Ministry of Industry is continued to monitor and lookout the activities of a number of strategic manufacturing sectors in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, including food and beverage industry which is expected to meet the needs of domestic market. Nevertheless, the factories’ operations must adhere to strict health protocols.
At the event, Menperin appreciated the Mayora Group which has been disciplined in implementing the health protocol rules in its work environment. “We consider preventive efforts applied by PT Mayora has been conducted satisfactory. For example, all workers are given vitamin supplements on a regular basis and pick-up services for them also provided,” he stated.
Agus described, generally factory employees who are exposed to the corona virus, are mainly infected from outside their work environment. “Possibly, when they are outside the factory, they do not pay attention to health protocols when they are in a crowd. Because I believe, the spreading of the virus inside the factories is very minimum, "he said.
According to him, from the number of positive cases of the corona virus in Indonesia, it is only about two percent came from factory workers. “We request to industry players to pay attention to the activities of their workers outside (their working environment), either before or after they enter the factories, he expressed.
Aside from that, the minister also said that the companies which have obtained industrial operation and mobility (IOMKI) permits are considered capable to increase their productivities although in the middle of the pressure of the Covid-19 pandemic impact. “It has been proven by the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which began to increase, since IOMKI is keeping the supply share, so that it is not disturbed, both for the domestic and export markets,” he explained.
Menperin requested that the national industry players are maintained their optimistic while facing the current pandemic, by continuing to be productive and innovative. “Since the manufacturing sector, such as the food and beverage industry, has been a support or driving force for our economy,” he stressed.
The example is Mayora which has proven to be a major player on the global level, particularly for food and beverage industry sector. “Mayora is a proud face of Indonesia, apart from being Domestic Direct Investment (PMDN) company, it is also able to penetrate the export market up to 40 percent of its various products. Many of the company’s products are leaders in international markets for instance Kopiko, Torabika and Danisa.” cited Menperin.
Director General of Agro Industry, Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin), Abdul Rochim said his department has met with the business players and associations, showed them an improvement in the performance of the food and beverage industry in July. The growth of the food and beverage industry is projected to reach 3 to 4 percent this year (2020).
A similar message was also conveyed by President Director of PT Mayora Indah Tbk, Andre Sukendra Atmadja, he felt that that consumption trend in the market has recovered. “We are optimistic for the 3th quarter this year (the consumption) will grow, since the lowest point had been through in May. In June, it has experiencing recovery. Even, August the number has outgrown July, he explained.
Kemenperin recorded, in the first quarter of 2020, the food and beverage industry sector contributed 36.4 percent to gross domestic product (GDP) of manufacturing sector. In the similar period, the growth in this sector reached 3.9 percent.
Furthermore, in the first semester of 2020, the food and beverage industry contributed the most to the achievement of export value in the manufacturing sector, with a figure breaking through USD13.73 billion. The leading sector is able to show its ability to penetrate the international market amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
