy transition and green economy from biofuel have a more significant (contribution),” he said.

International cooperation and partnerships can expedite advanced technology development pathways for the biofuel industry, particularly in emerging markets and emerging economies.

“Moreover, international partnerships in the biofuel economy will promote the massive and sustainable use of biofuels in the transportation sector and other energy-related sectors due to the significance of biofuels and other bioenergy sectors for energy and the economy in the future,” Priaadi said.

Source: Antara News

Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita sought to attract more foreign investment by promoting the Indonesian Digital Industry Center (PIDI) 4.0 while meeting a German business delegation here on Thursday.

“I expect that by showing you all facilities of the PIDI 4.0, you can increase your will to invest in Indonesia and to keep supporting the Industry 4.0 transformation in Indonesia,” he remarked while attending the Indonesia-Germany business delegation meeting at the PIDI 4.0 Building in Jakarta.

The Indonesian government established PIDI 4.0 as a one-stop solution for the implementation of Industry 4.0.

Currently, PIDI 4.0 has 26 partners — consisting of 24 companies and 2 universities.

Recently, PIDI 4.0 collaborated with the DMAG Technology Academy during the implementation of Hannover Messe 2022 — the world’s largest industrial exhibition, held in Germany.

“The cooperation will benefit German companies investing in Indonesia since it will produce skilled industrial human resources and (open) other potential opportunities,” the minister said.

Furthermore, the government has continued to accelerate digital transformation and sustainability by establishing more supporting infrastructure to develop the manufacturing industry in Indonesia, he added.

Currently, the manufacturing sector has become the leading sector, which is driving and making a significant contribution to the national economy, he said.

According to data recorded in the first quarter of 2022, the manufacturing industry contributed 19.19 percent to Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP).

“President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has announced (the implementation of the) Making Indonesia 4.0 (road map). Since the era of Industry 4.0 begins, companies in Indonesia have begun to take advantage of this momentum,” Kartasasmita said.

The Making Indonesia 4.0 road map is a plan to revitalize the national manufacturing sector by using Industrial Technology 4.0 and is expected to boost the global competitiveness of domestic industries.

Currently, there are two global lighthouse companies operating in Indonesia, namely Schneider Electric Batam and Petrosea. In addition, there are three national lighthouse enterprises and five Industry 4.0 lighthouse corporations in Indonesia.

According to the McKinsey & Company’s website, lighthouse companies are manufacturers who are leading the way in implementing the fourth industrial revolution innovations from pilots to integration at scale, thus realizing significant financial and operational benefits.

“I would like to inform that today we include a German company to become (a new) Industry 4.0 lighthouse company in Indonesia,” the minister said.

The Indonesia-Germany business delegation meeting was also attended by Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto.

Source: Antara News