Bali Seeks 48.12 Pct Increase In Import Value

Denpasar, July 23 (ANTARA) - Bali, which is a tourist destination, has seen an increase of 48.12 percent in its year-on-year import value, including 22.05 percent of imports from Hong Kong, during the first quarter of 2012. Imports from Hong Kong comprised mostly of machine spare parts and computer hardware, said Deputy Indonesian Central Bank of Denpasar Sunarto, here on Monday. Singapore was the second biggest importer to Bali with products such as computers and industrial equipments accounting for an import value of 16.09 percent. Meanwhile, Thailand ranked third among the importers largely due to its rice trade via the Indonesian State-owned logistics agency Bulog, said Sunarto, while explaining the results of the regional economic report for the first quarter-2012 here on Monday. According to the data collated by the Bali Bulog, the rice imported during this period was distributed among the lower class community. Bali has imported 5.434 tons of rice, of which 4.793 tons was imported from India and 675 tons imported from Vietnam respectively. Sunarto said that though the import value for Bali has increased, the volume has seen a decrease of 37.83 percent during the same period. According to the report, goods such as material and consumer goods were imported into the Island city. Due to a high demand for qualified infrastructure, such as hotels, villas and apartments, Bali needs to import such goods in higher numbers for the development of tourism in the area.