The government has scrapped import duties for some raw materials and machinery, but it also hiked tariffs for imported consumer goods in a bid to boost the competitiveness of local industries against imported goods. In a decree released on Tuesday, the Finance Ministry eliminated import duties on 182 types of raw materials and capital goods needed by the chemical manufacturing, food manufacturing, machinery, electronics and shipping sectors. The previous duties were 5 percent.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao started a four-day tour of Southeast Asia on Wednesday during which agreements to spur investment and tap the region’s natural resources are expected to be sealed. Wen will witness as many as eight deals on the first leg of his trip in Malaysia, spanning the economy, infrastructure and education, Foreign Ministry official Hu Zhengyue said. Agreements on plantations, coal and banking will be signed in Indonesia, Hu said.

China Investment Corp plans to offer $4 billion of loans for Indonesian infrastructure, part of a package of deals Indonesia is hoping for during a visit this week by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Indonesian officials said on Thursday. The plans by the $300 billion wealth fund are likely to be announced during a two-day visit to Indonesia by Wen, due to arrive in Jakarta later on Thursday in an effort to boost bilateral trade and gain access to the archipelago's resources.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Forestry Ministry has received many complaints from forest-related business people about the long time it takes to issue licenses. Forestry Minister, Zulkifli Hasan, said the complaints have come from palm oil and mining business people. “There are many overlapping regulations between the central and the regional governments,” said Zulkifli in Jakarta yesterday.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Finance Minister has issued new regulations on the elimination of 182 tariffs for raw and capital goods “This is part of the downstream industry development program,” said Bambang Brodjonegoro, Fiscal Policy chief at the Finance Ministry, yesterday. The regulation is mentioned in Finance Minister’s Regulation No.80/2011 on Goods Classification System and Custom Duty Tariff on Imported Goods.

Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Vice Industry Minister Alex SW Retraubun has renewed his call for a halt to the export of raw materials as one of the breakthroughs to develop economic corridors on the country`s five major islands. "It has been agreed when this concept is adopted we will not speak of exporting raw materials any longer. Stop exporting raw materials from now on.

"Not only will they be invited to engage in the preparation of raw materials and commodities but also in the processing of materials such as in metal smelting." Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will invite China to participate in development of its national economic corridor program when Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visits the country on April 28-30, a minister said.