SBY promises to protect local industries

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promises the government will protect sectors threatened to be harmed with the full implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

The President told a press conference here Wednesday the government was paying considerable attention to the Indonesian public’s concerns over the implementation of ACFTA and promised it would seek solutions for any problems possibly emerging from the agreement.

Many local industries have expressed fear over possible influx of cheap Chinese products that will harm their own as a result of the full implementation of ACFTA.

The government has been criticized for not being able to address the matter.

“The government is paying attention to ACFTA problems,” Yudhoyono said in response to the concerns.

“It is of our agenda to improve the partnership between the two countries, and we will discuss well any problems concerning certain sectors possibly emerging from (the implementation of ACFTA), and find
solutions for the problems,” he added.

The President said the government would ensure that both workers and local industries were well-protected from negative impacts of the ACFTA.

“Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will visit Indonesia in late April… We will discuss a partnership that will be of great benefits for both China and Indonesia,” he said.

The President explained that both countries had signed a strategic partnership in a number of fields, including the economy.

He added that China had expressed intention to boost cooperation with the archipelago in the field of infrastructure, energy and trade.