City gets new export processing bonded zone

City gets new export processing bonded zone

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Investment and State
Enterprises Development Laksamana Sukardi inaugurated on
Wednesday the city's third bonded zone in Marunda subdistrict,
North Jakarta.

At the inauguration, Laksamana said that he expected that the
410-hectare bonded zone would absorb at least 80,000 skilled
unemployed city residents.

"The important thing for the new bonded zone is that it can
absorb our labor force," he said.

The minister said his office would provide incentives for
foreign firms investing in the export processing zone, such as
smooth and easy document processing and tax breaks.

He called on his subordinates and other officers in the
export-import bureaucracy to support the foreign investors and
avoid treating investment and export-import documents as a
"commodity". He did not elaborate on the subject.

The construction of the Marunda bonded zone started early this
years with a total investment of Rp 500 billion (US$71 million).
The zone will be managed by state bonded zone operator PT Kawasan
Berikat Nusantara (KBN), which also operates the city's two other
bonded zones in Cakung and Tanjung Priok subdistricts, both in
North Jakarta.

KBN president Marsono Siswohardjono shared Laksamana's opinion
that the Marunda industrial zone would employ 80,000 workers when
it was completed in 2003.

He said the zone offered a one-stop service for export-import
documents processing, a medical and sport center, banks and a 24-
hour security protection system.

Marsono said the investors, especially the foreign companies,
should build export-oriented factories in the bonded zone.

"Two foreign investors from Hong Kong and Taiwan are committed
to investing here," he said without mentioning the names of the
two investors.

Meanwhile, North Jakarta Mayor Subagyo said he expected the
zone would absorb most of North Jakarta's 140,000 unemployed
people.

"Don't be reluctant to invest here. We'll support the security
system in the bonded zone," Subagyo said. (jun)