Government efforts to reduce rate of imports are not only through tightening fiscal policy in form of imposition of income tax (PPh). The government can also reduce the rate of imports through technical policies, namely the reduction of entry points for products from abroad.

Director General of Chemical, Textile and Multifarious Industries (IKTA) of the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono stated that the port as a entry point for imports in Indonesia was quite a lot. At present the import entrance can go through five ports, namely Belawan in Medan, Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Emas in Semarang, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, Soekarno-Hatta in Makassar. Imports can also enter through international airports.

In order for imports to decline, the Ministry of Industry proposed that the number of ports as import entrances be reduced for certain commodities. This is at the same time to tighten supervision of these imported products.

For example, to import consumer products such as ceramics, garments, it is proposed to only be able to enter several ports outside Java.

Import restrictions must indeed be implemented. Not only to improve the deficit trade balance, but also to support the development of domestic industries. Because, in addition to increasing the competitiveness of domestic products with the application of the Indonesian National Standard (SNI), the development of domestic industries also needs support from invasion of foreign products.

Kemenperin Usul Pintu Masuk Impor Dibatasi

Usaha pemerintah menekan laju impor tidak hanya melalui pengetatan kebijakan fiskal berupa pengenaan pajak penghasilan (PPh). Pemerintah juga bisa menekan laju impor melalui kebijakan teknis, yakni pengurangan pintu masuk produk-produk dari luar negeri.

Dirjen Industri Kimia, Tekstil, dan Aneka (IKTA) Kementerian perindustrian (Kemenperin) Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono menyatakan, pelabuhan sebagai pintu masuk impor di Indonesia cukup banyak. Saat ini pintu masuk impor bisa melalui lima pelabuhan, yakni Belawan di Medan, Tanjung Priok di Jakarta, Tanjung Emas di Semarang, Tanjung Perak di Surabaya, Soekarno-Hatta di Makassar. Impor juga bisa masuk melalui bandara internasional.

Agar impor menurun, maka Kemperin mengusulkan jumlah pelabuhan sebagai pintu masuk impor dikurangi untuk komoditas tertentu. Ini sekaligus untuk memperketat pengawasan atas produk-produk impor tersebut.

Misalnya, untuk impor produk konsumer seperti keramik, garmen, diusulkan hanya bisa masuk di beberapa pelabuhan luar Jawa.

Pembatasan impor memang harus terlaksana. Bukan hanya untuk menyehatkan neraca dagang yang defisit, tapi juga mendukung pengembangan industri dalam negeri. Sebab, selain meningkatkan daya saing produk domestik dengan penerapan Standar Nasional Indonesia (SNI), pengembangan industri domestik juga butuh dukungan dari serbuan produk asing.