GOVT URGED TO ANNOUNCE FUEL PRICE HIKE SOON

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 30 (Antara) - Calls are mounting for the government to stop discourse but announce subsidized fuel price increase soon so that it would not confuse the public and lead speculators to hoard fuel stocks.          "The government should announce soon subsidized fuel price hike. It should not leave it in the discourse too long," Komaidi Notonegoro, an energy observer of the ReforMiner Institute, said on Monday.          He said that the government's plan to raise subsidized premium gasoline and diesel oil prices should not remain only as a discourse but be realized soon. All quarters have expressed opinions and put forward their opinions. So, the government should decide and announce it immediately.          Komaidi said that all options available must have advantage and disadvantage, so that what the government needed now was firmness in its implementation.  The discourse on subsidized fuel price hike has been raised without a decision since 2008.

RI CAN ACHIEVE 6.6 PCT ECONOMIC GROWTH THIS YEAR

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 28 (Antara) - Amid predictions of lower economic growth by international institutions, Bank Indonesia (BI) is still convinced that Indonesia's economy still can grow by 6.6 percent.          The Indonesian central bank said Indonesia's economic growth in 2013 would be at range of 6.2 percent - 6.6 percent, though the world still faced negative economic expectation.          "The country's financial stability system that will support sustainable economic growth is still under controlled," Endy Dwi Tjahjono, BI deputy director for research, economic and monetary policy affairs, told a seminar on  "Economic Outlook 2013" last week.          The World Bank has predicted the country's economy would expand 6.2 percent this year, while the Asian Development Bank  is more optimistic predicting a higher growth of 6.4 percent.          Endy also mentioned the increasing numbers of middle class people who would lift the country's consumption level. The government's infrastructure projects worth Rp458 trillion in 2013 will reduce production and logistics costs.          In the meantime, the investment conditions in the coming six months are expected to increase, particularly in the processing industry and financial sector. After all, the general elections which will be held next year will increase the people's economic activities and purchasing power in 2013.

FUEL PRICE HIKE NOT TO BOOST INFLATION By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 28 (Antara) - The government, along with analysts, has predicted that if it raises subsidized fuel prices next month with a dual pricing system it will not significantly trigger inflation.          Based on the dual pricing system, the government is planning to increase subsidized premium gasoline and diesel oil prices for private cars but will maintain its full subsidy price for motorbikes and public transportation vehicles.          "It will not have a big impact because the prices of basic necessaries generally depend on public transportation, while fuel price for this kind of transportation is not raised. So, it will not have a significant impact on inflationary pressures," Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said on the sidelines of a seminar in Bali last week.          The government so far has provided a subsidy of about Rp5,000  per liter of premium gasoline and diesel oil for vehicles, selling it at Rp4,500 per liter for both private and public transportation vehicles. The economic price for this fuel is estimated at Rp9,500 per liter.

GOVT ALMOST CERTAIN TO RAISE FUEL PRICE IN MAY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 20 (Antara) - The government is almost certain to increase subsidized premium gasoline and diesel oil prices next month from Rp4,500 per liter to Rp6,500 or Rp7,000 for private cars.          According to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik, the government has almost reached a decision to impose a dual pricing system on subsidized gasoline and diesel oil where two wheel vehicles and public transportation means will still enjoy the current full subsidy price of Rp4,500 per liter.          However, price for private cars will be raised from Rp4,500 to (reduced subsidy) Rp6,500 or Rp7,000 per liter.  "The economic price of premium gasoline per liter is about Rp9,500 per liter. If it is sold at Rp4,500 per liter, the subsidy will reach Rp5,000 per liter. Financially capable consumers will not enjoy the full subsidy. However, if the price is raised to Rp6,000 they will still enjoy a subsidy of about Rp3,000 per liter," he said.          "The people know that the government will reduce fuel subsidy. The reason is for fairness. So, the government will cut subsidy and regulate it to provide fairness for consumers (based on their financial capability," Jero Wacik said.

RI TARGETS US AS ITS PATIN EXPORT MARKET

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 11 (Antara) - In an effort to improve the welfare of its fish farmers, Indonesia is boosting its 'patin' catfish (Pangasius) production, stopping its imports of the commodity from Vietnam and aiming its exports to the United State market.          For the goals, the Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs is targeting a production of over one million tons of patin fish this year and is developing patin cultured centers and patin fillet processing industries.           "We are encouraging patin producers in Indonesia to double their production. If the need for patin of  local market is already met, the next target would be the export market in the United States," Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Minister Sharif Cicip Sutarjo said when launching the first patin processing industry in Kasang Pudak Village,  Muarojambi District, Jambi province over the weekend.