TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said textile products and textile industries are strategic industries that give a big contribution for the economy.

According to him, the government prioritizes the development of these labor-intensive and export-oriented industries in order to be able to compete at the global level.

“Textile industries can also become social security networks because it the industries provide a big number of works as around 3 million people are employed at the industries,” said Airlangga in Bandung on Saturday.

In 2016, investment values of textile and textile product reached Rp 7.54 trillion. The industries also give the country US$11.87 billion in foreign exchange reserves. In the meantime, around 17.03 percent of employment in manufacturing industries is absorbed by these industries.

ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI