"We are working with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, the high prosecutor's office, and the police to destroy illegal products," Hasan stated.
The minister stressed that the illegally imported products have flooded the domestic market and hit Indonesia's industry and economy.
"Therefore, we must take quick and decisive steps amid the current tough world competition," he noted.
The illegal products destroyed at the event were processed animal products, forestry items, ceramics, footwear, electronics, cosmetics, food and beverages, children's toys, certain textile products, certain other textiles, apparel and its accessories, as well as water measuring instruments.
Hasan emphasized that Indonesian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) had huge capabilities.
However, the illegally imported products that flooded the market would be detrimental to the MSMEs.
"We are consistently cracking down on this and destroying (the illegal products). This could become shock therapy. This is an important task to protect Indonesia's economy," he remarked.
He applauded the cooperation of various parties in the fight against illegal products to protect the Indonesian economy.
"We are grateful for the cooperation of all parties. We continue to consistently fight against used and illegal goods in the country. If we fight this, then our economy will grow, MSMEs will develop, and we can flood other countries with our products of better quality," he affirmed.
The destruction of illegally imported products is a follow-up to post-border inspection and supervision during 2023 in the work area of the Surabaya Commercial Supervisory Center (BPTN).
The inspection and supervision were conducted based on Trade Ministerial Regulation Number 51 of 2020 on the Examination and Supervision of Import Trading System after passing the Customs Area, or Post-Border.
During the January-June 2023 period, BPTN Surabaya had supervised 98 companies and 186 Goods Import Declaration Documents (PIB).
Through this supervision, 33 violations were found, with details of 13 subject to warning sanctions, 19 subject to warning sanctions and destruction of goods, and one subject to customs access blocking sanctions.
Member of the Indonesian Parliament Zainudin Maliki, Head of the Regional Office of the East Java Directorate General of Customs and Excise I Untung Basuki, and Head of the East Java Industry and Trade Service Iwan were also present at this event.
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Translator: Indra Setiawan, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
