Jakarta, Nov. 11 -- The Ministry of Industry has expressed support for efforts by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to strengthen collaboration between secondhand clothing traders and local MSMEs, to reduce dependence on imported finished products.

The ministry's spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arif said here on Tuesday that the partnership scheme aims to empower domestic industries, especially in sectors overwhelmed by imported goods such as textiles, steel, electronics, cosmetics, ceramics, and footwear.

Arif noted that among the six sectors, only the textile industry has regulations governing imports.

"This situation makes domestic industries hesitant to produce at full capacity. Instead of producing 100 ...