Jakarta Customs software slows clearance

A NEW air cargo tracking system at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is causing severe delays of imported shipments clearing Customs.

The local Customs directorate launched the new electronic data collection system for raw materials on 1 August. However, where imports, especially those destined for electronic parts for subsequent export, used to take only two to three days, now they take two to three weeks.

Sanyo Jaya, a company that processes imported materials into electronic parts for export, claims that the delays have raised import costs with a knock-on effect of cutting revenue by 10 to 30 per cent.

While the system is working correctly, it requires a lengthy list of questions to be answered, questions many shippers simply do not have answers to.

Susiwijono Moegiarso, director of customs and excise information at the directorate, said the new system “will make data storage more accurate and long-lasting” although he did admit the new system was “demanding” with regards to information.