Campaign to hate foreign products

Helpful Herbert

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Jokowi has launched a campaign to "hate foreign products"

“The appeal to love Indonesian products must be promoted constantly, as well as the campaign to hate on foreign products. Not only [should we] campaign for love but also hate,” said the President in the meeting at the State Palace on March 4. “Love local products. Hate foreign products.”


That seems to be quite a strange statement and a strange campaign. How can you hate all the cars you see, all the planes you fly in, all your kitchen appliances etc.? Is it healthy to carry out your day with feelings of hate triggered every few minutes? I wonder if the stress of his job is getting to him to come up with such a strange statement?
 
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Yeh that's weird. He's buckling to his religious backers
 
I thought 'hate speech' is outlawed in Indonesia. Regardless, hate is a very ugly word to say.

Anyway, what about local brands but actually made in another country? There are many if you look carefully. The government should look into reasons why factories are moving out of the country, perhaps it is getting more expensive to make things here, or more difficult?
 
I think the end game is to tax imports even more. This is just rhetoric leading up to that.
I think you are correct. Hopefully it is more targeted and logical than these public statements.
 
Anyway, what about local brands but actually made in another country? There are many if you look carefully. The government should look into reasons why factories are moving out of the country, perhaps it is getting more expensive to make things here, or more difficult?

This. I think it is a combination of it getting more expensive and difficult. I believe Atlantis has shared some different figures a couple years back either here or the old forum(can't remember) in regards to the budget of a new project which included 10-20%(?) for 'a special let us help you donation'.

Pepsi, Ford, and a few other foreign companies have pulled out of Indonesia and the question that should be asked is why.
 
I think you are correct. Hopefully it is more targeted and logical than these public statements.
If by targeted and logical you mean substantial increases across the board, then yes it's targeted and logical.
 
He knows what he is talking about
He does expect something.
Though im not sure he choose the right words.
 
I give Jokowi the benefit of the doubt, he is probably flexing his bahasa gaul,
“Benci” (hate) is an acronym slang for BENer bener CInta (really love)
 
Indonesia was a partner in trials, but it was developed in China and manufactured there.

It's like manufacturing orange juice, the orange concentrate is imported from China, then mixed/bottled in Indonesia.
 
I think the end game is to tax imports even more. This is just rhetoric leading up to that.

The result will be driving inflation up, imports will be down, forex reserve will be up, and exports will suffer from container shortage (due to fewer imports). Moving empty containers to Indonesia (to fulfill demand from exporters) means freight rate will go up and competitiveness of Indonesian products decrease = factories closing and laying-off workers.
 
This "hate foreign" stuff really drives me nuts. I run a company that provides a service here in Indonesia. It's very specialized so none of the instruments I use are made here (so I need to import them) and some of the specialist consumables in the lab I also need to import (they simply arent available in Indonesia). I have sister companies in India and Thailand with newer, better equipment that I can't access because I can't import them (no agent here because there is so little demand). These restrictions do protect many industries but they hold back so many at the same time (and I know some of my competitors import some things illegally - so it leads to corruption/ rule-breaking by many). Sorry to VENT!
 
This "hate foreign" stuff really drives me nuts. I run a company that provides a service here in Indonesia. It's very specialized so none of the instruments I use are made here (so I need to import them) and some of the specialist consumables in the lab I also need to import (they simply arent available in Indonesia). I have sister companies in India and Thailand with newer, better equipment that I can't access because I can't import them (no agent here because there is so little demand). These restrictions do protect many industries but they hold back so many at the same time (and I know some of my competitors import some things illegally - so it leads to corruption/ rule-breaking by many). Sorry to VENT!
I have a personal experience importing a CPAP to treat sleep apnea. This device is medically necessary for people with sleep apnea to help prevent that damaging effects to the body from this condition. It is common to buy a CPAP in other countries used and save a lot of money from the ~2,000 USD list price for a new unit. Used units can usually be bought for 200-300 USD. In Indonesia it is illegal to import a used medical device. So that market is immediately cut off from the consumer. Importing a new device is the only option and even though it is a medically necessary device, the import tax rate is the same as luxury electronic items. Indonesia does not produce a CPAP machine so the only choice is to import. Bad news for the consumer in need of a medical device.
 

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