Deputy Chairperson Of The West Kalimantan Chamber Of Commerce And Industry: Permenhut No. 106 Of 2018 Only In Favor Of Big Exporters

JAKARTA - Permenhut No. 106 of 2018 concerning Protected Types of Plants and Animals is an obstacle in exporting forestry products. The complaint was conveyed by the Deputy Chairman of the West Kalimantan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rudyzar Zaidar Mochtar.

"With the Regulation of the Minister of Forestry No. 106 of 2018, the government has limited the export of perfumed wood, but on the one hand it seems that it is permissible to cut down trees, but exports of tree fruit are still prohibited. ," said Rudyzar Zaidar Mochtar, quoted Sunday, December 19.

Rudyzar explained that the impact of limiting the export of perfumed wood in any form "turns off" local exporters in West Kalimantan, but national exporters or large exporters actually benefit from the regulation.

"So we see that the regulation favors big entrepreneurs, while small and local entrepreneurs will be increasingly squeezed or there will be an impression of a monopoly in this regard," he said.

He gave the example of Permenhut No. 106 of 2018 resulted in as many as 48 exporters of perfumed wood in West Kalimantan not having a quota for exports or now there are 12 exporters who have an export quota. This means that the verification carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is not correct.

Meanwhile, many West Kalimantan exporters who have warehouses and fulfill the requirements for exporting scented wood do not even have a quota for export, because the KLHK verification process does not involve vertical agencies at the provincial level, such as the BKSDA (Natural Resources Conservation Center) or technical agencies in charge of forestry in West Kalimantan. West Kalimantan, he said.

That way, he said, only two associations with quotas were allowed to export scented wood, this happened because the verifiers did not understand the conditions on the ground.

"What's worse, exporters don't even have a warehouse in West Kalimantan, if there is one it's only to trick the verifier. Meanwhile, West Kalimantan exporters, who have been in the exporter business for decades and have warehouses covering an area of about 5,000 square meters, don't even have a quota for the export of scented wood. ," he said.

He said that trade should open up, such as verification not only from Jakarta, but at least involve technical agencies in charge of forestry in West Kalimantan so that exporters who pass are really exporters.

Rudizar added that KLHK should be able to reflect on the Minister of Trade Regulation No. 19 of 2021 concerning Export Policies and Regulations, one of which allows the export of coffee and makes it easier for all exporters to export these commodities.