Set lower paper prices for textbooks: Tunky<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry Tunky Ariwibowo called on
\nlocal pulp and paper producers Tuesday to set lower prices for
\npaper used for the production of textbooks.<\/p>\n
\"In a time like now, when international prices of pulp and
\npaper are very high, we ask them to share the windfall profits
\nwith the people, especially students,\" Tunky said after reporting
\nto President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Tunky explained that international prices for pulp currently
\nreached highs of between US$800 and $900 per ton, sharply rising
\nfrom a range of between $260 and $300 per ton two years ago.<\/p>\n
Domestic prices of newsprint surged from Rp 1,320 per kilogram
\nin the January-March period to Rp 1,600 last April and went up
\nagain to Rp 1,700 a kilogram this month. The prices of HVS paper,
\nalso rose to a range of between Rp 2,600 and Rp 2,800 a kilogram.<\/p>\n
He said that domestic prices of newsprint and HVS paper are
\nstill lower than international prices. The current price of
\nimported newsprint is US$880 per ton or Rp 1,960 per kilogram,
\nwhile the price of imported HVS paper is Rp 2,870 a kilogram.<\/p>\n
A number of parties, especially educators and intellectuals,
\nhave voiced their concern over the steep price increases of
\nnewsprint and other types of papers, saying that this could
\nthreaten the reading habits and ultimately the education of
\nIndonesian children.<\/p>\n
Tunky said he has summoned the Association of Indonesian Pulp
\nand Paper to discuss the matter. \"But we haven't yet reached an
\nagreement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He has also reported the problem to Soeharto and was advised
\nto do his best to help the students.<\/p>\n
Tunky indicated, however, that he will not take drastic
\nmeasures to compel paper factories to bow to the government's
\nappeal, saying that this would be counterproductive in terms of
\nthe country's investment policy image.<\/p>\n
\"Don't forget that we have to attract more private investment,
\nand that's why we have to keep our policy consistent,\" Tunky
\ncontended.<\/p>\n
Currently there are 62 pulp and paper producers operating in
\nIndonesia with a total installed capacity of 2.9 million tons for
\npulp and 3.8 million tons for paper.<\/p>\n
Tunky acknowledged that the production of pulp and paper is
\nstill dominated by private-sector companies, mainly Sinar Mas
\nGroup, Raja Garuda Mas and Aspex Paper.<\/p>\n
\"Currently we have only the state-owned PT Leces paper
\ncompany. But the government will strengthen control over the
\npaper industry through a regulation which will be introduced
\nsoon. And, of course, the continuity of the industry in the long
\nrun will be considered,\" Tunky said.<\/p>\n
He projected that the country's total demand for paper of all
\ntypes will reach 2.26 million tons this year. Of the projected
\ndemand, newsprint demand might reach only 150,000 tons, or seven
\npercent of the total demand.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's newsprint is supplied by Aspex, which has a
\nmonthly production capacity of 16,000 metric tons, and Leces with
\na capacity of 3,000 tons. Aspex exports part of its products,
\nwhile Leces has recently reduced its newsprint capacity in favor
\nof higher quality paper. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/set-lower-paper-prices-for-textbooks-tunky-1447893297",
"image": ""
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