Textile Producers to Channel Resources for Masks, Protective Gear
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23 March 2020 23:32 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Chairwoman of the Indonesian Textile Association Anne Patricia Sutanto, said that members of the Association are ready to produce masks and personal protective gear to fulfill domestic needs as the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak remains. However, the equipment produced will be on a non-medical grade because it would take a special certification to be able to produce medical-grade equipment.
"For non-medical [equipment] can be immediately produced, meanwhile for medical grade equipment we are coordinating with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency and Health Ministry to accelerate our certification," Anne said through a video conference on Monday, March 23, 2020.
Although not medical-grade, Anne ensured that the produced equipment has fulfilled all of the needed requirements such as waterproof, windproof, bacterial proof and can be used in emergency situations. "This will be better than a raincoat," Anne said.
Anne asserted that the equipment will be tested in the factory lab and will have good quality. Moreover, Anne said that the producer, TPT Indonesia, is proven capable of producing waterproof and windproof outdoor materials.
In relation to the raw materials for the masks and protective gear production, Anne said that most of the raw materials can be produced domestically. She said that industries from the upstream to the downstream sector will coordinate to ensure the availability of raw materials.
Nevertheless, Anne did not deny the fact that there are materials that needs to be imported doe to lack of supply, such as the chemical used to protect the protective gear from viruses and bacteria.
Anne also noted that cotton still needs to be imported. "But we still have domestic stock," Anne said. Anne added that in the event that materials need to be imported, she hoped that the government would provide an exemption for import duties.
Anne added that during this time of emergency, there is a possibility that a garment factory will channel their resources to produce protective gear. Consequently, most of these factories' production will be directed towards manufacturing protective gear.
Currently, one of the textile companies that has started producing masks and protective gear is PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk, also known as Sritex. Sritex Corporate Communication Joy Citra Dewi, said that there has been quite an increase in the request for protective gear. Currently, she said that orders for protective gear can be made without minimum purchase.
Joy added that the orders came from different elements, including government institutions. One of the customers who ordered Sritex's protective gear is the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.
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