RI'S 2009 TEXTILE EXPORTS MAY FALL SHORT OF TARGET

Jakarta, Oct 22 (ANTARA) - Indonesia's textile and textile product exports in 2008 will likely fall short of the target of US$11 billion due to low demand caused by the US financial crisis.
"In total, our textile and textile product exports this year will increase from 2007. But they will likely fall short of the target of US$11 billion and will only reach US$10.6 billion," Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Textile Producers Association (API) Ade Sudrajat said on the sidelines of the Forum of the Korea-Indonesia Textile and Apparel Industries here on Wednesday.
Last year Indonesia exported US$10.3 billion worth of textiles and textile products.
Demand for textiles and textile products would drop early next year and therefore, the association could not much hope textile and textile exports next year would increase, he said.
But he added the country's textile and textile product exports in 2009 would at least be equal to 2008's.
The current crisis which affected the real sector was different from the 1998 monetary crisis, he said.
Therefore, all companies must be able to anticipate the worst things, he said.
The low demand caused by the global economic downturn would likely happen, forcing the textile industry to lay off workers as the worst resort.
He said nearly 10 percent of textile workers would lose job.
Meanwhile, API Executive Secretary E G Ismy said nearly 80 percent of API members exported their products.
On average they had five production lines employing 15 workers each, Ismy said.
"So, if the five production lines cease activities, 75 workers will be laid off," Ismy said.