RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring a level playing field for Indonesia’s national shipping industry and addressing obstacles in import processing at ports. He delivered the statement during the Debottlenecking Channel Session of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Government Strategic Programs (P2SP Task Force) in Jakarta on Monday (26/01/ 2026).

The session reflected the government’s commitment to listening to business stakeholders and finding solutions to regulatory and operational bottlenecks on the ground. As of January 26, 2026, a total of 63 reports had been submitted through the complaints channel, most of which are being resolved, with the remainder under monitoring or data correction.

One of the main topics discussed was a report from the Indonesian National Shipowners' Association (INSA) regarding practices by foreign shipping companies that exploit regulatory loopholes to avoid tax obligations. In response, the finance minister stressed the importance of applying equal treatment between national and foreign shipping companies.

As a concrete step, Purbaya instructed stronger coordination with the Ministry of Transportation to integrate proof of tax compliance as a prerequisite for issuing sailing permits. “We will apply equal treatment to our vessels and foreign vessels operating here, the same way foreign countries treat us. If they cannot produce the required evidence, impose taxes immediately,” the minister asserted.

Beyond taxation issues, the session also addressed solutions to disputes over the classification of Harmonized System (HS) codes for certain imported commodities, which have caused goods to be held at ports. The finance minister emphasized that differences in technical interpretation should not unduly delay the production processes of national industries.

To handle these classification disputes, the P2SP Task Force will conduct cross-ministerial clarifications, including reviews based on verification by independent surveyors. A strategic decision was made to accelerate the process through an official task force letter so that goods can be promptly processed in accordance with applicable regulations.

The finance minister concluded the session by assuring that the implementation of every policy decision will continue to be monitored on the ground. He also committed to further improving administrative procedures and strengthening inter-agency synergy to create a more conducive and transparent investment climate for all business actors.