SMEs Minister Says E-commerce Urged to Close Access for Used Clothing Import Since 2021

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Cooperatives and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki claimed he had asked and agreed with e-commerce, such as Shopee and Lazada, to close access for cross-border sellers offering 13 products since 2021 in a bid to protect the domestic textile industry.

The 13 products include hijab, Muslim women's clothing, Muslim men's clothing, mukena, Muslim children's clothing, Muslim accessories, prayer equipment, batik, and kebaya.

“This is because the 13 products have been produced by many Indonesian women in a number of regions,” said Teten in a statement, Monday, March 20.

To encourage the textile and textile product (TPT) business, Teten said the government has many programs, such as a national movement of Bangga Buatan Indonesia or Proud of Indonesian Products which has been carried out since 2021.

The government also presented an affirmative policy, in which ministries or institutions must spend 40 percent on goods and services from MSMEs and Cooperatives, such as clothing and footwear through the SOE Digital Market (PaDi). This transaction value in 2022 amounted to Rp22 trillion.

“We want MSME players to be the hosts in their own country. We want every citizen to be proud to buy and use MSME products,” said Teten, citing South Korea with its Korean Wave branding strategy which has succeeded in influencing public behavior in almost all parts of Asia, especially Korean clothing brands and K-Pop culture.

The government has also banned the trade of imported used clothing or thrifting which is recently rife. Teten said it would be a shame if Indonesian people chose to import used clothes instead of using local MSME fashion brands currently developing. Among them are Hammer, Eiger, Danjyo Hiyoji, Sejauh Mata Memandang, Cotton Ink, Monday to Sunday, Monstore, Nikicio, Toton, Et cetera, Major Minor, and Rêves Studio.

“Illegal imports of used clothing can disturb the national clothing and footwear industry. If this happens, many MSMEs will go out of business and many people will lose their jobs,” said Teten.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

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