Dradjad said besides certification HIPPI also urged the government to immediately scrap regulations that require national businessmen to obtain various unnecessary permits so as to significantly undercut the high cost economy.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Association of Indonesian Indigenous Businessmen (HIPPI) has asked the government to require imported goods to be certified as a way to protect local businesses.

The organization`s advisory board`s expert, Dradjad Wibowo, said here on Tuesday Indonesian export products had so far also been required to be certified by the destination countries.

"This is for protecting indigenous businessmen from assaults of imported products with low tariffs," he said.

He said certification is categorized as a non-tariff barrier and therefore negotiable.

Dradjad said besides certification HIPPI also urged the government to immediately scrap regulations that require national businessmen to obtain various unnecessary permits so as to significantly undercut the high cost economy.

He said these were things the government could take to show that it sided with indigenous businessmen.

He said HIPPI would also encourage local industries to increase the competitiveness of their products.

In response to Dradjad`s recommendations, HIPPI deputy general chairman Wawan Setiawan said he was ready to implement them.

He said that HIPPI was serious in checking the flow of imported products into the country as part of efforts to improve national economy especially "for sectors under HIPPI coordination."

In view of that he said efforts need to be made by the government with regard to making policies that side fundamentally with domestic industries.

Improving service and infrastructure must also become the main focus to support efforts to improve effectiveness of the industries and increase their productions.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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