Indonesia reopens to Dutch onions

Fruitnet.com, Tom Bicknell, 27 April 2011

A new treatment programme has reopened the Indonesian market to Dutch onions after a two-year hiatus

Indonesia has reopened to Dutch onions after two years, following work by Dutch exporters on treatment for stem nematode.

After closing in 2009 as part of an Indonesian zero tolerance policy, the market was reopened as of 18 April, according to Dutch group the Foundation for Promotion of Onions (SAU).

The organisation coordinated with the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation to develop a treatment programme for the Ditylenchus dipsaci stem nematode that fit Indonesian requirements.

The programme involves treatment with maleic hydrazide (MH).

Indonesia demands high-quality onions and is willing to pay corresponding prices, the SAU said in a statement, and the market’s peak demand reportedly runs over the first few months of the Dutch season.

Indonesia potential market for halal meat

Antara News, Sunday, July 25, 2010 02:02 WIB | National

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - As the biggest Muslim country in the world , Indonesia is a potential market for `halal` meat from other countries because domestic meat production is not yet able to meet the national needs, an importer said.

"Indonesia is a potential market for halal (edible under Islamic law) meat exporting countries because domestic meat production falls far short of national needs," Executive Director of the Indonesian Meat Importers Association (ASPIDI) Thomas Sembiring said during a dialog on halal products here on Saturday.

He was a speaker at the dialog which was held in connection with the International Halal Business and Food (IHBF) Expo 2010 at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Thomas said that several countries had obtained accreditation from the Indonesian Ulema Concil (MUI) for halal meat export to Indonesia. Countries which had obtained MUI accreditation were Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Brazil and Ireland.

The Indonesian government saw three aspects to provide accreditation for a country with regard to its `halal` meat exports, namely animal diseases, food security system and the halal say of slaughtering the animals.

Not all abattoirs of exporting countries could export their meat to Indonesia. The number of slaughter houses with accreditation was only 25 in New Zealand, five in Brazil, two in Ireland and 56 in Australia.

All exporting countries are also required to enclose two certificates of health and halal ones, he said.

He said that about 100 thousand tons of meat were exported to Indonesia in 2009, which was an increase if compared with that in the previous year which stood at 90,000 tons.

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Duty-free facilities for telecommunication industry

Antara News, Tuesday, March 16, 2010 03:28 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government is providing duty-free facilities for the importation of goods and materials to produce telecommunication appliances this year.

The government-borne import duty facility was provided for in Finance Minister`s Regulation No. 54/PMK.011/2010 effective February 24 to December 31, 2010, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said in a press statement on Monday.

To improve the competitive edge of the domestic telecommunication industry the government had set the budget ceiling of Rp 38,771,000,000 to bear the import duties, she said.

She said to obtain the facilities, telecommunication companies should file applications to the director general of customs and excise, along with the import plans approved by the director general of transportation and telematic instrument industries.

Single window system in place at five entries

Antara News, Saturday, January 30, 2010 05:47 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Four seaports and one airport in Indonesia, namely the seaports of Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Emas , Tanjung Perak , Belawan and Soekarno-Hatta airport, are using an electronic-based National Single Window (NSW) system to serve import activities, an official said.

Chairwoman of the National Preparatory Team in charge of developing an electronic-based national single window (NSW) system, Sri Mulnyani Indrawati, said here on Friday the use of the system was expected to smooth the flow of exports and imports as well as trade services.

Mulyani who is also finance minister made the remarks on the occasion of the commissioning by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the system at a pier of PT Jakarta International Container Terminal at Tanjung Priok port here.

"The inauguration marks the application of the NSW mandatory import system for all importers` goods coming in the country through the seaports of Tanjung Periok, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Emas, Belawan and Soekarno-Hatta airport," she said.

She said that the team she chaired was set up in 2006 and was in charge of developing an NSW system in Indonesia as part of the ASEAN single window, which is an electronic-based system for customs documents processing.

"The team has been successful in developing a blue print, a trial at the end of December 2006. It was developed with two pillars, namely trade system and port system, not only for ASEAN but also for all countries," she said.

Sri Mulyani explained that since 2006 and up to 2009, the team had conducted a series of trial-tests and limited implementation of the system which was inaugurated by the president on Friday.

"Beginning today, the application of the NSW system is equipped with an official website which can be accessed through cellular phones. In the days ahead, we hope that it can be operated at all international ports and airports," she said.

The national single window export and import service is an integrated public service which provides application, exchange and processing of information electronically.

The system will provide services in the process and flow of all exported and imported goods in an effort to increase the competitiveness of the national economy.

The system makes it possible for data and information to be submitted at once, synchronizes data and information processing and integrates the flow of business processes involving customs, licensing, export-import, port, payment, shipping and logistical systems as well as other systems connected with export-import handling.

Mulyani said that up to 2014 the system would be expanded to include a method that would enable officers not to check all export and import goods but only those suspected of being in violation of existing rules.

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Fingers are crossed for a spirited New Year

Prodita Sabarini, THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA | Sun, 12/27/2009 2:05 PM

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) is optimistic booze will be flowing on New Year's Eve as shipments of alcoholic beverages are scheduled to be delivered to the Jakarta port this week, the association chairman said.

PHRI Jakarta chairman Khrisnadi said this week that hoteliers and restaurateurs were counting on the country's sole importer of wine and spirits, PT Sarinah, to deliver the alcohol soon.

He said they were experiencing shortages of wine and spirits and needed fresh supplies to meet increased end of year demand.

Earlier this month, custom officials detained 34 containers of wine and spirits in Tanjung Priok Port because Sarinah officials under-reported the value of the shipment.

The Finance Ministry's custom and excise office said Sarinah had to pay a fine equal to 1,000 percent of the total value of the goods.

"It was agreed that Sarinah would deliver the alcohol *after paying the fine*," Khrisnadi said.

PT Sarinah director Jimmy Gani said they were working to deliver the alcohol. "Some of the shipment is still being detained in the warehouse because of technicalities. We have to pay the fines and have not yet done so fully," he said.

He said the cost of the fine would not be passed on to consumers. "Most consumers are foreign tourists who will complain if the price goes up," he said.

Alcohol is heavily taxed at around 500 percent.

Khrisnadi said it would be disgraceful for Indonesia if the alcohol failed to be delivered.

"The alcohol shortage would not affect expatriates who have lived here for a while. We have had shortages previously so they understand the situation," Khrisnadi said. "But it will be a problem for foreign tourists who are here on vacation and want to celebrate New Year's Eve and find there's no alcohol."

Jimmy said Sarinah had imported 270,000 crates of alcohol this year, around "70 percent of our quota".

In 2008, PT Sarinah, reported only Rp 62 billion (US$5.8 million) in collected tax revenue from its alcoholic imports. The government has reported recently that up to 60 percent of alcohol consumption in Indonesia is supplied by the black market, causing annual losses about Rp 1.5 trillion in alcohol tax revenue.

The Customs and Excise Office has urged the Trade Ministry to allow more companies to import alcoholic beverages, instead of just Sarinah, to help curb smuggling.

Ports ready to operate 24/7 by January 2010: Officials

Aditya Suharmoko, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 12/16/2009 9:28 AM

A load off my mind: Loading and unloading activities at Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta. State port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) II plans to develop Tanjung Priok port into an international hub port with docks 18 meters deep, starting next year. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

The government plans to start running Indonesia’s ports around-the-clock by early January to speed up customs clearance and reduce logistics costs, officials said Tuesday.

“All ports will operate 24 hours, starting from Tanjung Priok Port [in Jakarta],” said Edy Putra Irawadi, deputy in charge of industry and trade to the coordinating economic minister, and chairman of the preparation team for the National Single Window (NSW).

The NSW is an integrated public service system to give importers and exporters simpler access to services.

Launched in December 2007, the NSW is designed to shorten the time needed to verify the identity of importers to a maximum of seven-and-a-half hours, or one working day.

Importers previously had to wait several days for customs clearance.

The NSW has now been implemented at Tanjung Priok Port, Tanjung Perak Port in East Java, Tanjung Emas Port in West Java, Belawan Port in North Sumatra and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten.

Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Radjasa said last week the fifth phase of the NSW would be launched in January 2010 to ensure the management of all imports and exports was integrated in one portal.

Anwar Suprijadi, the Finance Ministry’s director general of customs and excise, said his office was ready to work around-the-clock to support the ports’ new operating hours.

“The ministry regulation [on the operating hours] is up to the finance minister,” he said after a seminar with the Priority Businesses Association (APJP), which has 71 members prioritized to run export-import businesses.

Businesses have often complained that inefficient public services at ports push business costs up.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said in her speech Tuesday that importers and exporters should help the government protect the ports by reporting any misconduct.

Economist Aviliani said the NSW would create greater efficiency cut costs and improve investment competitiveness.

“These conditions are expected to attract investors to Indonesia,” she said.

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Indonesia Lifts Import Duty on Materials for Key Industries

The Jakarta Globe, Dion Bisara & Irvan Tisnabudi

Tourism is among the seven key service industries set to benefit from the lifting of import duties. (Photo: Adek Berry, AFP)

In a bid to boost investment and increase global competitiveness, the government on Wednesday scrapped the 5 percent import duty normally imposed on machinery and raw materials for seven vital service industries.

The Ministry of Finance said the regulation would take effect on Dec. 16 and would remain valid for two years before being re-evaluated.

The regulation covers transportation, telecommunications, public health, tourism and culture, as well as supporting services for mining, construction and ports and harbors.

Anggito Abimanyu, the Finance Ministry’s head of fiscal policy, said a similar tax break had been given to the manufacturing industry as part of the government’s Rp 73.3 trillion ($7.9 billion) fiscal stimulus package this year.

It was intended to help domestic companies compete in the global market and to attract investment.

“We decided to scrap the import duties for manufacturing industries to encourage domestic industries to open new plants or businesses,” Anggito said.

Jeffrey Mulyono, the head of the coal and geothermal commission at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), said he welcomed the move.

“The existence of these [seven service industries] should be supported and [they should] have their taxes lowered to the lowest level possible, which will be beneficial for the local producers as well,” Jeffrey said.

“The Finance Ministry has finally fulfilled the wishes of local businesses by doing this,” Jeffrey added.

However, Erwin Aksa, the chairman of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi), said the removal of the import duty would not greatly benefit domestic industries until the government was able to provide sufficient basic infrastructure, especially power.

“As good as it is, the incentive will not immediately increase investment because what we really need now is electricity to be available and reliable,” Erwin said, referring to the power outages which have plagued the Great Jakarta area over the past two months.

Companies wishing to take advantage of the reduced import duty must contact the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

Major Indonesian Seaports Now Open Around the Clock

The Jakarta Globe, Putri Prameshwari

Jakarta's Tanjung Priok and three other ports around the country will now operate 24 hours a day. (Photo: Antara)

Four major domestic seaports will now be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week as part of a government plan to increase trade, Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said on Wednesday.

“This is to boost our export and import activities,” he said.

The four ports are Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta, Belawan in Medan, North Sumatra, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, East Java and Soekarno-Hatta in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The move comes after the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and other business organizations called for working hours to be extended at the country’s ports earlier this month.

Operations at the four ports would be open not only for ship docking but also for customs and immigration activities, Freddy said. “This way, if a cargo ship arrives at 2 a.m., it can immediately be served,” he said, adding that it could also avoid vessels from docking for too long as a result of delays.

Freddy said he hoped service would be improved if ports were open for 24 hours.

Sunaryo, director general of maritime transportation at the Transportation Ministry, said the infrastructure to open the seaports around the clock was adequate.

“All we have to do is coordinate with customs,” he said.

The hardest part would be to provide 24-hour manpower to load and unload vessels, Sunaryo said. “That should be synchronized with the Manpower Ministry,” he said.

On the other hand, Sunaryo said, the Transportation Ministry’s initiative could create more jobs, especially for people living near the ports.

The plan is currently in a test phase and would be officially implemented next January, Freddy said.

Richard J Lino, chairman of state-owned port operator PT Pelindo II, said it would take a long time to get all relevant agencies, including customs, immigration, and quarantine services, to coordinate their work activities at the seaports.

“They need time to adjust,” he said.

The government also wants to establish an international-standard port in Indonesia to function as hub port for the wider region.

PT Pelindo II has been pushing for Tanjung Priok to be that port. Lino said he hoped Tanjung Priok would be ready to operate as an international hub port by 2014.

Renovating the port, he said, would take five years and cost up to Rp 7 trillion ($749 million).

An archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia relies heavily on sea transportation. Millions of people and tons of cargo are delivered every day using big vessels and small ships.

Pelindo II manages ports across Indonesia, including in Banten, Palembang in South Sumatra as well as Teluk Bayur seaport in West Sumatra, and Sunda Kelapa port in North Jakarta.

HSBC Launches Yuan Trade Settlement Services In Indonesia

The Wall Street Journal

HSBC Holdings PLC (HBC) launched trade transaction services in Indonesia using the Chinese yuan, Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday, citing a senior HSBC official.

Vincent C. Sugianto, head of trade and supply chain HSBC Indonesia, said the service can only be conducted between Chinese firms authorized to make such transactions and their counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to the report.

He said HSBC will provide various yuan transaction services in Indonesia, including trade financing, currency exchange between the rupiah and yuan, and export/import financing.

HSBC now offers yuan trade settlement services in six Asean countries, according to the report. The others are Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Brunei, the report said.

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Pertamina to import LPG

Alfian, THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA | Wed, 03/11/2009 11:09 AM  

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina is seeking to import up to an additional one million metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) per year,  an official says. 

The extra supply is needed to anticipate higher demand for LPG as the company intensifies the government’s kerosene-to-LPG conversion program this year, Pertamina’s deputy director for marketing and trading Hanung Budya told reporters on Tuesday. 

“We expect to distribute 23 million conversion packages this year. If we can achieve this target,  LPG demand will increase to more than 3 million metric tons. Thus, we will need a new supplier to provide us with between 500,000 to one million metric tons of LPG a year,” Hanung said. 

The nationwide conversion program was kicked off in December 2006 with assistance from Pertamina to phase out the use of kerosene  by households so as to cut government spending on fuel subsidies.  

Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry  data shows that  19,505,812 conversion packages  have  been distributed to households, and 877,691 to small businesses, between January 2007 and February 2009,  leading to an additional demand for 625,666 metric tons of LPG and replacing 2,232,718 kiloliters of kerosene. 

According to Hanung, LPG demand is currently at about three million metric tons a year, 2.2 million metric tons of which are to be supplied from domestic producers. 

Pertamina will also import between 800,000 and one million metric tons  of LPG this year from the Bermuda-based Petredec Limited oil company.  Pertamina signed a 10-year import contract with Petredec late last year. 

Hanung said Pertamina also wants the same contract period with another supplier that will be selected by the end of this semester. 

“We will hold a ‘beauty contest’ in the second semester of this year. We have been in talks with several companies, including one company from Abu Dhabi,” Hanung said without giving details about the company. 

According to Hanung, Pertamina would prioritize the supply of  LPG from domestic producers before deciding to import more from abroad. 

The government only subsidizes and fixes the price of the 3-Kg LPG canister, sold at Rp 4,250 (35.46 US cents) per kilogram. 

Pertamina also sells the 12-kg LPG canister and the 50-kg LPG canister at Rp 5,750 and Rp 7,255 per kg, respectively. 

The two LPG canisters sizes are not subsidized and Pertamina is not fully independent in setting these last prices but follows the  fluctuations in international market prices.

RI, Pakistan agree to broaden PTA agreement

Hua Hin (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Pakistan have reached  agreement to increase the number of commodities to be covered in their Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here over the weekend. 

"Previously PTA talks between the two countries focused on a reduction of import duty on Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) exported to Pakistan and on Pakistan's 'kino' oranges exported to Indonesia," the trade minister said on the sidelines of the 14th ASEAN summit in the resort city of Hua Hin, some 200 km from Bangkok. 

The minister said that Indonesia agreed to cut its import duty on Pakistan's orange exports in return for its import duty cut on Indonesia's CPO exports. 

"But Pakistan also asked for an exchange of import duty cuts on other commodities besides on the CPO and oranges," the minister said. 

She said Indonesia would therefore also ask for the lowering of the import duty on its exports of other commodities such as paper while Pakistan would also propose other types of commodities. 

"Because we asked for additional types of commodities, they also asked the same thing," she said. 

The minister said that both sides were still negotiating tens of commodity tariff headings that still needed further agreements before the PTA was signed. 

"We hope that agreements on these would be reached sooner because Malaysia has been enjoying a preferential tariff on its CPO exports," she said. 

The PTA negations between Indonesia and Pakistan were expected to be completed last year but due to the change in the government leadership in that country, the talks could be resumed only last month. 

During the on-going talks on PTA, Pakistan has agreed to lower its import duty on Indonesia's CPO exports, including its by-products, by 10 percent. 

In return, Indonesia agreed to lower its import duty on Pakistan's 'kino' orange exports. 

The agreement is badly needed by Indonesian CPO exporters. Indonesia's CPO exports to Pakistan are relatively high, reaching US$400 million per annum.

Government sets Rp 90 trillion to promote local products

The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA | Fri, 02/27/2009 8:49 AM  

Businesses may see Rp 90 trillion (US$7.5 billion) in extra demand for domestic products this year, as the government intensifies efforts to bolster the local market amid rapidly declining global demand. 

The amount will come from state budget allocations for state ministries and institutions, Fauzi Aziz, the Industry Ministry's director general for small and medium industries, said Thursday.

After the issuance of a presidential instruction favoring local products, a set of implementing regulations will soon be introduced mandating state institutions and ministries to use locally made products to boost the domestic market, already being buoyed by recent import restrictions.

"The 2009 state budget for ministry and institutional spending is around Rp 300 trillion," Fauzi said.

"We're trying to ensure that around 30 percent of that is allocated to domestic product spending."

Under the planned regulation, every government institution must spend on domestically produced goods for operational procurements, such as uniforms and shoes.

Currently, there are around 2.5 million civil servants.

Against the backdrop of slowing overseas demand as the world tips into recession, the government has turned to the domestic market to sustain economic growth.

Since early this year, entry for imports of products such as shoes, textiles, electronics and food and beverages has been limited to certain designated ports to help protect local producers.

Associations representing the textile, shoe and electronics industries have confirmed that orders are now on the rise following the import restrictions, with shoe producers predicting full-year orders to increase by Rp 5 trillion.

Normally, annual sales of shoes reach Rp 25 trillion, including about Rp 10 trillion for locally made ones. 

The impact may be even greater once the planned government regulation on the use of local products comes into effect.

Industry Minister Fahmi Idris, appointed to lead the national team on Domestic Goods Usage Intensification (P3DN), has begun inviting officials from the relevant ministries and institutions to help formulate standards.

Fahmi has so far invited the state minister for administrative reform, the education minister, the National Police chief and the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief.

"We will hold more meetings with other institutions in the coming weeks to hear their input," Fahmi said after the meeting. 

The House of Representatives has approved a six-billion-dollar stimulus package to protect the country from the worst impacts of the global economic crisis, lawmakers said Wednesday.

The parliamentary budget committee has approved the plan worth Rp 73.3 trillion (US$6.15 billion).

“We approved the stimulus in accordance with the government’s efforts to overcome the effects of the global slump,” committee deputy chairman Suharso Monoarfa said.

“We hope that the stimulus can prevent rising unemployment, sustain consumer spending capability and strengthen businesses.”

The stimulus consists of Rp 56.3 trillion of tax incentives and Rp 17 trillion in additional government spending and subsidies. (hdt)

Indonesia and Australia go for comprehensive deal

Endy M. Bayuni, THE JAKARTA POST, SYDNEY | Fri, 02/20/2009 8:41 AM  

Australia wants a better investment climate and Indonesia wants assistance with its own production capacity. The two countries have now agreed that both items, along with trade liberalization, would go into the economic agreement that they are working on.

The trade ministers of the two countries concluded on Thursday another round of their meeting

to set up a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), which they said would be built into the FTA

that will be signed later this month between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia and New Zealand in Thailand. 

During their joint press conference, Minister Mari Pangestu of Indonesia underlined the importance of capacity building. 

She called it a key component of the future agreement to ensure that the benefits of a better investment climate would also accrue to the recipient country. 

She specifically mentioned Indonesia’s agriculture sector as one potential area where Australia could help in return for the opening up of the dairy and beef sectors to Australian investors. 

Her Australian counterpart Simon Crean underlined the importance of creating the right environment for Australian investors. 

“Investment is the new trade,” he said, pointing at the fact that investment could lead to better access to the global supply chain as well as to markets. 

Indonesia is Australia’s fourth largest trading partner in ASEAN, a rank that prompted Crean to describe a trade relationship that is “underdone” 

Two-way trade in 2007/8 reached A$10.3 billion, according to Australian official figures.

Australian investment in Indonesia was valued at A$3.4 billion at the end of 2007. 

Neither minister was willing to put a time frame on when the comprehensive economic agreement would be signed, in spite of the numerous meetings they have had in the past year. 

Crean however agreed that moving toward more free trade would be the best course to lift countries out of the current economic risis. “Protectionism only invites retaliatory action.” 

Addressing concerns at home about the possible negative impact on Indonesia’s own industry, Mari said the two countries have agreed to put the sensitive sectors as the last to be liberalized under the free trade agreement. 

Indonesia’s dairy and beef sector, she said, would only be liberalized between 2017 and 2020.

The meeting to discuss the bilateral free trade agreement also involved the business community from both sides. 

The trade meeting preceded the Australia-Indonesia Conference which was opened later on Thursday evening by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. 

A total of 120 people, 60 from each side, are taking part in the conference which winds up Saturday.

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Malaysia to provide electricity for Sumatra

The Jakarta Post,  Jakarta | Thu, 02/12/2009 2:16 PM  

Malaysian Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications is planning to export electricity power of up to 45 percent from the government's reserves margin to Sumatra in the near future. 

Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor said Wednesday the move was in view of the high demand for electricity in Indonesia and it would also help Malaysia to reduce its reserves margin which is still at a very high level. 

"The ministry has met with Indonesia's Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), to discuss the matter and there will be another meeting Thursday," he said as quoted by Malaysia's national news agency, Bernama. 

Shaziman said the ministry was planning to build an energy grid from Malaysia to Sumatra. He also said that there were no plans to build any more power generation plants in Peninsular Malaysia considering that the country's power reserves were still very high. (dre)

Pick me up

The Jakarta Post   |  Sat, 01/31/2009 10:02 AM  

  A container being picked up by newly installed double quay cranes operated by container port operator Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) at the Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta, on Friday. The new cranes, supplied by China’s Zhen Huan Port Machinery Company Ltd., will boost container handling capacity of JICT, which already has 18 cranes in place. JP/Ricky Yudhistira

RI to import meat from Brazil

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 01/05/2009 8:43 PM  

Indonesia plans to open the way for Brazilian meat imports in an effort to lower domestic meat prices, Agriculture Minister Anton Aprijantono said Monday in Jakarta. 

"We will expand our sources of supply, which now can be from anywhere, but the most important thing is the meat be safe to consume and halal [fit according to Islamic law]," Apriyantono said, as quoted by Antara news agency. 

He said the additional supply of meat from Brazil would be realized immediately depending on how ready importers were to start importing. 

"We will first inform the importers about the regulation but preparations should continue," he said. 

The minister said that besides increasing the supply, importing more meat would also allow for classification of meat into different grades and price categories. 

"At present, all types of meat are priced the same while they are actually classifiable into better cuts for middle-income consumers, for example, and regular for general consumers," he said. 

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the government would cut the price of meat following the drop in the global price of fuel oil. (dre)

Latest phase of NSW online service introduced to help traders

Aditya Suharmoko, The Jakarta Post | Wed, 12/24/2008 7:00 AM  

The government launched Tuesday the third phase of the National Single Window (NSW), an online service for importers and exporters that could help businesses cope with the global economic downturn.

This latest phase of the NSW, aimed at streamlining the flow of exports and imports and preventing smuggling, includes Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, Belawan Port in Medan and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang. They will join Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta and Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang.

All importers and customs brokers at Tanjung Priok and Tanjung Emas must comply with the NSW, under the latest implementation.

Prior to this, only 146 importers benefited from the NSW, selected based on their record in adhering to port regulations.

This figure “rises to 4,852 ‘active’ importers”, out of 18,737 registered importers at the five ports, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said. There are about 600 customs brokers.

“The ‘inactive’ importers may be illegal or hit-and-run importers,” she added.

Mulyani said with the NSW, business costs could go down because companies would deal exclusively with an NSW team, rather than pay illegal fees to port officials. 

“The NSW can reduce the cost of doing business, which will ease business spending. With a cut in business costs, businesses will have the capacity to keep their hired employees,” she said.

Gunawan Setiadi, treasurer of the Priority Lanes Companies Association (APJP), said he expected the NSW to benefit exporters too, with many businesses using imported goods for export.

Exporters can make use of the NSW too, but only temporarily, at Tanjung Priok, said Susiwijono, the technical head of the NSW preparation team. 

“We will hold a technical test for exports through the NSW next month,” he said, adding 70 percent of chosen exporters had been recommended by the Trade Ministry, and the rest by the Forestry Ministry.

This year, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise checked 735,444 documents at the five ports, 64 percent of which were sent through the NSW.

About 70 percent of all imports to Indonesia go through Tanjung Priok Port.

Regarding the implementation of the NSW at Soekarno-Hatta airport, Susiwijono said the preparation team would check flight schedules, cargo handling information and weather forecasts to ensure the speedy flow of goods.

Anwar Suprijadi, director general of customs and excise, said the flow of goods through airports was much quicker than through seaports, making the business process more difficult.

In 2009, the government is set to integrate the NSW with the ASEAN Single Window (ASW), comprising Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Other ASEAN countries — Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam — must join the ASW by 2012 at the latest. The ASW is part of the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community.

 

Authorities involved in the NSW: 

1. Directorate General of Customs and Excise
   
2. Food and Drug Monitoring Agency
   
3. Directorate General of International Trade
   
4. Agriculture Quarantine Agency
   
5. Fish Quarantine Center
   
6. Health Ministry
   
7. Directorate General of Post and Telecommunications
   
8. Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency
   
9. Agriculture Ministry
   
10. Industry Ministry
    
11. Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry
    
12. Forestry Ministry
    
13. Office of the State Minister for the Environment
14. National Police
    
15. Defense Ministry
    

 Source: NSW Preparation Team

Fresh milk producer imports cows

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post,  Malang | Mon, 12/15/2008 10:39 AM  

Due to increasing demand for fresh milk in Asia, fresh milk producer Greenfield has imported 360 pregnant cows from Australia to improve its production capacity. 

Greenfield processing manager Darmanto told The Jakarta Post here over the weekend his company, which had allocated Rp 108 billion (US$9.55 million) for the import program, would soon make a second import of the same number. 

With the pregnancies at up to six months, the number of the company's cows able to produce 26 liters each per day will double in the next three months, he said, adding the new cows would arrive at Juanda International Airport in a chartered cargo aircraft Tuesday. 

The increase in the number of cows is expected to boost the company's capacity to up to 150 tons of fresh milk per day, plus the 70 tons of fresh milk per day supplied by the Sekar Tanjung Milk Cooperatives (PKIS). 

"We are waiting for two to three months for when the new cows have their calves," Darmanto said. 

He said his company supplied fresh milk to Cambodia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam and had yet to meet the demand for an additional 20 tons per day from Hong Kong and the Philippines. 

"With the new cows, we will be able to meet the additional demand in a few months," he said, adding a part of the company's production was also supplied to milk factory PT Nestle. 

Darmanto said his company decided to import the cows because the quality of local cows' milk did not meet the export standard. 

Separately, head of the East Java Veterinary Agency Sigit Hanggono called on milk powder producers such as PT Nestle, PT Frisian Flag Indonesia and Indomilk to follow PT Greenfield's lead and develop their own ranches to meet the increasing demand both at home and overseas. 

He said the government would support the cow imports to improve the country's milk production and exports.

Poland-Indonesia relations: Not just about red and white

Dwi Atmanta, The Jakarta Post, Warsaw | Fri, 11/14/2008 11:10 AM  

Separated by geographical distance, Poland and Indonesia have much in common. The two nations use identical colors of red and white for their flags, and their respective histories are full of wars for independence and maintaining national unity. 

Without much fanfare, relations between the two countries have survived world and regime changes, since they were first established in the late 1950s. 

The fight against climate change has bound them even closer. Indonesia and Poland, as well as Denmark, are playing a pivotal role in creating a new international commitment to reducing global emissions. 

Poland will host the UN conference on climate change in December, which is expected to result in an action plan to implement the Bali road map agreed to in last year's conference in Indonesia. 

"We have enjoyed sound and vibrant relations so far," says Maciej Orzechowski of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Polish Parliament (Sejm). 

However, nothing special has really happened with regard to bilateral ties, except for formalities, following the fall of Indonesia's founding president Sukarno in the mid-1960s until after Poland broke away from the communist bloc in 1990. 

That the European and Asian nations have kept their friendship, if not intimacy, intact until today is because of great contributions from the likes of former Polish ambassador to Indonesia Andrezeja Nusantara Wawrzyniaka. 

Since leaving his post in Jakarta in the early 1970s, he has maintained contact with numerous Indonesian figures, ranging from government officials to artists, and persistently promoted Indonesian and Asian cultures. The Indonesian government, through former president Soeharto, conferred upon him a medal in recognition of his efforts to help preserve bilateral relations. 

Indeed, an Indonesian atmosphere pervades his house-museum in Warsaw. Paintings by noted Indonesian artists the late Affandi, Srihadi, Popo Iskandar, Nyoman Gunarsa, and souvenirs adorn the building. 

"I don't know why I fell in love with Indonesia. It's not something I can explain," he says, recalling his close encounter with diverse Indonesian cultures during his posting to the country more than three decades ago. 

His middle name, given by president Sukarno, speaks volumes of his Indonesian connection. There is a kind of personal link between him and Indonesia, and the country remains one his regular destinations when going overseas. 

Warsaw also saw a three-month exhibition of the Papuan Asmat tribe's art, which closed late last month. The event, according to one of its guides Piotr Cichocki, drew a considerable number of people. particularly school children, almost every day. 

"It's a spectacular exhibition for the public and they want to know more about the exotic culture of the Asmat," Cichocki said recently. 

Indonesian Ambassador to Poland Hazairin Pohan says the fall of communism in Poland provided Indonesia with "fertile ground" for further cooperation. 

"Poland has changed and joined the democratic club along with Indonesia. Both countries have signed cooperation agreements, and it's the people and business sectors that should take advantage of the facilities," Hazairin said. 

Cultural exchange is a work in progress, as is trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. 

Bilateral trade in 2006 was valued at US$600 million, with Indonesia enjoying a $220 million surplus. Indonesia's imports from Poland are mostly military equipment, while exports include CPO, textiles, wood products and electronic goods. 

Hazairin said the trade volume was expected to increase by up to 40 percent next year. 

Signs of strengthening economic ties are visible with two Polish companies seeking $2 billion in investment in coal mining, not to mention rising interest in power-plant construction projects. 

"Industry players in Poland are considering investment in Indonesia as a strategic decision," Hazairin says.

 A delegation of Polish state company executives is scheduled to visit Indonesia in January to further boost economic relations between the two countries. 

Sejm member Orzechowski admits the need to explore people-to-people contact is lacking in the bilateral ties Poland and Indonesia have built. 

He said the Polish parliament had proposed the government initiate student exchange programs and provide scholarships to Indonesian nationals to study in Polish universities. 

"Not only is the student exchange program important, but it will help us maintain long-lasting cooperation. The students will be our ambassadors of friendship," Orzechowski said. 

He said Poland, home to Nobel laureate Marie Curie, was a suitable place for Indonesian and Asian students to study technology. 

"We have no other suggestion of choices but technology," he says. 

Hazairin said both governments were working on broader cooperation in education, which would include joint research, transfer of technology and student exchanges.