REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received Ambassador of Sweden Johanna Brismer Skoog and a representative of Swedish clothing manufacturer, at the Presidential Palace, here Wednesday.
"I have accompanied the Swedish ambassador and the representative of H&M, a world fashion company, Helena Helmersson, in the meeting with Mr. President," Trade Minister Thomas Lembong said during a press conference at the presidential office.
The meeting was also attended by some Indonesian textile and garment industry businessmen and young designers.
"This is the initiative of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), because it's a huge industry and it has a remarkable contribution to exports with a total value at US$13 billion and it has absorbed 2.7 million workers," Lembong said.
H&M has been present in Indonesia since 1996 and 98 percent of H&M products in Indonesia is for exports , the minister said.
"We are from the Ministry of Trade, and the Presidential Staff Office has considered that the fashion industry is the future of our industry because it fits with the creative culture and involves many Indonesian young people," Lembong said.