Chamber of Commerce Supports Smelter Policy
16 July 2013 09:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Natsir Mansour, The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Vice Chairman for Trade, Distribution and Logistics, expressed his support for the government's program to expand the mineral and coal processing industry. The smelter industry, which refers to Mining Law No.4/2009, Instruction No.3/2013, and The Energy Ministry's Rule No.7/2012, is considered as a ground-breaking industry.
Natsir said that the smelter industry will produce raw materials for the domestic downstream industry. "All this time, the import of raw materials for downstream industries accounted for 80 percent of the existing downstream industries in the country," he said through a press release on Monday, July 15.
Natsir said that building a smelter is easy; as long as the government can be clear, firm, and consistent in applying rules that support the development of the smelter industry. "The industry requires huge, long-term investments and high technology, so we need legal certainties and other incentives," Natsir said.
Natsir hopes that the year 2014 could see Indonesia excel in the mineral and coal processing industry through the construction of smelters. That way, the amount of exports in the next 30 years can be resolved. This can only be achieved if the government works together with the state-owned enterprises and the private sector, and understand how important it is for Indonesia to develop a smelter industry, particularly by domestic players.
PINGIT ARIA