Exim handles forestry funds

JAKARTA (JP): The ministry of forestry and plantations has appointed state Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia (Bank Exim) to handle the payments of the reforestation funds, the ministry's secretary general Oetomo said on Thursday.

Oetomo said that Bank Exim was chosen because it provided the best on-line banking system among the country's banks.

"The on-line system allow us to control the payments of the reforestation funds by the minute," he said.

Oetomo said that the ministry currently used Exim together with two other state banks, Bank Dagang Negara and Bank Bumi Daya to handle the payments.

"If the system works well, our accounts in BDN and BBD will function only as outflow accounts. Timber companies have to pay their reforestation funds through Bank Exim," he added.

The ministry expects to collect Rp 1.13 trillion in reforestation funds this fiscal year. (gis)