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.