By: Ahsan Zoelfa *)
Jakarta, CIDISS – Entering 2016, the agreement ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) or the ASEAN free market came into force. Goods and services from all ASEAN member states would be free to enter Indonesia. Likewise, Indonesian exports of goods and services to these countries more freely. Later, this free trade area will be extended to China, Japan, and South Korea.
MEA was in store tantalizing promise, however, not a few public who have a negative view of the implementation of MEA. A negative view of the MEA mainly comes from the economic operators of small and medium class. They assume, MEA enforcement is a form of neo-colonialism in Indonesia. Free trade is wrapped within the framework of the MEA will only benefit economic operators as well as owners of upscale strong capital. While small and medium economic actors will only trampled and crushed. Essentially, small and medium economic actors will not be defenseless against the capitalists.
A negative view of the MEA further exacerbated by a statement “essential” President Jokowi when he attended the opening of the XX Congress of Engineers Association of Indonesia Year 2015. At the moment, the President Jokowi stated that the government’s future vision is to improve the competence and eliminate protection. In other words, the government will no longer issue a policy that will protect the economic actors. As a result, the statement is getting harsh criticism, especially when linked with the entry into force of the MEA. Indonesian economic actors, especially among small and medium enterprises, worry will compete in their own country if the government does not protect them. In the end, the term “defeat before fighting” also landed in the minds of many economic actors in Indonesia.
Basically, there is nothing to fear with the introduction of MEA this year. Even if the entry into force of the MEA indicates that the free trade era has begun, it does not necessarily make the government apathy and hands-off. The government has stated that it will no longer enforce protective policies. Instead, the government will focus on creating policies that will improve the competitiveness of economic actors in Indonesia. One proof of this, the government has provided a budget of up to Rp313 T that will be allocated to facilitate competition in the form of infrastructure development. Another proof that the government in this case the Ministry of Commerce has opened the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) Centre which aims to provide information about the market opportunities that must be achieved for all stakeholders.
There are many other proofs that show the seriousness of the government to improve the competitiveness of economic actors in Indonesia, especially among small and medium enterprises in order to face the MEA. Thus, the small and medium-sized economic players should not have to worry much less developed “MEA-phobia” as the entry into force of MEA this year. [AZ]
*) Jakarta Contributor