Happy or not happy, ready or not ready, the era of AFTA (Asean Free Trade
Area) has come. AFTA initiated since the 1992 initiative is a real
member countries of ASEAN to promote trade, investment, and
economic activities in between them. Among the ten countries
members of ASEAN, the five member countries will start the initial years of AFTA
it. And, follow other members such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, and
Myanmar.
The core is the CEPT AFTA (Common Effective Preferential Tariff), ie
goods manufactured in the ASEAN countries that meet the conditions
at least 40% of the actual local rate will be only 0-5%.
ASEAN members have three options in the CEPT exception three
cases, namely (1) a temporary exemption, (2) the sensitive agricultural products,
and (3) other general exceptions. For the first category, exceptions
only temporary because it will ultimately meet the standards of
target, ie, 0-5%. Meanwhile, special agricultural products can be sensitive
diundur until 2010. Can be, at least 2015, all tariffs on
between ASEAN countries will reach the point 0%. This is ideally, how
Indonesia?
In general, the economic situation very difficult. Trade Indonesia
weakened in the period 2000-2002, both in export and import activities.
Macro-economic conditions in which political stability and not mantab
law enforcement and security that it took affect our competitiveness
in world trade.
Indeed, in general, some of our products are ready to compete. For example,
palm oil, textiles, electrical equipment, natural gas, shoes, and
garment. However, many of them will be depressed to enter the weight AFTA. In
including, automotive products, information technology, and agricultural products.
Therefore, the AFTA, the problem is not lose or win.
For, indeed there will be no losers and winners. In fact, Indonesia
akan net may be looser, not a net gainer as Malaysia,
Singapore, and Thailand.
According to the sparing me, in the AFTA, the role of trade in the country actually
akan direduksi significantly. For, which is the tariff mechanism
trimmed state authority. Therefore, it is necessary paradigm change that
very significant, ie, from the trading activities that rely on
protection of a company's ability to compete. Not only
national or regional in AFTA, but also globally. Because
, the power management, efficiency, the ability of capital, and the benefits of
product into one of the key to success.
The government is not really separated from the problem. For,
also how, our competitiveness as a regional trade AFTA is
also influenced the executive and legislative policy.
For example, in terms of law enforcement, has been known that the sector is
including the poor in Indonesia. If there is no certainty of the law, how the climate
business will grow well? The edges are a high economic cost
effect on product competitiveness in the international market.
The other factor is very important that the institutions should participate
expedite trade and business that are often indicated
KKN. KKN expansion due to the various levies and the elements
government in all the layers, the price of the product to market will be thrown
terpengaruhi.
Regional autonomy is expected to increase the accountability of officials
public and encourage local economy that used to take advantage
as much as possible of the business regardless of its implications. Autonomy
even show the worst that can affect product competitiveness
Indonesia in the world market.
Other issues that must be faced is the fact that the border
Indonesia is very knowledgeable, the form of both sea and land, which is very difficult
supervised. As a result, there was a flood of contraband weaken power
national industrial competitiveness. Billions of dollars disappear each year due to
inability to keep the border with both. According to the estimated ability
TNI-AL, about 40 percent of it should be used to secure the sea
kekuarangan due to funding and other means.
However, besides the various issue, clearly also bring AFTA
a number of advantages. First, the goods that are produced with
costs can be high akan consumers with cheaper prices.
Second, as the area that is integrated together, the ASEAN region
akan more interesting as a land investment. Indonesia with resources
natural and man have abundant comparative advantages. However,
increase in human resources is a must. In fact, our very ability of human resources
jaded than the Philippines or Thailand.
Main obstacle for the people of Indonesia is to change the paradigm, both in
among officials, politicians, businessmen, and labor. Changing patterns
think this is very important for the success we enter AFTA.
However, since the 1997 crisis, energy and ability, we're not forth to the
it. AFTA became somewhat dormant, and officials think only
how can "survive" in a difficult economic situation. Economic team
government's lack of any creative power to create new ways
mendinamisasi for business and the business climate in the country. They are not ready
in the global war percaturan.
The Indonesian Government is also always the one with meninabobokan
statement that our rich natural, so no fear of hunger.
We must dare to look outside, not excommunicate themselves. In the
1980s, China is still behind us. However, they now have
Indonesia passing. China now exports four times more than
we export. In fact, they do not export oil or natural gas. Yes
our country wealthy, but the provision is to be dug up and searched
the ends of the earth.
In every meeting with the marines and fishery minister, the House of Representatives
always told that their annual losses from theft of the fish reach
USD 6 billion or almost Rp 56 trillion. But, if the person is not stolen,
nation we also can not take the results for various sea
facilities and limited capital. Fish must be sought, forests must be arranged,
mental attitude and the nation should be encouraged for our many-many tries
find food, to any lawful origin. The task of government is
facilitate and assist, not extort the business with the various
levies.
