The Trade Ministry is getting tough on importers that fail to provide sufficient documentation as such failures have made logistics dwelling time longer and created high business costs in the country which is struggling to revive its economy. The ministry is now monitoring a particular group of importers whose dwelling time at ports is longer than others.

The letter refers to an article titled “President to ban purchase of foreign boats, (The Jakarta Post, June 21). Perhaps, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is unaware of Indonesia’s 2008 law on cabotage and its impact on the country. These principles were implemented when the domestic shipping industry in Indonesia almost collapsed as a result of foreign vessels engaging in coastal transportation. The government implemented restrictions with the introduction of the Maritime Law No.