TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Thomas Darmawan, Head of the Indonesian Food and Beverages Entrepreneurs Association, has said he considers that with the milk price increase, now is the right time to open import cooperation with other milk producing countries, in addition to old partners New Zealand and Australia. “This kind of matter (the milk price increase) should’ve been made into red light for the government,” he told Tempo, Saturday (30/6).

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Head of the Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM) Husniah Runiana Thamrin Akib is of the opinion that harmonization of cosmetics at the level of Southeast Asian countries tends to cause a loss for Indonesia. This is because Indonesia’s cosmetics are not yet ready to compete internationally. “Cosmetics in Indonesia are mostly involved with small industries.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Change in Government Regulation (Perpu) No.1/2007, the basis of making Batam a free trade zone (FTZ), is regarded as causing the state to suffer a loss. The reason is, by this regulation, all goods that enter this zone will be free from duty, value-added-tax (VAT), luxurious goods sales tax and excise. An economist of the University of Indonesia, Faisal Basri, said that the regulation caused the government to lose the potential of immense tax revenues from Batam.

oh those honest Bakrie boys know how to make a deal. It would be nice to see this lot get what they deserve wouldn't it!