Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA) - Deputy Industry Minister Faisol Riza has said that the information and communication technology (ICT) manufacturing sector can be a key driver for achieving the target of 8 percent economic growth.
“The government has a strong ambition to reach 8 percent growth. One of the sectors we see as having significant potential and impact is the ICT (manufacturing) industry,” he added during a discussion held here on Thursday.
He said that the government is continuing to learn from countries that have successfully developed high-tech industries, such as India, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
“India, over the past decade, has made a major leap in the ICT industry. They have attracted significant investment and built a strong production base. That is what we are currently studying and wanting to adapt,” he informed.
Riza emphasized that exports remain a key instrument for boosting economic growth.
“Indonesia’s exports are still largely dominated by commodities such as coal and palm oil. However, going forward, we expect greater growth from the manufacturing sector, especially ICT,” he added.
One way to bolster exports is by integrating Indonesia into the global supply chain, he said.
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“The question is, are our industries ready? Can our raw materials be processed into high-quality electronic components that are globally competitive?” he asked.
He said that the ICT industry is highly complex; for example, a single electronic device such as a smartphone contains thousands of components produced in industries, ranging from integrated circuits (ICs), central processing units (CPUs), and batteries, to screens, resistors, and transistors.
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All these components, he added, represent significant opportunities if Indonesia can produce them domestically.
“The government does not want us to merely assemble finished goods using imported parts. We want the entire production chain to originate from within the country. Achieving this requires support from all stakeholders,” he informed.
