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)