REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - House of Representatives is drafting a bill to protect local industries from free trade agreements (FTA). The bill would focus on the quality enhancement of local products, the Head of Commission VI at the House, Airlangga Hartanto, said. 

Parliament is discussing two bills on trade and industry expected to be ratified this year. Hartanto highlighted Indonesian National Standard (SNI) as an instrument for local products to enhance their quality while currently the quality of local products still causes a concern. Many foreign investors still use their own components to support the production process..

"In automobile components, for example, they consider our steel quality fails to meet their demand," Hartanto said on Thursday.

SNI is expected to be in accordance with the valid standard in other countries. With the SNI, foreign companies investing in Indonesia can use local components while at the same time we produce high quality products.

The Head of Indonesia Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), Jongkie D Sugiarto, said the bill must facilitate industries participating on human resources building. He asked government to make a long-term plan on industrial development to provide some access fot the investors.

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