The textile and textile products (TPT) industry is focusing on the domestic market ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Even so, many people doubt that the government can properly handle illegal imports in order to strengthen the domestic market for domestically made products. General Chairperson of the Association of Indonesian Filament and Yarn Producers (APSyFI) Redma Wirawasta hopes that the government can handle permits for foreign TPT industrial goods entering Indonesia, although many parties doubt this. "In the fourth quarter of 2022, import permits did not come out because they were waiting for the NK [commodity balance]. Hopefully this condition can be maintained. Although many still doubt that the government can seriously control imports, especially illegal imports," he said, Wednesday (1/2/2023).

On the other hand, Redma is also grateful for the increased demand from the domestic market, as a result of the unissued import permits. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) Febri Hendri Antoni Arif said the same thing, according to him, ahead of the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, this industry will soon be flooded with orders. Because, it is customary for Indonesian people to buy new clothes at this moment.

"Actually, we have received reports that orders have started to increase for industries, especially before Eid, yes, yesterday the new year also went up," he said at the Ministry of Industry office on Tuesday (31/1/2023).

He assessed that with this increase in orders, there are already industry players who have started to increase production quantities in order to increase the supply of finished goods that will be marketed during the month of Ramadan and ahead of Eid al-Fitr.

As a result of the decline in export demand in the TPT industry, the Ministry of Industry is trying to revive the domestic market, but has been hampered by a flood of imports. Director of the Textile, Leather and Footwear Industry of the Ministry of Industry, Adie Rochmanto Pandiangan, said that strengthening the domestic sector is the only way to save labor-intensive industries.

The problem is, the domestic market must also face the onslaught of imported products. Foreign producers, said Adie, are eyeing Indonesia as a stable market amid the current threat of global inflation.

"Indonesia is a country that is estimated to be very stable, meaning that everyone will see it again, this is the Indonesian market, it can still [receive goods from outside]," he said.