Antismuggling task force ready<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government will soon establish a
\nspecial taskforce to combat smuggling in a concerted effort to
\nsafeguard state revenues from unpaid import and export duties and
\nprotect domestic industries from unfair competition, Coordinating
\nMinister for the Economy Rizal Ramli said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"The special team will be coordinated by the Minister of
\nFinance,\" Rizal told reporters after a Cabinet meeting on
\neconomic affairs chaired by Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
He said the government had suspected a high prevalence of
\nimport and export smuggling through underinvoicing and an
\norganized, physical contraband trade.<\/p>\n
According to Rizal, many businesspeople have complained about
\nthe poor performance of the customs service, both in facilitating
\na smoother inflow of imports and in preventing physical and
\nadministrative smuggling activities.<\/p>\n
\"But there is no plan in the near future to replace the
\ncurrent director general of customs and excise duty,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rizal added that export smuggling mainly consisted of fuel
\noils and logs, while the contraband import trade mainly involved
\nelectronic goods.<\/p>\n
\"Certainly, it is reasonably impossible in the short-term to
\nentirely eliminate physical smuggling, given the nation's
\nconsiderable coastline area,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As a result, the government decided to implement a short-term
\ncontingency measure, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The government will intensify the monitoring and verification
\nof volumes and prices quoted on import and export invoices to
\nprevent administrative smuggling,\" Rizal pointed out.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/antismuggling-task-force-ready-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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