Gov’t Wants to Shorten Customs Permit Process

President Jokowi attends the event of Permit Process Online and Customs Facilities, at PT Samick Indonesia, Cileungsi, Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday (27/3). (Photo by: Anggun).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that we now live in a very modern era, where everything and everyone wants to be quick, fast and online.

Therefore, the President added, the Indonesian Government wants to provide quick and fast process of obtaining permits that can also be done online.

“It is time for all the permit processes including customs processes to adapt to a new era that is quick, fast, and can be done online,” President Jokowi said in his remarks at the event of Permit Process Online and Customs Facilities, at PT Samick Indonesia, Cileungsi, Bogor, West Java, Tuesday (27/3).

On that occasion, the President also told Director General of Customs and Excise, Director General of Taxation, and all parties involved not to complicate things related to paperwork.

President Jokowi also shared his experience of making investments in the United Arab Emirates 18 years ago in which the President only needed to bring required documents to a table and once the documents were checked and completed, he continued to the notary office. All of these processes took no more than one hour, the President said.

“With that permit, I can build a factory, a showroom, an office, and a warehouse. It took no more than one hour. It was seventeen-eighteen years ago,” the President said.

Therefore, President Jokowi hopes such things can be applied here because based on his experiences.

President Jokowi also welcomed the launch of customs online services that he considers as an excellent development regardless of some processes that still take a lot of time. In consequence, the President has ordered Director General of Customs and Excise that customs conditions, customs forms, and the entire permit processes be reduced as much as possible.

“So that the process is no longer complicated and everything can be done quickly,” the President said.

The President also appreciated the new move taken by Minister of Finance that has shorted Ease Import Permit for Export Purposes from thirty days to one hour and Landfill Permit from ten days to one hour.

However, on the permit of the Taxable Goods Code Number that has been cut from thirty days to three days, President Jokowi is reluctant to applaud but appreciated the Bonded Zone Permits that have been shortened from forty-five permits to three permits.

The President further said that it is important to compete with other countries. “If it is faster in other countries but is slower in our own country, no one will come here,” President Jokowi concluded as he ordered his Cabinet to provide easiness as easy as possible for investment with export purposes.

Also attending the event were Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Finance Deputy Minister Mardiasmo, and Director General of Customs and Excise Heru Pambudi. (UN/GUN/ES) (GWH/EP/Naster)