Official says limit imports

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Industry and Trade's director general for domestic trade, Djoko Moeljono, warned local companies yesterday about growing imports.

Djoko said continually increasing import levels would hurt the country's economy if nothing was done to solve the problem.

"Caution is needed to halt import growth as the large portion of imports now consist of consumer products such as fruit, vegetables and meat," he told an export management seminar in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

He said the country had had international trade surpluses in recent years but that import growth must be limited to halt the country's growing current account deficit.

Djoko said imports rose to US$28.3 billion in 1993 from $27.2 billion in 1992. Imports continued to rise to $31.9 billion in 1994 and to $37.7 billion in 1995.

From January to July this year, the country imported $24.8 billion worth of goods.

The country's exports were worth $33.9 billion in 1992, $36.98 billion in 1993, $40.05 billion in 1994 and $45.4 billion in 1995. From January to July this year, the country exported $27.5 billion worth of goods. (01)