Surveyor's future hangs in the balance

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)