Indonesia needs export based economy, and not only hoping for investments (especially FDI) and consumptions for economic growth. Many people may think that FDI is they way to make our exports increasing, but see how the FDI going, is it enough? before it’s too late.
I think about government intervention to Maspion. The goods they are selling will always be needed, but yet can’t even compete against electronic appliances made by LG, Samsung, etc now, even domestically. They need to dominate domestic market before become global player.
I actually also thinking about Astra, but because the majority owner of it is not in Indonesia anymore, the hope smaller. Yes, they already exports their products, but the market share is smaller compare to Thailand. Toyota and others are the decision makers of how much who must exports, not the Astra itself. The talents actually already here, it is a good capital if someone wants to be the player in automotive industry.
About natural resources and its downstreaming (hilirisasi), all eyes put too much attention to it, yet the efforts is too big than growing our potential above that we already have. For it is to rely on FDI that slow and hard to made, whatever the reason is, and still, yes we not export raw nickels, but still it just the intermediate products (half finished products), not the finished products, because not many here need intermediate products. We export the half finished products and still imports the finished goods, those who make the finished goods needs to be here too, and believe me, if the two sectors above growing, don’t need to be specific the Maspion or Astra, from the upstream to downstream will be good for our economy.
