RI to ease timber imports

RI to ease timber imports

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is considering to remove the 10
percent import duties on timber, while simultaneously raising
export taxes on the commodity, in order to help the local wood-
processing industry cope with the shortage of raw materials.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli said that he
had asked the minister of finance to research the possibility of
introducing such tax measures.

"I have asked the finance minister to study this possibility,"
Rizal told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of economic
ministers.

In a bid to increase the country's timber production, the
government would also ask forestry companies, under the control
of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), to improve
the management of their forest concessions, Rizal said.