Quake worries RI importers
Quake worries RI importers
JAKARTA (JP): A number of Indonesian importers are anxious because the recent earthquake in Kobe of Japan have caused delays in the processing of inspection reports which are required for port clearance.
"Yes, there has been some anxiety but it is nobody's fault and I expect everything will be resolved soon," Amiruddin Saud, chairman of the Indonesian Importers Association, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
Amiruddin also confirmed that "thousands of importers" have been frequenting the office of PT Surveyor Indonesia, a state- owned surveyor company authorized to inspect imported goods, after the catastrophe last month.
PT Surveyor Indonesia cooperates with Societe Generale de Surveillance of Switzerland in inspecting Indonesian imports at points of loading.
The surveyor's office in Kobe, a major port city in Japan, was destroyed by the massive earthquake which caused delays in the processing of import documents required by importers for port clearance in Indonesia.
Around thirty importers who were present at PT Surveyor Indonesia's office yesterday told the Post that they were concerned because they might be charged penalties if they failed to clear their goods from the Tanjung Priok port on time.
"I'm concerned that my clients will make me pay the fines for being overdue. I'm also worried that all production schedules will fall behind since many of the imports are raw materials," said Lenny Suryadinata of San-Mic Trading Co.
PT Surveyor Indonesia executives declined to comment yesterday.
Amiruddin, who said that there had not been any reports from importers on financial losses caused by the delays, noted that the Indonesian Importers Association is in the middle of negotiations with Japanese shipping companies which carried the Indonesian imports from Kobe.
"I'm sure the shippers will understand and will be prepared to waive all sanctions in the case of delays caused by the earthquake," he said.
He also said that he is confident that PT Surveyor Indonesia, which has recruited 20 additional staff members, will be able to process all the necessary import documents in about two weeks time. (hdj)