Indonesia Expected To Be Automotive Production Base

Yogyakarta, April 24 (Antara) - The government expects Indonesia to become an automotive production base especially for four-wheel vehicles. "We want Indonesia to become a production base, not only to meet domestic demands," the Ministry of Industry`s Secretary General Ansari Bukhari said after opening the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Automotive Dialogue (APEC AD) here on Wednesday. Ansari said that currently there is an increase in vehicle exports to several countries in the Middle East and some other countries. "We can utilize the potentials that exist around us, and if it can be synergized with APEC members it would be better," said Ansari. The automotive dialogue with the APEC countries is also expected to be able to open up market access, Ansari added. "The policy would not make any regulations that are contrary to what have existed," said Ansari. Ansari said that basically Indonesia has already had a great industry especially for the spare parts production. "What we want to strengthen is the spare parts industry and we will prepare ourselves to enter into larger scale automotive industry," said Ansari. Indonesia hosted the 18th meeting of APEC AD. The first meeting was held in Bali in 1999. APEC AD holds meetings twice a year in rotation among APEC member economies such as Indonesia, Australia, the USA, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, Canada, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam.