Ban On Rattan Export Detrimental To Government

Sampit, Central Kalimantan, June 7 (Antara) - Rattan entrepreneurs in Kotawaringing Timur district, Central Kalimantan, opined that the export ban on rattan by the government was detrimental to the rattan farmers and the government as well. "Despite the export ban, rattan exports continue to happen through various possible ways and therefore it is better for the ban to be reviewed," said Dahlan Ismail, a rattan entrepreneur here on Friday. He said the ban on the export of raw and semi-finished rattan was stipulated in Trade Minister Regulation No. 35, 36, and 37/2011 and it has made the rattan business in Indonesia, particularly in Kalimantan to be in a slump. Dahlan noted that the regulation has made the rattan farmers suffer because their rattan commodity could not be sold. "If the ban on the export of raw rattan cannot be lifted, I think it can be done with the semi-finished rattan because it will be more helpful to absorb many workers," Dahlan said. He pointed out that at least three semi-finished rattan factories in Kotawaringin Timur had gone bankrupt because of the regulation.