Shipping deregulation

Shipping deregulation

JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to deregulate the shipping
industry to improve local shipping firm's competitiveness against
foreign competitors, Minister of Transportation Haryanto
Dhanutirto said yesterday.

"We have already discussed the planned deregulation under the
supervision of the Coordinating Minister for Production and
Distribution, Hartarto," he said.

He said the transportation of Indonesia's exports and imports
was 97 percent dominated by foreign shipping firms, which also
controlled 44 percent of the domestic shipping market.

"All of these things must become our attention," Haryanto
said, refusing to give details of the planned deregulation.

The Indonesian Ship Owners' Association said local shipping
firms had to pay several taxes which gave foreign firms, which do
not have to pay the taxes, an advantage. (rid)