TRIBUNNEWS.COM - As part of JILSE 2017 series, Indonesia Customs organized a series of discussion forums regarding facilities provided to industries to accommodate faster logistics flow.

Moreover, in today's e-commerce era, product availability and shipping speed must be prioritized.

One solution offered by Customs to address this is providing Bonded Logistics Center (PLB) facilities, which are part of the government's policy package to boost logistics efficiency.

After operating for over a year, PLBs have created significant efficiencies and benefits.

However, there's a perceived need for PLBs to expand their role in digital commerce. Therefore, in the third conference session on JILSE 2017's second day, Customs also discussed PLB's role under the theme "PLB Expansion Anticipating Industrial Growth and Trade Development in the Digital Era".

Edy Putra Irawady, Deputy for Industry and Commerce Sector at Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, stated that PLBs could be empowered to support Indonesia's e-commerce growth.

"In this digital era, everything about trade moves fast. PLBs can serve as industrial hubs, with future utilization expected to expand beyond production goods to include consumer goods. With proper management, PLBs could become the spearhead for improving our national logistics system," said Edy.

Similarly, Etty Puspitasari, Chairperson of Indonesia's PLB Association, conveyed related views about PLB utilization.

"Industries have experienced significant business process efficiencies and acceleration since PLB implementation, but standardization of licensing ease across ministries/institutions remains necessary," Etty explained.

Responding to PLB's expansion efforts in anticipating e-commerce growth, Ambang Priyonggo, Researcher for Organizational Capacity and Performance Development, stated that Customs is working to maximize PLB's benefits for domestic industry advancement.

"We're currently working to enable PLBs to accommodate e-commerce growth. We'll study optimized facility utilization, hoping PLB provisions will enhance trust and partnership between government and industries," concluded Ambang.