Indonesia, S'pore sign agreement on telecommunications
Indonesia, S'pore sign agreement on telecommunications
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia and Singapore signed on Wednesday a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) on telecommunications equipment conformity
testing, becoming the first Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) members with such a bilateral agreement.
Singapore's Director General of Infocomm Development Authority
Leong Keng Thai and Indonesia's Director General of Post and
Telecommunications Djamhari Sirat signed the agreement in
Jakarta, according to an Infocomm press release.
Telecommunications equipment must be tested against the
standards of the importing country before they can be approved
for sale and distribution. Testing is usually undertaken by an
accredited laboratory based in the receiving country.
Under the MoU, equipment testing can be conducted at any
laboratory based anywhere in the world, as long as it is
recognized by the importing country.
The MoU will enhance Indonesia's telecommunications equipment
imports and exports, as tests by accredited laboratories will
help avoid duplicate testing.
It will also offer faster market entry to telecommunications
businesses at reduced costs, saving up to 45 days' delivery time
and up to S$700 (US$416.60) per model.
In 2003, telecommunications equipment trade with Indonesia
respectively accounted for 8.3 percent and 10.1 percent of
Singapore's total imports and exports.
The MoU will also facilitate telecommunications trade through
the reduction of non-tariff trade barriers. It will entail more
frequent exchanges and updates on the two countries'
telecommunication regulatory requirements which, in turn, will
enhance market access opportunities for telecommunications
equipment for both countries.
The MoU was initially raised at the last ASEAN ministerial
meeting on telecommunications and information technology (TELMIN)
in September 2003 in Singapore.
The ASEAN TELMIN is an annual forum that seeks to strengthen
ties, promote rapport and establish concrete channels of
communication and cooperation among ASEAN members.