The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has revealed that Sorong Port has the potential to become a new entry point for seven imported commodity goods. This follows the government's plan, through the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) and the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin), to shift the entry points for these imported goods to ports in Eastern Indonesia. Hartanto, the Director of Sea Traffic and Transportation at the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, stated that ports likely to be designated as new entry points are those that are large and accredited as class I ports. "The potential is clear for class I and main class ports. Sorong is adequate," he said during a media discussion in Jakarta on Tuesday (October 8, 2024). Although this plan is still in the identification phase, the Ministry is carefully evaluating which ports meet the necessary criteria to serve as new entry points for imported goods. Hartanto added that there is no specific target date for when this relocation will be implemented. "Minister of Transportation will continuously monitor the developments and we will be ready to follow whatever leadership agreements are made," he concluded.
Previously, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita announced plans to redirect the entry points for seven types of imported finished goods to ports in Eastern Indonesia. These commodities include textiles and textile products, ready-made garments, ceramics, electronic devices, beauty products, finished textile goods, and footwear. This move is a response to the high volume of imported finished goods entering the country. "We will propose that the entry points for textiles and other goods should be ports in Eastern Indonesia," Agus stated during a meeting at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (August 26, 2024). This strategic shift aims to distribute the import load more evenly across the country's ports, potentially boosting economic activity in Eastern Indonesia. The careful selection process and the involvement of multiple ministries underscore the government's commitment to optimizing port usage and improving regional economies.
