The growth of the textile and textile products (TPT) industry has gradually recovered since the pandemic subsided, but has not been separated from the challenges it faces. Both associations and actors have different perspectives on the challenges facing the industry, but agree that there are some things that need to be changed and improved.  Anne Patricia Sutanto, Vice CEO of PT Pan Brothers Tbk and Group said that the challenge in the textile and textile product industry is to attract foreign investors to invest in the country, by building factories, or producing raw materials that are not produced in Indonesia.

“Indonesia must offer attractiveness in the field of investment convenience with attractive incentives, both for investors who enter. Likewise for local partners who are able to attract investors to enter and build factories in Indonesia," said Anne, Wednesday (15/6/2022).

With the entry of foreign investors, it is also hoped that investors will bring the technology they use into the country, and there will be collaboration between local players and investors from abroad. "Collaborating with the Indonesian textile industry by bringing their technology so that technology transfer occurs," said Anne.

In addition, the competitiveness of local industry players also needs to be improved. One of them is through funding with relatively low interest rates. Funding is needed by local industry players for both “working capital and engine rejuvenation.” The establishment of educational institutions that focus on workers in the textile industry is also needed to fill the need for a more competitive workforce.

"Facilitating the establishment or funding of Polytechnics, Vocational High Schools and Vocational Schools that are adapted to the 4.0 concept can be done. The hope is that Indonesian human resources will become more competitive, in line with industrial needs that are ready to use and ready to adopt technology transfer, "he said.

Meanwhile, the association sees the challenges of the textile industry in terms of supply chain regulation. Rizal Tanzil, Deputy Head of Government Relations of the Indonesian Association of Textile Experts (IKATSI) assessed that supply chain regulation is a challenge.

“I think the challenge is to link upstream, middle and downstream. Because there are some raw materials that cannot be produced domestically. Then the control of the price of raw materials is relatively not strong so it fluctuates. We have raw materials from petroleum such as polyester, we also have raw materials from imports such as cotton. That price is very volatile,” he said (10/6/2022).