People shopping at a wet market in Indonesia. Photo by Pexels
Indonesian authorities on Monday destroyed IDR20.22 billion (US$1.3 million) worth of illegally-imported goods, including industrial machinery, cell phones, pots and pans.
Indonesian Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan said that the imported goods did not fulfill compliance with import regulations. The goods consisted of grinding machines, drilling machines, mobile phones and tablets that did not meet Indonesia’s standards for goods.
The electric pans and car washing machines alone had values up to IDR15 billion. Other goods included boxes, electric boiler cables, tyres, textile goods, downstream plastics, forestry products, and alcoholic beverages.
Indonesia is currently strengthening its efforts to combat the flood of illegal imported goods. Hasan said the illegal imports, or what he called the “underground economy” had lost up to 40% of state revenues.
