REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani stated that the implementation of the Bonded Logistics Center (BLC) over the past year has been quite good but needs improvement. In this regard, Sri Mulyani assigned several homework assignments to be completed by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and other parties to realize Indonesia as an Asia-Pacific logistics hub.
"I want to give you homework (PR) - if we want to become a hub, what does that definition entail? Many other places have claimed to be hubs like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen," said Sri Mulyani in Jakarta on Wednesday (12/4).
According to Sri Mulyani, realizing Indonesia's dream as an Asia-Pacific hub requires a review of the criteria. These include volume capacity, business models, infrastructure readiness, and service speed. She tasked relevant parties to establish clear criteria for becoming an Asia-Pacific international logistics hub within the next six months.
"Create clear criteria - what defines this hub, its future prospects, and what activities it entails," said Sri Mulyani.
Additionally, Sri Mulyani wants to establish measurable BLC progress indicators that all parties can track. She requested the BLC to develop a five-year roadmap to outline what goods will be accommodated in the BLC. She also asked all parties involved with BLC to review Indonesia's export-import data before formulating the roadmap.
Furthermore, Sri Mulyani emphasized the need for equitable BLC development tailored to regional needs. This aligns with the President's program of developing border areas and enhancing them as Indonesia's main gateways. "Assess by location - identify which areas are still lagging," said Sri Mulyani.
She also highlighted the need to evaluate which sectors have potential for BLC inclusion, considering industrial readiness. Sri Mulyani wants BLC connectivity and collaboration across various fields to support major government programs. She urged all parties to maintain this momentum well and ensure the BLC remains clean and transparent.