Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More

Search

 

Cablegate: Indonesia Takes Stock of Economic Reforms

VZCZCXRO1077
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #3559/01 3550943
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 210943Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2556
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0168
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3770
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0254
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3832

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 JAKARTA 013559

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND EB/IFD/OIA
TREASURY FOR OASIA
USDOC FOR 4430/ BERLINGUETTE AND JBENDER
DEPT PASS TO USTR DKATZ AND WEISEL

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ECON EINV EFIN ELAB PGOV ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA TAKES STOCK OF ECONOMIC REFORMS

1. (SBU) Summary. Coordinating Minister for Economics Boediono told
a gathering of Embassy and private sector representatives on January
18 that he expects Parliament to pass new investment and tax laws
"in the early months of 2007." Minister of Trade Mari Pangestu went
further in her description of Parliament's deliberations of the
draft investment law, stating that discussions are in the "final
phase" and likely to be completed the week of December 18. A
Parliamentary plenary session would then pass the law shortly after
January 8. Pangestu was uncharacteristically silent on whether the
draft law would eliminate Indonesia's investment approval system, a
previous Government of Indonesia (GOI) priority. Minister of
Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati described an ambitious reform program
at the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in the areas of treasury
management, debt management, tax, and customs, but conceded she was
disappointed by Parliament's failure to pass the draft tax laws in a
speedy fashion. Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Chairman
Mohammed Lutfi noted that the GOI is in the process of revising and
making more generous Indonesia's investment incentive regulations
and is using the Batam Special Economic Zone's (SEZ) streamlined
investment procedures as a pilot for other SEZs across Indonesia.
Boediono made very cautious comments about the possibility of
reforming Indonesia's overly rigid severance pay and contract work
systems, noting that the GOI is "not close" to consensus. The
Director of the University of Indonesia's Institute for Economic and
Social Research (LPEM), Dr. Chatib Basri, presented the results of a
survey showing little progress on the investment climate between the
end of 2005 and mid-2006, a conclusion that surprised few of the
business leaders in attendance. End Summary.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

2. (U) A team of ministers led by Coordinating Minister Boediono and
Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Burhanuddin Abdullah reviewed progress
on the GOI's economic reform agenda, as well as plans for 2007, for
a group of 150 Embassy and private sector participants on December
18. The GOI scheduled the meeting in response to a request from the
co-chairs of the Consultative Group on Indonesia's (CGI) Investment
Climate Working Group (the U.S., Japan, European Union, and World
Bank). However, the GOI decided to hold the meeting outside the CGI
framework, and in addition to approximately 20 CGI member countries
or organizations, also invited representatives from a number of
domestic and international business groups and the Chinese, Indian,
Qatar, Saudi Arabian, Kuwaiti and ASEAN country Embassies.

Positive Macroeconomic Outlook and MOF Reforms
--------------------------------------------- -

3. (U) Boediono, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and BI
Governor Abdullah provided uniformly upbeat assessments of
Indonesia's macroeconomic situation, noting that GDP growth is
rising, public debt and inflation are falling, the Rp/USD exchange
rate and overall balance of payments situation are steady, and
banking system indicators are improving. However, Boediono noted
that Indonesia still needs a "growth push" to create more jobs. The
non-oil sector is growing well at approximately a 6.5% rate, he
said, but the oil and gas sector suffers from "specific problems,"
and is stagnant. The GOI "needs to do something" about this
situation, he said. Boediono also stated that the GOI is working to
stabilize rice prices and will "do whatever it takes" to normalize
the situation. Burhanuddin repeated recent BI statements cautioning
that the potential exists for increased inflationary pressures in
2007, requiring prudent monetary policy.

4. (SBU) Mulyani provided some details on the ambitious internal
reform program underway at the MOF. As part of the GOI's fiscal
consolidation efforts, which have seen budget deficits drop from
2.4% of GDP in 2001 to approximately 1% in 2006 and 2007, Mulyani
said the MOF is pursuing "fundamental reforms" in its treasury
operations. President Yudhoyono created a new Director General for
State Treasury position in November as part of an overall
restructuring at the MOF. The MOF is working to manage its cash and
risk better, and adopt a multi-year budget framework, a Treasury
Single Account system, and accrual basis accounting. The MOF is
also taking a "disciplined approach" toward contingent liabilities
from state-owned enterprise capital injections, infrastructure
risk-sharing, Rp 11 trillion ($1.2 billion) in unpaid value added
tax refunds from 1999-2001, and local government borrowing. On the
latter, the Mulyani said the MOF will control both the total level
of local government borrowing as well as the procedures local
governments must follow to issue bonds, including obtaining approval
by the Minister of Finance.


JAKARTA 00013559 002 OF 004


5. (SBU) Internal reforms in the Directorates General for Taxation
(DGT) and Customs and Excise (DGCE) are also moving forward, Mulyani
said. The MOF has finalized a draft Presidential Decree "radically
changing" the structure at DGT from one based on type to tax to one
based on functional directors. In response to continuing complaints
about the behavior of tax officials, the MOF is also trying to
improve governance by modernizing the structure of tax offices,
implementing an enhanced code of conduct, and raising discipline and
enforcement. Current regulations on civil service conduct are weak,
Mulyani said, and the MOF is working closely with the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK) in cases of suspected misconduct in the
DGT. If there are indications that DGT officials have committed
acts "close to criminal activity," the KPK will launch an
investigation. Mulyani added that she has asked DGT to review the
functioning of existing Large Taxpayer Offices (LTOs). Although
revenue from these offices has increased on average by 40% a year,
7-10% of complaints from firms covered by LTOs are still related to
governance. "This is unacceptable," Mulyani said, and the GOI needs
to reduce complaints so it can expand the LTO system further.

6. (SBU) In an effort to improve the functioning of Indonesia's
customs clearance system, Mulyani said the MOF is establishing pilot
"Major Customs Offices" in Batam and Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta,
which together process 60-70% of Indonesia's exports and imports.
These offices are similar in concept to the LTOs--they will have
more modern organizational structures, and officials stationed at
them will receive significantly higher salaries but be subject to
much stronger discipline.

Draft Tax Laws: "We're Ready to Discuss Anytime"
--------------------------------------------- ----

7. (SBU) Mulyani noted that although it was unfortunate that
Parliament had not yet passed revised taxation procedures, value
added tax, and income tax laws, the MOF is ready to discuss the
draft laws "anytime, even during the holiday recess." Mulyani
appealed to Golkar Parliamentarian and Chairman of the Indonesian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) Mohammed Hidayat, who was
in attendance, for help in "increasing motivation among Parliament"
to pass the law. Boediono said that he hoped Parliament can pass
the three tax bills "in the early months of 2007" so that parts of
the laws could be partially implemented in 2007.

Parliament Close to Passing Investment Law
------------------------------------------

8. (SBU) Minister of Trade Mari Pangestu expressed optimism that
Parliament would pass the draft investment law soon after it
returned from recess on January 8. She reported that consultations
between GOI and Parliament on the draft law were nearly complete and
that she expected to appear once more before Parliament's Commission
VI before Parliament votes on the draft law in a plenary session.
Pangestu asserted that the GOI had already made considerable
progress in drafting the law's accompanying regulations, including
the creation of a clear and concise negative list, and that they
would be issued in conjunction with the enactment of the law.
(Comment: An international consultant working closely with the
Ministry of Trade (MOT) on the negative list had a different view,
and told us that the process has a long way to go. With no
existing, comprehensive list of investment restrictions, the MOT has
received as much as a hundred pages of detail on existing investment
restrictions from a number of ministries. The MOT will compile the
various lists into one comprehensive document, and then present the
cabinet with options for paring down the list of restrictions. This
process could take several months. End Comment.)

Investment Incentives/Investment Approval System?
--------------------------------------------- ----

9. (U) Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Chairman Mohammed Lutfi
reported that the GOI is in the process of revising Government
Regulation 148/2000 which establishes a set of standard incentives
for qualifying investments. Specifically, the draft regulation
allows qualifying investors to deduct up to 30 percent of their
realized investment from gross taxable income (five percent of the
realized investment per annum for the first six years of the
project); carry forward losses for up to 10 years; and utilize an
expedited depreciation schedule. According to an Indonesian language
MOF presentation, the draft regulation would also reduce from 15 to
10 percent the income tax rate on dividends paid outside Indonesia.

JAKARTA 00013559 003 OF 004


Pangestu explained that the incentives will be available to new
investors in selected "pioneer sectors" and regions.

10. (SBU) In contrast to previous CGI investment climate meetings,
Pangestu made no mention of efforts to transform Indonesia's
investment approval system into a streamlined registration regime,
an earlier GOI reform goal. Lutfi, however, claimed that the GOI has
made considerable progress in reducing the time needed to obtain
approvals for starting a business on Batam Island through a
newly-established "Integrated Investment Services Center" (IISC).
The IISC is a one-stop-shop that houses all GOI agencies responsible
for issuing business approvals in Batam, including the BKPM, the
MOF, the Ministry of Transmigration and Manpower, the Ministry of
Law and Human Rights, the Batam regional government, and the Batam
Authority. According to Lutfi, BKPM approvals processed through the
Batam IISC now take just one to two days on average. Lutfi also
claimed that the Batam IISC now processes approvals for a dozen
required permits and licenses in a cumulative 59 days, less than the
97 days in other areas as cited in a 2006 IFC survey.

11. (SBU) Pangestu added that her Ministry continued to reform its
business regulation and licensing systems and had implemented
significant reforms in December 2005 and March 2006. She cautioned,
though, that meeting the GOI's target of reducing the number of days
it takes to start a business from 150 to 30 days would take time.
(Comment: The consultant cited in para eight also told us that when
a GOI team had examined the MOT's streamlining of procedures to
obtain the Trade Business License (SIUP), a document required of
almost all businesses in Indonesia, they had found that the new
"streamlined" procedures took significantly longer than the old
ones. End Comment.)

Batam Special Economic Zone
---------------------------

12. (SBU) Lutfi blamed an IMF-imposed removal of Batam's free trade
zone (FTZ) status in 2001 for Batam's recent decline. At its height
in 2001, the Batam FTZ accounted for 14 percent of Indonesia's
non-oil and gas domestic exports and created over 200,000 new jobs.
The export figure had fallen to eight percent by 2005, and Lutfi
said the GOI's goal is to lure $1 billion in new investment in
2007-2010 and create 100,000 new jobs. To reinvigorate the area,
Lutfi said the GOI planned to clarify its status, laws and
regulations; remove import duties except for consumable goods;
create model customs and tax offices; ease labor restrictions; and
reduce to 33 days the time it takes to start a business. Pangestu
added that the GOI had already established a pilot ASEAN Single
Window in Batam -- a one stop service for processing import and
export documents -- and that the DGCE would establish the next
Single Window would in Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port, Indonesia's
busiest. (Comment: We are not sure of the relationship between the
ASEAN Single Window initiative and the Major Customs Offices
described by Mulyani. End Comment.)

13. (U) Pangestu said that the GOI hopes to use Batam as a model for
creating similar special economic zones or "areas of excellence" in
strategic locations across Indonesia. She noted that it is easier
to remove "supply-side constraints" in such small geographical areas
than throughout the entire country. Like Batam, each zone would
have a single authority that would employ best practices in
providing services to investors, such as licensing and permitting,
dispute resolution, and import and export procedures. Pangestu said
the GOI is still considering where to locate the zones, but is
basing its assessment on supporting infrastructure and industries,
and access to inputs of production, such as raw materials and
skilled labor.

Labor Reform Continues to Flounder
----------------------------------

14. (SBU) Boediono admitted there has been little progress on labor
issues following the July release of a GOI-commissioned study on
draft labor legislation by six local universities. Proposed
revisions to Indonesia's labor law, especially those related to
levels of severance pay and outsourcing, spurred mass labor
demonstrations in April and May 2006. The study recommended against
the GOI's proposed revisions to the Labor law and suggested
adjustments to existing regulations as a better approach to
alleviating investor concerns. Boediono suggested that all parties
need to come together to discuss these sensitive issues. He quickly

JAKARTA 00013559 004 OF 004


added, though, that the GOI is "not close" to reaching consensus on
the issue, and that progress on labor issues would have to wait for
the right moment politically. (Comment: A senior official at the
Coordinating Ministry expressed frustration that although the GOI
received the University study in July, it has made no effort to
publicize the study's recommendations, a clear sign of GOI
reluctance to take up labor reforms. End Comment.)

Movement on Infrastructure Priorities
-------------------------------------

15. (SBU) Boediono reiterated the importance of infrastructure
investment to the GOI. Although overall investment remains low,
spending on infrastructure is rising. Boediono was optimistic on
the passage of transportation, postal, electricity, and energy
reform laws reducing or eliminating SOE monopolies in these sectors
and opening them up to private investment. Boediono assured
investors, "the laws are in a high level committee of the DPR" and
expected to pass in the early part of 2007. He also reiterated the
GOI's commitment to bringing a list of 10 GOI model projects to
completion next year, an important step for investor confidence.
However, he acknowledged that almost two months after the November
1-3 Infrastructure Forum, none of the model projects are ready for
tendering. Mulyani also reiterated her intent to scrutinize
government support for "non-compliant and high profile" projects
handled outside of the formal public private partnership system
established by Presidential Decree 67/2005. Although not compliant
with Decree 67/2005, Mulyani noted that these projects are not
necessarily bad, and need to be reconciled with the Decree 67
framework. She urged participants not to view GOI support for these
projects as a deviation from "good or best practices." (Comment:
Mulyani was likely referring to the $650 million Jakarta Monorail
project, which the GOI has reportedly awarded a modest ridership
guarantee capped at $25 million annually. However, newspaper
reports indicate that investors in the project continue to seek
access to more GOI funds. End Comment.)

Survey Shows Stagnant Investment Climate
----------------------------------------

16. (SBU) The University of Indonesia's LPEM presented the
conclusions of the third and last round of its World Bank-funded
Investment Climate Monitoring survey. LPEM conducted the survey
from June through August of this year, and their results show a
marked decrease in business confidence in the investment climate
from the previous survey taken at the end of 2005. The biggest
constraints to business remain macroeconomic stability, policy
uncertainty, and corruption. However, the survey showed a
significant increase in the number of manufacturers concerned with
electricity supply and transportation infrastructure, due to
frequent brownouts and transportation delays.

17. (U) According to the survey, labor indicators (labor
regulations, labor skills/education) also continue to worsen with
severance pay and lay-off procedures seen as the biggest obstacles.
Respondents also noted that Indonesia's labor laws reduce the
competitiveness of manufacturing firms and that both the number and
cost of labor disputes are rising. The survey noted that the
majority of labor problems affect large, export-oriented
manufacturing firms in sectors where Indonesia has the potential to
be regionally competitive. The survey also noted some areas of
improvement in the customs and trade regulations at both the local
and central government level. Firms reported decreased times and
informal payments for customs clearance.

HEFFERN

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.