Customs boasts faster service<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Responding to exporters' concern, customs and
\nexcise claim its export inspection service has saved more time
\nthrough improved efficiency, after the government took over the
\ntask from state owned PT Superintending Company of Indonesia
\n(Sucofindo) on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Customs and excise documents reveal the office has cut short a
\nnumber of procedures resulting in a more efficient inspection
\nservice.<\/p>\n
\"With this streamlining we can cut short the procedures to
\nless than 15 days compared to the 15 to 20 days under Sucofindo,\"
\nsaid Herman, the head of the custom excise's system procedure
\nsection.<\/p>\n
According to him, under Sucofindo, exporters had to wait up to
\n20 days from the submission of necessary documents until
\nreceiving the customs and excise' verification.<\/p>\n
Whereas under customs and excise, exporters faced simpler
\ninspection procedures, must submit fewer documents and could
\nexchange export data faster using the Internet, he said.<\/p>\n
The government transferred the inspection service to customs
\nand excise after deciding not to renew its contract with
\nSucofindo.<\/p>\n
Sucofindo had been responsible for the export inspection
\nservice since 1986 based on a two year contract, which the
\ngovernment had previously renewed every July 31.<\/p>\n
Herman went on to say that one of the most time saving
\nfeatures of the custom and excise's service was that not all
\nexporters were subject to inspection.<\/p>\n
\"We wave inspections on exporters whom we know have proven
\ncredibility,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to him, the office owns what it called a \"white
\nlist\" containing names of exporters with clean credentials.<\/p>\n
These exporters, he said, could transport their export
\ncommodities for shipping without prior inspection.<\/p>\n
Herman added the selected exporter still face random
\ninspections to detect any abuses among the white list.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, FX Suwito Marsam, head of the Jakarta division of
\nthe Custom and Excise bureau said thus far the new inspection
\nprocedure was running smoothly.<\/p>\n
\"Some exporters have been through the new procedure today and
\nwe found no difficulty in its implementation,\" Suwito told The
\nPost.<\/p>\n
He said that on the first day, his bureau had conducted
\nphysical inspections of goods belonging to some 20 exporters.<\/p>\n
The decision to let customs and excise take over the
\ninspection service from Sucofindo had prompted criticism claiming
\nthe move was untimely.<\/p>\n
Local media reported exporters from the textile and pulp and
\npaper industry, complaining the current finance ministry should
\nhave delayed the takeover until the new Cabinet was formed.<\/p>\n
They said the caretaker government had no authority to preside
\nover such important decisions.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri forbade caretaker ministers
\nfrom making strategic decisions. She is expected to announce the
\nnew Cabinet lineup within this week.<\/p>\n
However, economist Sjahrir took a different perspective,
\nsaying that deciding to renew Sucofindo's contract could have
\nconstituted a violation of Megawati's instruction.<\/p>\n
\"It does not mean any contract in a due period can be
\nautomatically extended. So, from the point of view of the
\nministry, I think it does not want to violate the President's
\norder,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Next to questions over the legality of the decision, some
\nbelieve custom and excise taking over inspection service
\nundermines efforts to privatize Sucofindo.<\/p>\n
The government hopes to sell off 15 percent of its stake in
\nSucofindo through private placement. At present it owns 95
\npercent of the company with the remainder belonging to the
\nGeneva-based surveyor Societe General de Surveillance (SGS).<\/p>\n
Sucofindo president Didie B. Tedjosumirat said that earnings
\nfrom the inspection service made up 48 percent of the company's
\ntotal revenue.(bkm\/05\/icn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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