The Association of Indonesian National Importers (GINSI) asked the Government to revise Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of 2021 concerning Implementation of the Industrial Sector. This is done because since the enactment of the regulation, importers holding General Importer Identification Number (API-U) permits admit that they have difficulty importing. As a result, it has an impact on the supply of industrial raw materials (shortage). General Chairman of BPP GINSI Capt Subandi said, in the regulation the import of raw materials including steel was strictly regulated. Article 19 paragraph 1 PP Number 28 of 2021 Imports of Raw Materials and or Auxiliary Materials are only carried out by Industrial Companies that have business identification numbers that apply as Producer Importer Identification Numbers (API-P).
Subandi admitted that he had held a meeting with the ranks of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
"From the meeting, GINSI claimed that the Coordinating Ministry agreed to revise it. However, until now the results of the revision have not been published. That's why we questioned it again," said Subandi in his official statement, Friday (7/4).
According to him, the regulation has the potential to kill the business continuity of national importers.
Erwin Taufan, Deputy Head of Port Logistics and Customs Affairs at BPP GINSI, assessed that with the drag on imports of raw materials, GINSI estimates that the stock in factories will only last until June this year.
"The national industry is currently on edge because raw materials are stagnant. If there is no concrete solution to solving this problem, our strength will only be until June or in the next two months," he said.
One of the affected importers is steel importer PT Tira Austenite. The representative of Tira Austenite Yelinda who is also a member of GINSI claims that applications for import permits for steel and its derivatives, tires and textiles have not been processed.
Based on GINSI data, in DKI Jakarta there are more than 300 members of which 60-70 percent are API-U holders. Meanwhile, currently there are 1,200 GINSI member importers spread throughout Indonesia.
Not only that, GINSI, which has more than 1,200 importers as members, also highlights the National Commodity Balance System (Sinas-NK). GINSI assesses that this information technology-based system actually makes it difficult for entrepreneurs to import.
"The existence of this problem is very unfortunate because it has an impact on supply chain delays to the manufacturing industry, consumer goods and others," said Subandi.
In fact, said Subandi, the commodity balance was initially said to simplify export-import licensing, as well as become the basis for issuing export and import approvals.
According to Subandi, importers are currently haunted by uncertainty and often suffer losses if the imported goods ordered cannot enter Indonesia, due to a permit not being issued.
Commodities affected by Sinas-NK include spare parts, automotive, tires, steel and its derivatives, as well as electronics since the enactment of this regulation in December 2022 to be precise.
