SGP opposes newsprint price hike

SGP opposes newsprint price hike

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Printing Press Firms (SGP) is
opposed to a government plan to increase costs of newsprint, ink
and electricity on the grounds the policy will make printed
materials even more expensive.

The association appealed to the government to provide
assistance, through subsidies, to keep the prices at a reasonable
level.

The objection was among decisions the organization took in its
two-day, fifth national congress which ended here on Sunday.

The government plans to increase electricity billing rates by
an average of 7.6 percent as of next month, a policy which has
met widespread criticism.

SGP officials said the price hikes would automatically raise
printing costs, especially for newspapers and books. These are
vital in the support of Indonesia's campaign to improve its human
resources.

The congress, which re-elected Budi Santosa and Bernard
Soedarmara as SGP chairman and secretary general respectively,
reaffirmed SGP's policy focusing on development of human
resources in the field of graphics.

Closing the congress, the ministry of information's Director
General for Press and Graphics, Subrata, said media-printing
companies were required by laws to become members of SGP.

According to statistics at the ministry, of Indonesia's 6,390
printing companies, 116 are press printing.

Subrata's warning was a response to a request from the
congress which insisted on the government's involvement to ensure
that all printing companies join the association. (pwn)