Ministry Plans to Open Cross-Border Trade
29 May 2015 20:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Trade Ministry is planning to open a cross-border trade between Indonesia and Malaysia. The idea is to connect Entikong in West Kalimantan, and Tebedu in the Malaysian side of the border. However, the plan will only be proposed to the government after the Transportation Ministry builds a dry port in the region.
"[The government] will build a dry port first, as a point of entry," said Bachrul Chairi, Director General for International Trade Cooperation on Friday, May 29, 2015.
Currently, trade between the two regions is closed following a recent apprehension of 16 customs officials involved in illegal levies and gratification in mid-2014. The incident has caused Entikong residents to experience difficulties in gaining access to staple needs.
Bachrul said that the dry port will be equipped with a quarantine facility, which will serve as an inspection point to check the legality of traded goods.
ROBBY IRFANY