Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - Batam Management Agency, in cooperation with the Customs Office, provides additional facilities for investors in the form of three-hour investment permit for importation of goods without physical checking.

"We call it i23j (three-hour investment permission) plus the provision of green line for importing industrial goods without physical inspection," Deputy of General Services of Batam Management Agency, Gusmardi Bustami, said here on Wednesday.

Through this facility, the companies that bring raw materials and machinery from abroad, but operate in Batam industrial area, will find it easier to process the importing of goods at the port.

"That facility, which is the first in Indonesia and is certainly more efficient in production cost, is aimed at helping the companies process their imported goods with ease," he said.

Since Sept 2016 to early May 2017, there were already six companies benefiting from the i23j program, Gusmardi noted.

"Batams Customs provides the green line. Initially, all the newly established companies in Batam must enter the red line or have to go through the physical inspection for importing goods," Gusmardi stated.

Head of Main Customs Office of Batam, Nugroho Wahyu Widodo, remarked that the green line facility was in accordance with the regulations.

"The only thing that is examined is the documents," he said, adding that the Customs of Batam has affirmed that the companies that receive such facilities must be reliable, accountable, and well audited.

"Occasionally, we conduct a random examination. If we find fatal error done by a company, we will take firm actions by revoking the facility," Nugroho revealed.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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