Redma Gita Wirawasta, the Chairman of the Indonesian Fiber and Filament Yarn Producers Association (APSyFI), has shed light on the recent closure of the Bata shoe factory in Purwakarta, West Java, attributing it to the government’s inability to cultivate a conducive market environment for domestic products.
In his statement on Thursday (9/5), Redma expressed deep concern over the recurring pattern of such closures within the textile and textile product (TPT) industry, which is currently grappling with an influx of foreign-made goods.
“This closure is just one instance of a broader trend within the TPT sector, where domestic markets are increasingly flooded with imports,” Redma remarked.
Elaborating further, Redma criticized the government’s ineffective measures in curbing the inflow of foreign TPT products, resulting in the distressing situation where numerous manufacturing facilities are forced to downsize or shut down completely.
“It’s disheartening to witness the seeming impotence of our government in stemming the tide of imports,” he lamented.
The closure of the Bata shoe factory in Purwakarta has had severe repercussions, with over 200 employees facing termination as a result of the shutdown. This development underscores the urgent need for robust policies and interventions to safeguard domestic industries and protect the livelihoods of workers in the face of stiff international competition.
