Surveyor's future hangs in the balance

JAKARTA (JP): The government has not yet decided what state- owned PT Surveyor Indonesia will do after its contract to inspect imports at points of loading ends in March, Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo said yesterday.

"I and Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad have discussed the status of Surveyor Indonesia and PT Sucofindo with the new customs law becoming effective on April 1, but we have not yet reached a decision," Tunky told reporters.

Surveyor Indonesia, under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance, and Sucofindo, under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and trade, are surveying companies which are majority owned by the government.

The new customs law will restore the Directorate General of Customs and Excise's authority to inspect imports and exports.

But, while it has extended Sucofindo's contract to inspect Indonesian exports at points of loading for another three years, the government has not decided whether preshipment inspections of imports, introduced in mid-1985, will be retained or eliminated under the new customs law.

"But the finance minister has told me that the status of Surveyor Indonesia will certainly change after the enforcement of the new customs law," Tunky added.

Effective

The Indonesian Importers Association and four other business associations have repeatedly requested that the preshipment inspection system continue because it has effectively cut red tape and rooted out corruption in the clearing of imports from customs.

The chairman of the importers association, Amirudin, said recently: "We don't mind which company will conduct the preshipment inspection service, but this system has proven its great contribution to facilitating fast flows of imports and slashing port-handling costs."

Tunky said that he and Mar'ie had discussed the future of the two companies because they both essentially offered surveying and inspection services.

"We have not yet reached a decision but, for sure, we will decide on the best course for both companies," Tunky said.

Sucofindo president Moedjiono last week hinted that the government planned to merge the two companies but cautioned that this might cost Sucofindo greatly. (vin)