The government expects South Korean and Indonesian companies to produce test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE), while China's enterprises have been importing test kits, ventilators and medical-grade personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N-95 masks, reported the Jakarta Post.

"We are taking coordinative steps between industries, factories and the State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) Ministry to obtain materials,?Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Bahlil Lahadalia told a broadcasted video conference, citing air cargo to expedite shipping.

Demand for materials to produce medical supplies are soaring, as industries change and ramp up their production lines to mass produce medical and protective equipment. The group of 20 (G20) major economies has also pledged to create a supportive global supply chain in addressing the global deficit of medical equipment and protective gear, primarily PPE, test kits and ventilators.

"The United States obtained raw materials in China in a way that's like 'if you have the money, we have the products'. If we are late to order, we can't secure orders. This happened a few days ago when an industry player was late to place a down payment and then US took the orders. We don't want this to happen, so we support their airplanes, maybe from SOEs, so production can carry on,?Mr Bahlil said.

To better secure medical supplies, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto engaged in a call with South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee to discuss a potential collaboration that includes joint test kits and PPE production.

South Korean biotechnological companies Kogene Biotech and Seegene could run a joint production with Indonesian companies to produce test kits in Indonesia, Mr Airlangga said. In addition, he also said the two countries would cooperate in producing PPE, with the raw materials imported from South Korea and the manufacturing performed in Indonesia.

"We are also grateful for the South Korean government's US$500,000 in-kind grant to the Indonesian government, which will be used to support the fight against the Covid-19 outbreak,?Mr Airlangga said.

South Korean Trade Minister Myung-hee also said his side has listed Indonesia as among prioritized countries to receive exports of medical equipment, alongside the United States and the United Arab Emirates, according to a press release from the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister.

Some 500,000 protective gowns have just been sent to various regions in Indonesia from a production consortium between PT GA Indonesia and five South Korean garment companies that operate in west Java. The consortium is producing PPE after obtaining production certification from the government and raw materials from South Korea, according to the BKPM.

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