Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia is taking strong actions against the illegal imports of goods to prevent such goods from entering the domestic market.
Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita affirmed that Indonesia will not tolerate smuggled goods and cheap imported products that harm domestic production. This is not only an economic issue but also directly related to the survival of the industry.
According to Agus, supervision and action against smuggling and illegal products are not only carried out at big ports of entry but also through backdoor smuggling.
Authorities, particularly customs and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) have been asked to tighten control and strictly punish smuggling activities.
He noted that several regulations provide the widest possible leeway for imported goods to enter freely into the Indonesian market, which have hit the domestic industry hard.
According to DJBC, in the first 11 months of this year, Indonesia detected 31,275 smuggling cases which caused estimated loss of 246 million USD for the country. Notably, garment products account for a large proportion of illegal imports, seriously affecting domestic textile and garment enterprises./.
