The scheme includes key ports in Sulawesi and Kalimantan.
Indonesia is expanding its Single Submission of Quarantine and Customs (SSm QC/SSm Pabean Karantina) service to more ports starting 1 September 2022. The list of 14 ports includes five in the BIMP-EAGA subregion—Makassar in South Sulawesi, Pontianak in West Kalimantan, Balikpapan and Samarinda in East Kalimantan, and Kendari in Southeast Sulawesi. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Finance (Kementerian Keuangan) last week.
The scheme uses the single submission platform on the Indonesia National Single Window (INSW), which integrates logistics service systems of ministries/agencies and simplifies business processes and makes them more efficient. It was first implemented in Belawan Port, North Sumatra in 2020, followed by three major ports in Java and Jakarta. The other ports carrying out the single submission service are Tanjung Priok, Surabaya, Semarang, Lampung, Pekanbaru, Palembang, Batam, and Cilegon.
Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia are in different stages of implementing their national single windows, which will be connected and integrated by the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) to enable the sharing of electronic trade-related documents. The objective is to reduce paperwork and trade transaction costs and expedite cargo clearance.
Indonesia’s finance ministry said the Single Submission of Quarantine and Customs service integrates business processes that intersect. This means those using the INSW no longer need to input the same data several times.
The implementation of the scheme between January 2021 and July 2022 is estimated to have reduced logistics costs and fees by 33%. The ministry said the expansion of the service to more ports is expected to enhance the country’s logistics ecosystem and increase ease of doing business.
The INSW agency said physical or online helpdesk services will be provided to assist users of the service. It will monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Single Submission of Quarantine and Customs service and reconcile data among stakeholders to minimize discrepancies.
The agency said the INSW system will also notify users if a joint inspection by customs and quarantine may be carried out based on the data they have submitted. A joint inspection will save time since the owner of the imported goods will not have to move or open the cargo container twice.
THE BRUNEIAN
