Governement mulls new barrier on sugar imports<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government plans to impose a national standard for raw
\nsugar to help limit the inflow of sugar imports and prevent an
\noversupply from illegal practices, such as dumping and under-
\ninvoicing, a senior official of the Ministry of Industry and
\nTrade said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"We will impose a national standard (SNI) for raw sugar as a
\nnontariff barrier against oversupply of imports,\" director of
\nagroindustry M. Yamin Rahman told reporters on the sidelines of
\nthe appointment ceremony for the ministry's four new senior
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
He said that the proposal was still under discussion with the
\nministry of agriculture and that it had not yet been decided
\nwhich ministry would issue the decree.<\/p>\n
Indonesia produces approximately 1.5 million tons of sugar
\nannually, but consumes about 3 million tons a year.<\/p>\n
Yamin said that the standards for sugar would not only limit
\nimports but would also force producers to produce high-quality
\nproducts, which would be able to compete with imported sugar.<\/p>\n
Concern about the competitiveness of locally produced sugar
\nagainst cheaper imported products was raised as the country
\nbraced itself for the upcoming liberalization in trade.<\/p>\n
Separately, Minister of Industry and Trade Rini Soewandi
\nappointed four new senior officials in a ceremony on Monday.<\/p>\n
Zaenal Arifin was appointed as the new director general for
\nchemical, agricultural and forest product industries, replacing
\nGatot Ibnusantosa while Djoko Moelyono and Diah Maulida were
\nappointed as the ministry's expert staff, replacing A. Hamid
\nMachrus and Patuan Parluhutan Simatupang respectively.<\/p>\n
Also replaced is Riyanto B. Yosokumoro, by Sudar, as the new
\ndirector general for foreign trade.<\/p>\n
Riyanto was dismissed with honor under a presidential decree
\ndated Dec. 5, for his part in issuing a reprieve to 11 exporting
\ncompanies that exported logs, which was in direct violation of a
\njoint ministerial decree banning log exports.<\/p>\n
The ministerial decree was issued jointly by the minister of
\nindustry and trade and the minister of forestry to protect
\nIndonesia's forests from illegal logging.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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