The President was accompanied by Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, Deputy Finance Minister Mardiasmo, Chief of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Franky Sibarani, the Chairman of the Indonesian Textile Industry Association (API), Benny Soetrisno and Director General of Customs and Excise, Haru Pambudi.
The President appreciated the customs officials for confiscating the illegally brought textile at the bonded zone area since smuggling and circulation of illegal textile products would harm the performance of the national textile industry.
"I am happy with it (the action) because it means that my instructions were followed today," said the President. He had earlier issued directives to officials to stop the illegal import of goods and continue encouraging the development of domestic industry.
The Head of the State asked law enforcers, including police and the attorney general, to provide support to the directorate general of customs and excise so that efforts to smuggle goods are not repeated in the future.
"I have ordered the Police chief and the Attorney General to fully back the customs and excise office, so that goods of this kind (illegal textile) are not smuggled into the country. These illegal imports damage the national industry and our domestic market," he said.
The confiscated containers came from the PT KYH bonded zone in Purwakarta, West Java. The illegal textile containers will be transported to another place and opened outside the bonded area so that import duty and import taxes do not have to be paid for the illegal goods.
The illegal textile products are worth US$1,028,000 with the potential loss to the state amounting to Rp2.21 billion.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
