Recently, the Indonesian government announced a modification of an import regulation to address the problem of thousands of containers stuck in ports due to trade restrictions.This initiative aims to ease the operational difficulties faced by enterprises due to import restrictions and improve Indonesias economic credibility.

Indonesian Economic Affairs Coordinator Airlangga Hartarto announced at a press conference on Friday that a number of goods, including cosmetics, bags and valves, will no longer require import licenses to enter the Indonesian market.In addition, although electronics will still require import licenses, technical licenses will no longer be required.This adjustment aims to simplify import processes, speed up goods customs and ease port pressure.

Major commodities such as steel and textiles are still subject to import licenses, but the government has pledged to speed up the issuance of these licenses to avoid further accumulation of goods. New regulations come into force on Friday and apply to goods arriving in Indonesian ports after March 10. According to Hartarto, about 26,000 containers are currently stuck in ports across the country due to previous import restrictions.

Previously, Indonesia’s import regulations restricted imports of about 4,000 commodities, which sparked protests by the Commercial Commission. Enterprises said these restrictions disrupted the local manufacturing supply chain, increased operating costs and could damage Indonesia’s economic credibility. Many enterprises suffered unnecessary delays in the process of waiting for licenses, leading to serious impact on production and sales.

To address this issue, Minister Luhut Panjaitan, in charge of coordinating investment and shipping affairs, has previously pledged to representatives of the Chamber of Commerce to amend the relevant rules to ease the pressure on. The government’s swift response and policy adjustment showed that the Indonesian government attaches great importance to corporate feedback and market demands in driving economic development.

Following the implementation of the new import regulations, it is expected to significantly reduce the number of containers staying in ports and improve the efficiency of freight logistics. Enterprises will be able to obtain the raw materials and commodities needed faster and return to normal production operations. This initiative will not only help improve the operating environment of enterprises, but will also enhance Indonesias credibility in international trade.

In addition, simplifying import processes and accelerating the issuance of licenses will help to attract more international investors and improve Indonesia’s market competitiveness.As global supply chain uncertainty increases, Indonesia has demonstrated its image as a stable and reliable trading partner by optimizing import policies.