NEXT GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE EXPORT ORIENTED ECONOMY

Jakarta, July 10 (ANTARA) - The government to be formed based on the outcome of the July 8 election needs to prioritize development of export-oriented businesses that use domestic raw materials.

"The next government should follow up the present government policy and even improve it by prioritizing export--oriented businesses that use domestic raw materials instead of imported ones," Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) deputy chairman Benny Soetrisno said here on Friday.

Soetrisno made the statement to comment on elected president and vice president for 2009-2014 period, who were expected to reorder the national economic structure especially in the field of export and import.

According to him, Indonesia in the future should put export-oriented economy on top priority by using optimally the domestic raw materials and to make its export commodities more competitive in international markets.

Soetrisno said all energy raw materials such as coal, natural gas, and other energy sources should be exploited optimally to increase energy supply at a competitive price.

"We have natural resources such as coal and natural gas in abundance, and we must use them optimally to increase our energy supply with a competitive price," Soetrisno said.

The chairman of Indonesian Textile Association (API) said the optima use of domestic raw materials would give multiplier effect on manufacturing industry in the country for both domestic market and export market.

Commenting on Indonesia's export and import performance, Soetrisno said it has started to enter its stable phase and would increase gradually.

He said trade balance surplus as well could be maintained and therefore the foreign exchange reserve had a potential to increase.

Meanwhile, Central Bureau of Statistics reported that Indonesia's export value in April 2009 was recorded at US$8.46 million or dropped by 1.81 percent compared to that in the previous month.

And the import value was recorded at US$6.38 billion in April but fell by 2.58 percent in March this year.