Government Pushes for Better Import Policies to Protect Domestic Industry

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The government pushes for better import policies to ensure the sustainability of Indonesia’s domestic manufacturing industry. Import policies are considered necessary to take into account national production capacity, so they do not undermine the competitiveness of local industries.

Minister of Industry, Muhammad Sarmuji, said overly open import permits without considering domestic industrial conditions could make it more difficult for local businesses to survive, particularly in sectors where the products can also be supplied domestically.

“For example, if import permits are opened too widely without considering the need for restrictions, domestic industries will certainly find it difficult to survive for certain types of goods. Therefore, we need cooperation with many stakeholders,” Sarmuji said in Jakarta on Monday, October 5, 2026.

The Minister also called on the Ministry of Industry to play a stronger role as an accelerator of national industrial growth. He urged his staff not only to carry out routine duties but also to develop strategic measures and breakthroughs that can have a direct impact on industrial performance.

“The Ministry of Industry must serve as an accelerator for the industries under its purview. We need to take major steps across all sectors so that these industries can grow faster,” he said.

According to him, stronger industrial growth is needed to support national economic growth while expanding employment opportunities. Therefore, the government needs to identify various obstacles faced by each industrial subsector as a basis for formulating policies.

He also urged officials at the Ministry of Industry to actively gather information from various levels, including technical officials who directly deal with industrial issues on the ground. Such input is considered important to provide a more comprehensive picture when formulating industrial development policies and programs.