Major reshuffle at industry ministry<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government replaced four senior officials at
\nthe Ministry of Industry and Trade on Wednesday in an effort to
\nrevitalize the ministry to adapt better to new challenges.<\/p>\n
Under presidential decree No. 12\/2001 issued on Jan. 9, the
\ngovernment replaced Djoko Moeljono, director general for foreign
\ntrade affairs; Hamid Machrus, director general for small and
\nmidsize industries; Rosediana Suharto, head of the ministry's
\nresearch and development board; Arifin Lumban Gaol, head of the
\nCommodities Exchange Supervisory Board (Bapebti); and Riyanto B.
\nYosokumoro, expert staff for marketing.<\/p>\n
Riyanto was promoted from marketing to head the director
\ngeneral for foreign trade affairs. Marwoto, formerly director for
\nengineering and machinery, was promoted as the new director
\ngeneral for small and midsize industries.<\/p>\n
Manahan Laut Simbolon, formerly secretary of the ministry's
\nresearch and development board, was promoted as head of the board
\nwhile Ridwan Kurnaen, previously secretary of Bapebti was
\nappointed as the board's chairman.<\/p>\n
Minister for Industry and Trade Luhut Pandjaitan called the
\nreorganization a routine course to adapt to global changes.<\/p>\n
\"New people come, old people go,\" Luhut told reporters after
\nthe inauguration ceremony.<\/p>\n
Djoko has headed the directorate of foreign trade affairs for
\nabout 15 years before Riyanto, a senior staff member at the
\nministry, took over.<\/p>\n
According to sources, the government has offered Djoko an
\nambassadorship. Luhut, however, only confirmed that Djoko did not
\nretire and would have a new post soon.<\/p>\n
Ridwan will be in charge of supervising the country's first
\ncommodity futures exchange market, the Jakarta Futures Exchange
\n(JFX), which his predecessor, Arifin Lumban Gaol, helped
\nestablish in December last year.<\/p>\n
Tax review<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Luhut said the government planned to scrap export
\ntaxes on crude palm oil (CPO) to boost its competitiveness.<\/p>\n
He said it had been agreed by senior officials from the
\nFinance Ministry to abolish the five percent export tax on crude
\npalm oil and its derivatives.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the change can be put into effect by February first,\"
\nLuhut said, but added that the plan required the Finance
\nMinister's final approval.<\/p>\n
The government has long considered scrapping CPO export taxes
\nto counter declining exports of the commodity.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's CPO exports have suffered due to sharp competition
\nfrom Malaysia, the largest CPO producer in the world.<\/p>\n
Luhut expressed confidence that Finance Minister Prijadi
\nPraptosuhardjo would approve the plan, as it related to the
\ncountry's overall export targets.<\/p>\n
\"We have to look at the multiplier effects of such a
\ndecision,\" he said, adding that he would call Prijadi to present
\nhis proposal.<\/p>\n
Prijadi has opposed the idea of abolishing CPO export taxes
\nbecause of the government's tight budget, and worry that it might
\ndrive up local CPO prices.<\/p>\n
The government originally imposed the export taxes to prevent
\na shortage of CPO in local markets. The policy was taken during
\nthe sharp depreciation of the rupiah against the U.S dollar.<\/p>\n
But Luhut assured that if domestic demands for CPO and its
\nderivatives soared, the government would reinstate the export
\ntax.<\/p>\n
The government will also review a recently issued regulation
\non value added taxes on the sales of luxury goods, according to
\nRosediana, the former head of the ministry's research and
\ndevelopment board.<\/p>\n
Rosediana, who according to Luhut will become his expert on
\ntaxation and tariffs affairs, said the Finance Ministry issued
\nthe new tax regulations without consulting her office.<\/p>\n
She said that meetings would be held between the two
\nministries to review the new tax policy.<\/p>\n
It was agreed in earlier meetings between the two ministries
\nto downgrade several products that had been classified as luxury
\ngoods, she said.<\/p>\n
These products, she added, include, among others, electronic
\nproducts such as televisions and radios and busses used for
\npublic transportation.<\/p>\n
Rosediana estimated the government would have completed its
\nreview within three months, after which it would consult with the
\nHouse of Representatives. (bkm)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/major-reshuffle-at-industry-ministry-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}