Books and paper price

Books and paper price

From Media Indonesia

Indonesia's economic malaise will eventually affect the
education sector.

A weak currency has resulted in the price of paper soaring to
beyond reasonable limits. A number of newspapers and magazines,
such as Sinar and Aura have ceased publication. Book publishers
face similar difficulties and it is now difficult for media
proprietors to set affordable prices because of an increase in
their production costs. Many book publishers have gone bankrupt
and many more will follow suit.

Under normal circumstances, as we move toward the new school
year in March, books publishers would be very busy. This year
they are not. Scarcity and the high cost of available books will
in turn discourage students from buying books and this will
hinder their education, especially for children from low income
groups.

The government should intervene and abolish monopolistic and
oligopolistic practices in the paper business in Indonesia. It
should also abolish taxes imposed on paper and books and lower
the reference price of paper in the market.

In their turn, paper producers must also lower their prices
and loyalty to national interests by ensuring sufficient
availability of paper supplies.

Ikapi (the Indonesian Association of Publishers) and SPS (the
Association of Newspapers Publishers) should also take an active
role in seeking a lower price for paper, as should the community
at large.

HANRI BASFI

Jakarta