The Customs and Excise Regional Office (Kanwil) is promoting Aceh Province as a transhipment hub and gateway for exports and imports in western Indonesia. This was conveyed by the Head of Customs and Excise, Arsal Efendi, in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Preparation of the Academic Draft for the Economic Development Master Plan "Aceh as the Locomotive of the Western Indonesian Economy" held by the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) Office in Banda Aceh on Monday (August 11th, 2025). According to Arsal, Aceh's strategic position is at the western tip of Indonesia, directly bordering the Strait of Malacca, the world's busiest shipping lane. "Aceh has the potential to become a key international trade hub directly connected to ASEAN, India, and the Middle East markets," Arsal said in a written statement.
Asral highlighted various customs facilities and incentives, such as Bonded Warehouses (TPB), Free Trade Zones and Free Ports (KPBPB), Special Economic Zones (KEK), and Export-Destination Import Facility (KITE). "This facility offers exemptions or deferrals of import duties, exemptions from PDRI (Indonesian Customs and Excise Tax), and tax incentives to encourage investment and industrial development," he explained. Aceh Customs also showcased regional export achievements, including the re-export of CPO through the Agro Murni Bonded Logistics Center (PLB) in Lhokseumawe, as well as the success of five fostered MSMEs in penetrating international markets to countries such as China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and Russia. He also emphasized the importance of improving the quality of export data to inform policymaking at both the national and regional levels, as well as optimizing port infrastructure. "This includes the plan to open the Lhokseumawe-Penang sea route, which will encourage cross-border trade, and also explain the carnet facility scheme," he said.
