To protect the country’s textile micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Indonesia’s Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Minister Teten Masduki has called for the strict rejection of the sale and purchase of imported used clothes or import thrifting.
He also said during a media discussion that this rejection has also stemmed from a desire to protect shoe textile products which are also produced by MSMEs in the country, adding that the government has a very strong argument for rejecting imports of used clothes.
Masduki said that the imports of used and illegal textile products would not align with the government’s effort to encourage local product consumption through the Proud of Indonesian Products National Movement.
The government, through this national movement, has issued a policy mandating 40 per cent of spending on MSME products in goods procurement.
Economic growth of the country could reach 1.85 per cent and there could be a creation of 2 million jobs without new investment due to this policy, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has estimated.
The minister said he believes that if similar efforts are made when it comes to household consumption, national economic growth will improve.
“It is actually not difficult (to trace where such clothes are sold) since we have already investigated it. In addition through social media, they are also available in Pasar Senen, Gedebage, and Pasar Baru,” he noted.
“From there, it will be easier to identify who imports them,” he added.
