Jakarta - The Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Anindya Novyan Bakrie, expressed full support for strengthening the government procurement system through the transformation of the E-Catalog version 6.

This statement was delivered during his speech at the launch of the Indonesia Catalogue Expo and Forum (ICEF) and Indonesia Procurement Forum and Expo (IPFE) held at the Office of the Government Procurement Policy Agency (LKPP), Epicentrum area, Jakarta, on Friday (April 25, 2025).

Anin, his familiar nickname, views the e-procurement system introduced by LKPP as an advanced, efficient, and transparent digital system that opens significant opportunities for business actors in regional areas.

“E-procurement can make processes faster, more convenient, and better, while simultaneously eliminating the potential for poor governance. However, the most emphasized aspect is how this system also creates opportunities, especially in empowering regional entrepreneurs and fostering the growth of national businesses,” Anin stated.

According to Anin, Kadin Indonesia’s role within this system aligns with its two main mandates: to be a strategic partner of the government and to serve as a strong platform for its members, including Kadin branches at provincial and city/regency levels, as well as sectoral business associations.

Anin also highlighted the global context affecting national trade, such as the tariff war between the United States (US) and China.

Despite these conditions, Indonesia still recorded a trade surplus with the US of 18 billion US dollars.

This figure is considered competitive when compared to Vietnam’s surplus of 130 billion US dollars. Anin mentioned that relocating oil and gas imports worth 40 billion US dollars could serve as a strategy to maintain Indonesia’s bargaining position in trade negotiations.

“We can relocate and make our position more neutral. But more importantly, exports to the US must be increased, especially in products such as footwear, garments, and electronics,” Anin said.

On the other hand, Anin noted that the US is also pushing to export commodities to Indonesia such as soybeans, cotton, and wheat. He stressed that within the 60-day trade negotiation period, Indonesia must prepare strategies to enhance exports of its superior products.

In this regard, Anin revealed Kadin Indonesia’s plan to propose four pilot projects to the government before August 17, 2025. The projects include:

SPPG (Nutrition Provision Service Unit): A communal kitchen initiative to provide nutrition for the community.

PKG (Free Health Check-up): A free health screening service inspired by a spirit of mutual cooperation, similar to the vaccination programs during the pandemic.

Migrant Worker Placement: Increasing foreign exchange earnings from the migrant worker sector, not only domestically but also skilled labor abroad.

Affordable and Decent Housing Development: The development of housing prototypes for the community.

Anin emphasized that these projects can become tangible contributions in absorbing input from the regions and supporting ongoing deregulation efforts by the government to ensure local industries remain competitive, not only with the US but globally as well.

“LKPP, with its procurement system, is one of the key foundations for good governance. The procurement value reaches IDR 1,160 trillion. This creates a strong enthusiasm both at central and regional levels,” Anin said.

He expressed confidence that Indonesia will be in a better economic condition than neighboring countries within the next five years, as long as it can both defend and attack simultaneously.

“Let us build an advanced Indonesia. I’m not saying the next one and a half years will be easy, but I have seen the numbers. Within five years, if Indonesia plays its cards right, the situation will be better than neighboring countries. It depends on how wisely we can defend and attack simultaneously—defend, because it’s unrealistic to expect no transition difficulties, but we must also attack, because the ideas I mentioned earlier are not easy for neighboring countries to circumvent. This is in our hands to determine,” Anin concluded.

Meanwhile, LKPP Head Hendrar Prihadi welcomed the collaboration between LKPP, Kadin Indonesia, and the Indonesian Procurement Experts Association (IAPI) in organizing ICEF and IPFE.

“First, I would like to thank the two major institutions, Kadin Indonesia and IAPI, who are collaborating today with LKPP. This becomes a platform to showcase products and services required by the government through the expo. It is a great opportunity for domestic industries because their products can be directly viewed and the market is clear—government procurement, which averages nearly IDR 1,200 trillion per year,” Hendrar said.

He also expressed hope that the event, scheduled to take place from July 30 to August 1, 2025, at JIEXPO Kemayoran, will be attended by regional governments, ministries, and agencies to promote wider utilization of domestic products.

“Hopefully, this event will be successful, and we expect all regional governments, ministries, and agencies to see firsthand the many domestic products ready to be purchased and beneficial for the community,” he concluded.