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Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu says she is upbeat that the
total value of the country's exports in 2006 surpassed the
US$100 billion mark, representing a 17.6 percent increase over the
$77.5 billion recorded in 2005.
She said her belief was based on increasing commodities prices and the
higher contribution of manufacturing products.
"The value of Indonesia's exports during the first 11 months of last
year had already reached $91.2 billion. With an average
monthly value of more than $8 billion, I think last year's total export
value exceeded $100 billion," Mari told reporters
Wednesday.
She added that the actual export figures for December would be
announced later this month.
Mari said that besides the higher prices for a number of commodities,
such as rubber, palm oil and gold, Indonesian export
earnings had also been enhanced by manufactured exports, which
contributed 67.5 percent to the value of the nation's total
exports.
Indonesian's textile exports during the January-November period grew by
10.5 percent, footwear by 13.7 percent, automotive
components by 28.5 percent, and iron and steel by 79.8 percent.
Mari said that if the trend continued, Indonesia's exports would likely
grow by up to 19 percent this year.
"We will try to sustain the export growth of between 17 and 19 percent
recorded over the last two years," she said. "At least
we will be able to meet the government's target of between 8 and 10
percent growth as stated in the mid-term development
plan."
She said the challenge for the future was how to maintain the
investment climate in Indonesia and continue to encourage new
investment in those sectors that could augment Indonesian exports in
the coming years.
She added that her ministry would also continue to encourage exporters
to target prospective markets, such as the Middle
East, which was experiencing a construction boom.
"Construction services and related products, such as furniture, have
good potential there," she said.
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