We are not aiming to tighten (the imports). The seven commodities will still be permitted to enter Indonesia, but they will have to pass through ports found in the east.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The planned transfer of import entry points for seven commodities to Indonesia's eastern regions is expected to raise the competitiveness of domestic industries, according to Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita.

He told reporters at the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, on Monday, that the plan would affect the inflow of textiles and textile products, ceramics, footwear, apparel, cosmetics, electronics, and other apparel.

Kartasasmita noted that the government has been meaning to relocate the import entry gates for those commodities from ports on Java Island to those in eastern regions — either Sorong in West Papua province, Bitung in North Sulawesi, or Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara.

"We are not aiming to tighten (the imports). The seven commodities will still be permitted to enter Indonesia, but they will have to pass through ports found in the east," he clarified.

The minister then expressed the hope that Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan will continue to back the relocation discourse and convey the idea to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"God willing, we will meet with Mr. President the day after tomorrow," he informed.

Earlier, on July 19, 2024, Minister Hasan proposed moving the main import entry gates for the seven commodities to ports outside Java Island in response to the commodities glutting domestic markets.

It is hoped that by shifting the main entry gates of the seven goods to ports outside Java, the government will be able to increase the costs of logistics, ultimately pushing up the selling prices of those commodities, he explained.

Of late, the Indonesian government has been paying closer attention to the inflow of the seven commodities, suspecting that their overcrowding in domestic markets has been hurting businesses, thereby resulting in the shuttering of textile businesses and waves of layoffs in the industry.

Taking note of this, President Widodo held a limited meeting with several ministers in Jakarta on June 25.

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Translator: Ahmad M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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