Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia is intensifying industrial mitigation efforts after global supply chain disruptions linked to Middle East conflicts pushed its manufacturing sector into a moderate contraction, according to official data released Monday.The S&P Global manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for Indonesia slipped to 49.1 in April, down from 50.1 the previous month. Industry Ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arif attributed the dip to geopolitical tensions that have triggered supply bottlenecks and spiked logistics costs, directly impacting national production.”The weakening PMI is the impact of global developments, particularly geopolitical conflicts that have triggered supply disruptions and spikes in commodity prices and logistics costs,” Arif said in the ministry's press statement.In response, the government is connecting domestic supply chain ecosystems, particularly in the plastics sector, to maintain raw material flows.The ministry is also expanding the use of local currency transaction schemes to reduce dependence on foreign exchange and minimize the risks of currency fluctuations.Additional strategic policies include strengthening import substitution, increasing the use of domestic products (P3DN) as well as diversifying raw material sources and export markets to improve industrial independence. These efforts are followed by facilitation for industries through mentoring programs, capacity building for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and accelerating digital transformation to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the national industry.Arif noted that these efforts aim to maintain production levels and achieve the government's top priority of protecting industrial workers from potential layoffs.In addition to the industrial protection policies implemented before the geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East, the ministry is currently preparing new proposals for incentives and additional protection policies for industry.These new incentive and policy designs are expected to strengthen the industrial supply chain in the face of global pressures and effectively protect workers, he added.While Indonesia’s 49.1 reading indicates a contraction, officials noted the trend is consistent across Southeast Asia. The Philippines experienced a deeper contraction at 48.3, while Vietnam and Malaysia remained slightly higher at 50.5 and 51.6, respectively. “Indonesia's moderate contraction indicates that the national manufacturing sector is relatively resilient amidst global pressures,” Arif said, adding that the shift serves as a signal to further strengthen the domestic industrial structure against external shocks.