Heaptalk, Jakarta — Trade Minister Budi Santoso launched an initiative to promote the use of local products, including clothing and accessories, called Gerakan Kamis Pakai Lokal (Gaspol), meaning local product Thursdays movement, at the Ministry of Trade office on Thursday morning (05/08).
Through Gaspol, Budi Santoso encouraged all ministry employees to wear domestically made clothing and accessories every Thursday. This initiative is a concrete step by the Ministry of Trade to support the use of local products.
“I invite all Ministry of Trade employees to take pride in, defend, buy, and use local products. We will wear locally made clothing, bags, footwear, and accessories every Thursday. Gaspol is a form of support from the Ministry and its employees for domestic products,” said Budi Santoso.
To kick off the local product Thursdays movement day, he led a morning exercise session with ministry officials and employees, all dressed in locally made sportswear and shoes. Budi Santoso stated that Gaspol serves as a momentum to strengthen the domestic market by increasing the use of local products. The movement starts internally within the Ministry of Trade, with the next step being to expand it into a mass movement.
According to him, Gaspol can inspire the broader public to use local products, fostering a culture of pride in domestic goods. Additionally, the initiative aligns with the Ministry’s priority program of safeguarding the domestic market. The Minister added, “If we fill our domestic market with our products, we support the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).”
Gaspol is also a positive response to the rising public recognition index for local products, which increased from 71.79 in 2023 to 73.4 in 2024. “This rise shows that Indonesian society’s perception of local products is improving year by year,” Budi Santoso said.
He further explained that Indonesian products are of excellent quality and continuously develop designs that follow current trends. The Ministry of Trade will continue encouraging and facilitating Indonesian MSMEs’ access to domestic and international markets through various programs.
These programs include Bangga Buatan Indonesia (proudly made in Indonesia), promotions through domestic and international trade exhibitions, business matching, and partnerships with department stores, modern retailers, hotels, and shopping centers. “A sense of ownership and love for local products must be instilled at all levels of society. By cultivating a culture of buying local, we not only strengthen the national economy but also make local products the ‘host’ in their own country,” Budi Santoso concluded.
