Indonesia Forestry Head Urges Ban on Log Exports, Paper Says
Copyright 2000, Bloomberg News
August 9, 2000
Jakarta, Aug. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Indonesia's Minister of Forestry and Plantation Nurmahmudi Ismail urged the government to ban export of logs for one to three years and to shut troubled companies, the Media Indonesia newspaper reported.
Indonesia's timber industry is troubled by nationwide illegal logging and smuggling, the minister said.
Out of 123 forest concessions, 87 belong to companies under control of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency, which aims to recover 12.4 trillion rupiah ($1.4 million) by selling their portfolios and assets, the paper reported.
In 1999, Indonesia issued a law limiting company holdings to 100,000 hectares in any one province and 400,000 hectares nationwide.