The exports of textiles and apparel from Indonesia is targeted to reach US$ 13 billion this year, Indonesian Textile Association (API) chairman Ade Sudrajat said while speaking to reporters recently at the Jakarta International (JI) Expo.

According to Mr. Sudrajat, Indonesian textile and apparel exports reached US$ 8.6 billion during January-August 2013 period, which is an increase of 1.7 percent year-on-year.

However, 2013’s textile and garment exports value would still be lower than 2011’s figure of US$ 13.3 billion, he added.

He said the textile industry contributes substantially for earning foreign exchange for Indonesia, and it needs to further increase its competitiveness in view of the implementation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.

The Indonesian textile industry continues to depend on the US and the EU, which together account for 50 percent of the country’s textile exports.

Ade said the country’s textile industry still relied on the United States and Europe, which together account for 50 percent of the country’s textile exports.

Indonesia is also eyeing textile exports to Japan, the Middle East and the Asean countries, he added.

In 2014, Indonesia expects its textile and garment exports to rise further to US$ 13.5-14 billion due to recovery in the US and European economies, and increased shipments to new markets.

In recent months, several textile companies from Vietnam, China and South Korea have expressed keenness to invest in manufacturing of textiles and clothing in Indonesia, especially in the province of Central Java.

The robustness of Indonesian textile sector can also be gauzed from the fact that the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) is organizing two symposiums in Indonesian cities of Solo and Bandung next month, where some of Italy’s leading textile machinery producers would be displaying their latest products to Indonesian textile manufacturers.