REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -  Trade minister Muhammad Lutfi said that Without proper management, ASEAN free market was like rain which would bring not only advantage but also disadvantage.

"People usually shut the door when it is raining but rain also brings land fertility. Regarding the free market, I think it will benefit Indonesia," Trade minister Muhammad Lutfi said on Monday. 

Indonesian government has taken concrete steps in the face of the ASEAN free market that will begin next year by formulating quality standards for all goods and services that will enter Indonesia or be exported.

"All this will need time and process, yet, on time, there will be standards for goods and services that will enter Indonesia or exported to other ASEAN member nations," the trade minister said.

The minister pointed out that one of the sectors that would have a good opportunity for Indonesia was the automotive sector.

"I predict Indonesia will become the ASEAN automotive center," Muhammad Lutfi said.

Regarding natural disasters such as Mount Kelud's eruption feared to affect seasoning products such as chili and onions, he was optimistic that it would not have impact of national scale. The onion and chili areas which were exposed to the hot materials of the mount Kelud eruption was only about 17 to 20 percent.

"At the same time, farmers in West Java are also harvesting their chili and onion crops," the trade minister said.

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