Indonesia should stop monopoly: Hartarto

Indonesia should stop monopoly: Hartarto

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia should start dismantling monopolistic
and oligopolistic practices to make its economy healthier,
Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto said
yesterday.

Speaking before more than 200 economic students in Yogyakarta
yesterday, Hartarto said that protection, monopoly and oligopoly
contradict the principles of fair competition.

"Continuing practices of protection, monopoly and oligopoly
will only hamper the development of related businesses whenever
they enter competition," Hartarto said in his speech on Indonesia
facing free trade in 2020.

He said any industry which is developed by monopolistic and
oligopolistic practices will result in unhealthy practices, which
in turn will hamper the creation of supporting and related
industries.

"That's why, from now on, we have to find ways to dismantle
protection, monopoly and oligopoly which still exist in our
economy," Hartarto said.

He noted that the deregulation package which was announced on
May 23 is aimed at improving the efficiency of Indonesia's
industrial structure.

With the deregulation package, which cuts tariffs on 6,030
items, Indonesia's import tariffs on most items are expected to
reach a level of zero to five percent by 2003, when the ASEAN
free trade area is introduced, he said. (rid)