In my opinion, the government must map the right distribution channels so that the sea route is not in vain. Do not let this be just a jargon so that it is not economically effective
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairperson for the Maritime and Fisheries of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Yugi Prayanto, called on the government to evaluate the sea toll policy which is currently not considered economically effective.

In addition, using the sea toll route as a distribution channel was proving to be ineffective, Yugi said, adding that there are still areas that have not been reached through the high seas.

"In my opinion, the government must map the right distribution channels so that the sea route is not in vain. Do not let this be just a jargon so that it is not economically effective," Yugi said here Wednesday.

The sea freight transport program proved ineffective because ships were often found returning empty to Jakarta, he also said.

"It must be mapped that the industry or supply needs are already in the data to see whether or not cargoes which are carried by ships are effective for areas passed by the ships, and whether every area that they pass through also deposits goods," he said.

In addition, the government also needs to consider other patterns for the effectiveness of the implementation of the sea toll policy, he said.

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"The other pattern we talked about with shipping friends was that they did not want large ships. They want medium vessels because at every point they dropped items. There are those who started to use them like steamer ships," he said.

As previously reported, the Ministry of Transportation continued to evaluate the implementation of sea tolls from January to June of 2019 in order to improve the quality of sea toll services which is the priority program of President Joko Widodo.

A lot of attention has been paid to the needs of the community on sea transportation services due to which the government issued a number of policies and subsidies to optimize the implementation of sea transportation on the frontier, outermost and least developed regions, and remote areas, the Ministry of Transportation said. (INE)

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Translator: Yogi Rachman/Bambang Purwanto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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