Among many sectors affected by free trade agreements, the Minister of Industry MS Hidayat is currently highlighting the textile products are still somewhat risky.

He pointed out China's advantage in term of raw cotton, while Indonesia is still importing about 99.5 percent of cotton.

According to Hidayat, China is not only having better textile machinery but also having many chemical industries of textile dye (Dyestuff). Here, Indonesia still imports in huge number.

"Commercial interest rate in China is also more promising (5.5 percent), while Indonesia is still more than 10 percent. I also asked for a tax rebate to the Minister of Finance for industries that do export, "he said as quoted by Republika.

The Minister of Industry said that at least there are three factors that cause the textile industry must be maintained.

Firstly, textile industry is able to absorb by 15 percent of labor with a total as many as 1,841,520 people.

Secondly, the textile industry was capable of giving a trade surplus of 24.33 percent in 2007 and amid the world financial crisis of 2008, the textile industry was still able to achieve a surplus of U.S. $ 8 billion.

Last but not least, the textile industry also plays a role in meeting the need of clothing in domestic market.

On the basis of the three factors, the Minister of Industry seeks to continue the machinery restructuring program in textile industry which has been initiated by the Ministry of Industry since 2007. He insisted the program is a groundbreaking step that still must be continued.

On several occasions, the Minister of Industry that in October 2009 replaced Fahmi Idris often stated some opinions that cornered his performance in the economic team.

This can be seen, for example, at a hearing with House of Representatives’ Commission VI in the middle of January. Of the five ministers who were invited at that time, only he who showed pessimistic to Indonesia in facing the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (AC-FTA). ***

Tekstil China masih unggul

Di antara sekian banyak sektor yang terkena dampak perjanjian perdagangan bebas, Menteri Perindustrian, MS Hidayat saat ini menyoroti sektor tekstil dan produk tekstil (TPT) yang terbilang masih riskan.

Ia mencontohkan keunggulan China dari segi bahan baku kapas, di mana 99,5 persen kebutuhan kapas Indonesia masih impor.

Menurut Hidayat, selain permesinan TPT China lebih baik, China juga memiliki industri bahan kimia zat warna tekstil (dyestuff) yang cukup banyak, sementara Indonesia mayoritas masih impor.

“Tingkat suku bunga komersial China juga terbilang lebih menjanjikan (5,5 persen), sementara Indonesia masih lebih dari 10 persen. Saya juga lagi minta tax rebate ke Menkeu bagi industri yang melakukan ekspor,” imbuhnya seperti dikutip Republika.

Menperin juga mengatakan, setidaknya ada tiga faktor yang menyebabkan industri TPT harus dipertahankan.

Pertama, industri TPT terbukti mampu menyerap tenaga kerja sebesar 15 persen dengan total penyerapan sebanyak 1.841.520 orang.

Kedua, industri TPT terbukti mampu memberi surplus perdagangan sebesar 24,33 persen pada 2007 dan di tengah krisis keuangan dunia tahun 2008 masih mampu meraih surplus sebesar US$8 miliar.

Ketiga, industri TPT juga terbukti berperan dalam memenuhi kebutuhan sandang di dalam negeri.

Atas dasar ketiga faktor inilah, Menperin berupaya untuk meneruskan program bantuan restrukturisasi mesin TPT yang telah dirintis Kementerian Perindustrian sejak tahun 2007. Ia menegaskan program tersebut merupakan langkah terobosan yang tetap harus dilanjutkan.

Dalam beberapa kesempatan, Menperin yang pada Oktober 2009 lalu menggantikan Fahmi Idris ini memang kerap menyatakan opini yang seolah menyudutkan kinerja tim ekonominya dalam kabinet di mana ia berada.

Hal ini terlihat, misalnya, pada rapat dengar pendapat dengan Komisi VI DPR, pertengahan Januari lalu. Dari lima menteri yang diundang saat itu, hanya ia yang menunjukan kepesimisan akan Indonesia dalam menghadapi ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (AC-FTA).