MEMBER OF THE DPR RI from the Nasdem Party, Rachmat Gobel, said that using domestic products is a form of love for the country, national commitment and a form of one’s nationalism. He expressed this in response to the discourse on plans to use domestically produced official vehicles for ministers, deputy ministers and echelon I level officials.
“If there are officials who do not prioritize the use of domestic products in their ministry’s policies, they should just replace them,” he said in an official statement received by Media Indonesia, Monday (4/11).
Gobel said that the government has regulations regarding the use of domestic products through a minimum 40% Domestic Content Level (TKDN) policy. However, until now, these regulations have not really been implemented so that Indonesia is actually experiencing deindustrialization.
The DPR member from the Gorontalo electoral district stated that Indonesia must emulate what India and China are doing. “Both countries are taking advantage of their large markets to really strengthen their domestic industries. “Indonesia also has a fairly large market,” he said.
For this reason, Gobel strongly agrees that if there are officials who prefer to use imported products, they should just remove them. “The funds come from the APBN, which is taken from people’s taxes. So why is the money going to another country? This is where the logic is. “People like this have no nationalism and are not Pancacialists and do not love their own people,” he added.
Officials like that, he continued, must have understood that using domestic products means feeding the people by opening up jobs and reviving domestic industry. Gobel said, in 2024, Indonesia’s APBN will be worth IDR 3,325 trillion.
“This is a very sufficient amount to revive the domestic industry,” he explained.
Because of this, he encouraged that ministry programs, BUMN, BUMD, non-ministerial government institutions, and also regional governments must use domestic products. The obligation to use domestic products, said Gobel, also provides certainty for foreign and domestic investors to invest in Indonesia.
“Because they are confident and believe that their product will be absorbed by the market. Of course, it must be accompanied by maintaining quality, in this case there are regulations regarding Indonesian National Standards (SNI). “All the regulations regarding this matter are complete, they just have to be implemented,” he explained.
The growth and development of domestic industry, said Gobel, will also be directly correlated with the level of technology mastery by the nation’s children. “To master technology is not just by discussing, but also by practicing. This technology must be seized, not discussed, let alone expecting mercy from other countries. This occurs through industrialization. Without industry there would be nonsense about mastering technology. “We practice it, we master it,” he said.
Mastery of technology by the nation’s children, said Gobel, also means increasing a nation’s national resilience capabilities. “All industries have a dimension of resilience: the heavy equipment industry, metal industry, electronics industry, machinery industry, automotive industry, aircraft industry, robotics industry, telecommunications industry, digital industry, and various other technologies if in times of peace they function for the welfare of the people.
However, in times of war, all types of industry can be transformed into defense industry. That’s an easy matter. “However, without all these industries, our national resilience will become more vulnerable,” he said.
Apart from that, Gobel said, industrialization will create large job opportunities. “Indonesia’s population is large, so it also requires large employment opportunities. If we import, it means we create jobs for other countries. “In fact, the money for these imports comes from our people,” he said
“So take advantage of this large domestic market for industrialization. “Don’t let this large market be flooded by imported products,” he said.
Favoring domestic industry, continued Gobel, will strengthen the national economy, accelerate economic growth, restore the path of industrialization which is currently experiencing deindustrialization, absorb large employment opportunities, increase investment, and most importantly support creativity, inventiveness, and confidence in the nation’s own human resources. (I-2)
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**Interview with Rachmat Gobel: Emphasizing Nationalism Through Domestic Products**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Rachmat Gobel. Recently, you made headlines by advocating for the use of domestic products among government officials. Can you elaborate on your perspective?
**Gobel:** Thank you for having me. I believe that using domestic products isn’t just a policy choice; it’s a demonstration of love for our country and a vital aspect of our nationalism. When our officials drive domestic vehicles, it sends a strong message that we prioritize our local industries and workforce.
**Editor:** You mentioned that the government has a minimum Domestic Content Level (TKDN) policy that hasn’t been effectively implemented. What can be done to ensure these regulations are followed?
**Gobel:** Absolutely, the TKDN should serve as a foundation for our purchasing policies. It’s not enough to have regulations on paper; they must be enforced. We need to hold officials accountable—if they are not supporting local industries, they should be replaced. It’s about using public funds responsibly and ensuring that money generated from taxes goes back into our economy.
**Editor:** You’ve drawn comparisons between Indonesia and countries like India and China. What specific strategies do you believe Indonesia should adopt from them?
**Gobel:** Both India and China have leveraged their large markets to bolster domestic production. We can do the same. By encouraging the use of local products in every sector—government ministries, state-owned enterprises, and local governments—we would stimulate our domestic market and create jobs. This would also boost investor confidence in the long-term viability of our industries.
**Editor:** Some may argue that imported products can offer better quality or innovation. How do you address these concerns?
**Gobel:** Quality should never be sacrificed. However, we must also establish and maintain our own standards, such as the Indonesian National Standards (SNI) for quality assurance. Our goal is to ensure that domestic products meet the highest quality benchmarks so that they are competitive on both local and international stages.
**Editor:** You also spoke about the connection between industry growth and technology mastery. Can you explain this relationship further?
**Gobel:** Mastering technology is inseparable from industrialization. We need to encourage hands-on experiences in technology for our youth. Simply discussing advancements won’t suffice; we have to practice and innovate ourselves. A thriving industrial sector is vital for developing our technological capabilities and ultimately our economy.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Rachmat. It’s clear you are passionate about fostering a sense of nationalism through economic development and support for local industries.
**Gobel:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this important issue. We have the resources and the potential—now we just need the commitment to make it a reality.
