High logistics cost has long been an acute problem in this country, creating difficulties in doing business for related sectors.
Government bodies, including Ministry of Finance’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC), have actually taken various efforts and policies, in a bid to create cost efficiency and streamline flow of goods both in export and import. Establishment of Bonded Logistics Centre (PLB) is an example of those efforts.
“PLB is a storage facility for goods, especially related to the export and import of trade commodities. Therefore, since the beginning, we really support and appreciate the establishment of those PLB. The existence of these facilities is very helpful for importers,” said Erwin Taufan, Indonesia Importers Association (GINSI) Head for Logistics and Transportation.
He also appreciated the efforts that have been carried out by the DJBC’s local offices throughout the country of their role in supervising and educating business stakeholders, including importers, regarding the benefits of those PLB facilities.
The operators of those PLBs are consisting of owner of PLB facilities themselves as well as business players within the PLB (PDPLB).
Taufan further explained that PLB is a bonded storage to store goods from outside the customs area and / or goods originating from other places in the customs area. It can be accompanied by one or more simple activities within a certain period of time to be reissued.
He explained that those PLBs, both in Jakarta and outside Jakarta, have been socialized to GINSI members for several times.
Erwin hopes that all these steps will help to create logistics efficiency and streamline import/export activities. “Together with other efforts of digitization, full time (24/7) operation, and the last one of national logistics ecosystem, I hope PLB can help to create logistics efficiency,” he said.
However, Taufan realizes that the various efforts that have been made have not achieved maximum results, especially throughout 2020. Almost all countries, including Indonesia, experienced severe economic challenges due to the health emergency caused by the Corona Virus (Covid-19) outbreak.
“But, amid this Covid-19 outbreak, we have to be optimistic with the future business,” Taufan who is also President Director of Bonded Logistics ICDX said.