Presidential decree on the monopoly of lubricating oil to be revoked

Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut B. Panjaitan said that the government was reviewing a presidential decree that granted a monopoly rights to state oil firm Pertamina on the business of lubricating oil in the domestic market.

"We will review all policies that govern monopoly, both in state companies or not. There will be no more monopolies," he said in a meeting with lubricating oil businessmen in Glodok business center, which was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Rizal Ramli and Finance Minister Prijadi PS.

Luhut explained that the government was still regulating the importation of dangerous chemical products because of certain considerations.

According to industry and trade minister decree No. 254/2000, the government governs the importation of 351 chemical products categorized as dangerous (B3) and appoints state trading company PT Dharma Niaga as the only entity to import them.

Some of the 500 businessmen attended the meeting aired their grievance about doing business in Indonesia, especially in Kota area. Some of them claimed that tax officials often came to them demanding for payment for various reasons.

Rizal said that the government was paying attention to the development of Kota area as it serves as one of the business symbols in Indonesia. Money circulation in Kota area reaches around Rp 1 trillion a day. (*)