Event Reports

Hosted by Continental Tyres Indonesia, the Automotive Working Group met on 12 February 2019. The EuroCham Board Patron for the group, Roelof Lamberts (President Director of Mercedes-Benz Distribution Indonesia) provided a brief opening remarks before the overall discussion was chaired by Daniel Purba of Mercedes-Benz as the Head of the Working Group. Topics discussed were related to policy development in the sectors, including regulations on Electric Vehicles, CO2 Emission Based Taxation plan, Import provisions on Iron and Steel as well as Tyres, and Biodiesel implementation.

The working group was also briefed about latest EuroCham initiative to conduct a study on Transforming Indonesia’s Economy. For this purpose, EuroCham has partnered with Vriens & Partners to develop the study that would focus on Indonesia 4.0, with the Automotive sector as one of the sectors covered. Hence, members are encouraged to contribute inputs to the study. At the end of the meeting, the group agreed to held the next meeting on 23 April 2019.

EuroCham Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Working Group jointly with the International Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group (IPMG) were invited on 8 February 2019 by a Special Staff to the President to discuss the roles of international industry to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of national healthcare in Indonesia. The meeting aims to gather information as well as inputs from international industry players on recurring issues in healthcare sector in Indonesia and finding a way for improvements.

In general, the industry players understand the dilemma faced by the government in choosing between acceleration of industrialization and providing healthcare access for the public. However, priority needs to be taken when it comes to healthcare. Considering the global supply chain in pharmaceutical industry as well as the urgency of healthcare access for the general public, requirements to set up local manufacturing in Indonesia must be revisit as to simplify and provide easiness for the business community.