Govt pledges to end illegal export levies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Trade Satrio B. Joedono pledged
\nyesterday to eliminate illegal levies and to simplify procedures
\nwhich have increased costs for exports.<\/p>\n
"We will reduce the number of people involved in licensing
\nprocedures through computerization," he said in a hearing with
\nCommission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
He told the commission, which is in charge of trade, finance
\nand logistics, that the simplification of procedures and
\nelimination of illegal levies were necessary to boost Indonesia's
\nnon-oil exports, whose rate of growth has declined in the last
\nfew months.<\/p>\n
Non-oil exports, which used to increase by more than 20
\npercent per year before 1992, rose only by 16.2 percent to
\nUS$27.07 billion last year from $23.29 billion in 1992. Non-oil
\nexports even declined during the first few months of this year.<\/p>\n
Joedono acknowledged that illegal levies and arduous
\nprocedures have affected the competitiveness of Indonesia's
\nproducts on the world market.<\/p>\n
Exporters complained recently that they have had to provide
\nextra money for their exports because officials at ports,
\ncontainer terminals and bonded (export-processing) zones have
\ndemanded illegal levies. Port authorities have tried to reduce
\nillegal levies by introducing vouchers for paying services at
\nports and container terminals. In addition, the director general
\nof customs and duties promised to take severe action against
\nemployees discovered to have received illegal payments.<\/p>\n
Joedono said yesterday that the government has a strong
\ncommitment to reduce the costs of production in a bid to promote
\nthe country's non-oil exports.<\/p>\n
A series of deregulatory measures introduced over the last few
\nyears to lower import tariffs and to eliminate non-tariff
\nbarriers also show the government's commitment to boost exports.<\/p>\n
A member of the commission, A.A. Baramuli, proposed that the
\ngovernment also provide for the strengthening of the country's
\nup-stream industry to help lower costs for the production of
\nexport products.<\/p>\n
"Locally-made goods can not compete with those from other
\ncountries because we have to import most of the basic, raw
\nmaterials," he said. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-pledges-to-end-illegal-export-levies-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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