Alinafiah: Pos Indonesia ready to end monopoly, face competition<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State-owned PT Pos Indonesia says it is ready to
\nlet go of its monopoly rights to deliver personal letters,
\npostcards, and aerograms and face competition, including from
\ncourier companies.<\/p>\n
"PT Pos did not want the monopoly in the first place, it was
\nthe government's decision," Pos president Alinafiah said on the
\nsidelines of a meeting of the Asperindo, the Indonesian
\nassociation of courier companies, on Friday.<\/p>\n
"Our job as an operator is to provide the best service to the
\npeople," he said. "We return the matter back to the government as
\nregulator. Do the people still need protection in the form of
\nmonopoly?"<\/p>\n
Pos Indonesia's monopoly has been justified on grounds of
\npublic interest to provide a mail system that ensures
\nconfidentiality, affordability, and accessibility throughout the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
One of the most profitable state enterprises, Pos Indonesia's
\nlong held monopoly was strengthened by a 1984 government edict.<\/p>\n
The edict also stated that private courier companies could
\ndeliver other forms of mail like printed matter and small
\npackets.<\/p>\n
Alinafiah said Pos Indonesia would benefit professionally from
\nthe competition once its monopoly rights were revoked.<\/p>\n
"With stiffer competition, our company would be challenged to
\nperform better and to improve our service," he said.<\/p>\n
Pos Indonesia reaped a Rp 1.04 trillion ($130 million) profit
\nin 1999 and expects to gain some Rp 1.4 trillion this year,
\nAlinafiah said.<\/p>\n
"Last year was a good year because we received substantial
\nearnings from ballot mail during the general elections," he said.
\nHe did not explain the reason for his optimistic 40 percent
\nprofit increase this year.<\/p>\n
Pos Indonesia and Asperindo in December submitted a joint
\nproposal to the government on reforming the mail industry,
\nincluding allowing greater competition from private companies.<\/p>\n
Asperindo chairman Rudy J. Pesik welcomed Pos Indonesia's
\noffer to relinquish its monopoly.<\/p>\n
He said Asperindo and Pos Indonesia have disputed the
\ndefinition of "documents", which make up the bulk of the business
\nfor the courier companies.<\/p>\n
Pos Indonesia has insisted that all documents are "mail" and
\ntherefore come under its monopoly.<\/p>\n
"If the edict were revoked, there would be no more dispute
\nabout the definition," Rudy said. "Asperindo members have no wish
\nto deliver private mail, we only deliver documents."<\/p>\n
He defined "documents" as correspondence from business to
\nbusiness, while private mail comprises correspondence between
\nindividuals.<\/p>\n
Pos Indonesia also expressed its commitment to support
\nAsperindo in facing global competition.<\/p>\n
"Local resources have to be combined, including resources from
\nthe private sector," Alinafiah said.<\/p>\n
Rudy said the courier companies could forge cooperation with
\nPos Indonesia in various areas, from buying idle space on Pos'
\nmail trucks, facilitating Pos' post offices in remote areas, to
\njoint upgrading of human resources, and sharing technology.<\/p>\n
He said individual companies have already started cooperation
\nwith Pos Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Asperindo has some 530 company members throughout Indonesia,
\nincluding PT Birotika Semesta\/DHL, and PT Cardig Express
\nNusantara (CEN). (10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alinafiah-pos-indonesia-ready-to-end-monopoly-face-competition-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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