New decree for fishing-boat imports<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government announced a set of requirements
\nyesterday for companies wishing to import fishing boats, in a
\nmove to ensure that local companies buy local ships, following
\nthe fisheries deregulation package issued in July.<\/p>\n
Director General of Fisheries F.X. Murdjijo said the
\nrequirements were expected to guarantee that local fishing
\ncompanies would still buy boats from local manufacturers. He was
\nspeaking at a press conference also attended by fisheries
\nexecutives.<\/p>\n
The requirements are stipulated in a Director General of
\nFisheries decree on the purchase of fishing and lading vessels
\ndated Oct. 9, 1996.<\/p>\n
The July deregulatory measures let local fishing firms buy
\nimported ships.<\/p>\n
\"But domestic fishing companies must prioritize the purchase
\nof domestic products. Only when domestic boats do not meet
\ncurrent demand, can the companies import foreign vessels,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Murdjijo said Indonesia needed 240 more fishing boats every
\nyear.<\/p>\n
According to the July measures, locally made ships should be
\npurchased in preference to foreign ships.<\/p>\n
\"If the domestic shipping industry can provide 40 vessels, for
\nexample, the remaining 200 may be imported,\" Murdjijo said.<\/p>\n
He refused to reveal the production capacity of Indonesia's
\nship-building companies, but earlier reports said that local
\nmanufacturers could produce about 160 vessels a year, or two-
\nthirds of domestic demand.<\/p>\n
Murdjijo said that, according to the decree, local fishing
\ncompanies could import boats if they had a fishing business
\nlicense or a permanent license, and if they used the vessels for
\ntheir own businesses.<\/p>\n
Imported fishing boats may only operate within the exclusive
\neconomic zone, while imported lading boats may only transport
\ncargo from the ports of ships bearing foreign flags.<\/p>\n
The decree further states that priority on purchasing foreign
\nboats will go to fishing companies already conducting partnership
\nprograms with small-scale fishing operations and cooperatives.
\nPriority will also go to firms that have bought at least two
\nships over 30 gross tons or with inboard motors over 90 horse
\npower; to firms that have invested in cold-storages, canning
\nfactories and infrastructure, such as shipping docks or harbors;
\nor to firms that are committed to buying new, domestically-
\nmanufactured fishing boats.<\/p>\n
Nationalism<\/p>\n
\"We need to state this so that local fishing firms will
\ncontinue to buy from local shipyards... We're asking for
\nnationalism,\" Murdjijo said.<\/p>\n
\"The more requirements a company can meet, the bigger
\nopportunity it has to import foreign ships,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Local fishing companies have long complained that locally-
\nmanufactured vessels are too expensive compared to foreign ships
\nand that banks are reluctant to give them loans because of risk.<\/p>\n
On the price of fishing boats, Murdjijo said the government
\nwas planning to reduce import taxes on components used by local
\ndockyards to reduce the price of locally-built ships.<\/p>\n
He said the fishing companies allowed to import fishing
\nvessels would be determined by a team consisting of the director
\ngenerals of fisheries, sea transportation, metal and machinery
\nand chemical industries, the deputy of applied and basic science
\nstudies of the Agency for Technology Assessments and Applications
\nand the assistant to the coordinating minister of production and
\ndistribution.<\/p>\n
The decree stated that companies should submit their proposals
\nto import fishing boats before the proposals are considered
\nbetween Oct. 17 and Dec. 17, 1996. In future years, selection of
\nsuitable companies will be made annually. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-decree-for-fishing-boat-imports-1447893297",
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