Heaptalk, Jakarta — The long-awaited Indonesia Manufacturing Center (IMC), initiated by the Ministry of Industry, is now officially operational in Plered, Purwakarta, West Java. The IMC’s inauguration aims to boost the national industrial sector’s competitiveness and self-reliance by reducing dependence on imported industrial machinery and promoting the use of domestic products.
Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, in a virtual address on Monday (October 14), emphasized that the IMC will be a key player in Indonesia’s “Machine Making Machine” (3M) program, a significant push towards self-sufficiency in machinery production. He highlighted that the IMC will act as a catalyst through a “Penta-Helix” collaboration involving the government, industry, universities, research institutions, and the community.
“MC will serve as a center for developing and applying industrial technologies. It is equipped with infrastructure, skilled human resources, machinery, and an advanced ICT system for the manufacturing sector,” the Minister said.
Despite the challenges facing the nation’s industrial development, Kartasasmita suggested strengthening strategic cooperation with multiple stakeholders to make the archipelago’s industrial sector more resilient and competitive.
To accelerate the implementation of the 3M program, the IMC will collaborate closely with industries, either as product off-takers or partners in the design and development of machinery. This partnership will help companies eventually produce machinery independently.
“I am pleased that the Secretary-General has already initiated partnerships with several industrial companies by signing MoUs. I encourage these collaborations to be implemented swiftly,” he added.
Construction of the IMC has been a multi-year project, beginning in 2022 and ending on August 16, 2024. The initial phase of the IMC, located on a 23,190 square-meter plot of land, includes a six-story main building, a workshop, and a teaching factory with three floors. The facility also features a dormitory with 14 rooms, accommodating up to 42 people, a mosque, utility rooms, waste management facilities, and a temporary storage area.
Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry, Eko Cahyanto, conveyed that the IMC was constructed with 70.41% local content, mainly employing local materials and workers. The IIMC’s main building has also been awarded a Green Building certification for its environmentally friendly design.
Looking ahead, Cahyanto revealed that a second phase of the IMC’s development is planned, which will include six pilot manufacturing plants. This expansion aims to optimize the assets on an adjacent 9-hectare plot. With the IMC now fully operational, the Ministry of Industry hopes this center will significantly contribute to the growth and self-reliance of the manufacturing sector.
