Standardization and accreditation are necessary to maintain the quality of Indonesia’s products so that they can become more competitive in the global market, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has said.

During a meeting between the National Standardization Agency (BSN) and National Accreditation Committee (KAN), he noted that standardization and accreditation would align with the President’s and Vice President’s instruction, which is to bolster productivity.

In an official statement issued on Thursday, he explained that an increase in productivity can help Indonesia advance and develop like other Asian countries.

Standardization and accreditation can also play a role in supporting the government’s targets for integrating strategy, planning, and policy to bolster economic growth and environmental sustainability, as determined by the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

In line with this, within the national economic recovery effort, the Indonesian government is committed to not only restoring the economic condition to what it was before the crisis, but also improving it, such as by implementing circular economy.

Circular economy is not just about waste management, the minister explained.

It is also an approach to transforming material design, product design, and production process so that the created materials and products can be recycled, he added.

As a result, this will ensure a longer utilization cycle, he said.

In Indonesia, the concept of circular economy has become a part of the government’s policy.

An example of this is the implementation of the low-carbon development concept, as described within the 2020–2024 Mid-Term National Development Program (RPJMN) as well as the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Achievement Road Map.

Hartarto said that circular economy should not only be implemented within the government’s policies, but also by all parties, including the business world, because export destination countries have started to impose several requirements related to sustainability.

Source: Antara News