If there was much positive sentiment in the wake of new maritime laws in Indonesia heralded by some in the know as the beginning of 21^st century supply chain efficiency in the country, it didn’t last too long. Chaos at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at the end of last week was an effective reminder of the depths of the problems facing the country’s transport sector. 

Heavy rain and high tides forced the airport to close for 12 hours and brought much of the capital city to a standstill for nearly three days. Quoted in the Jakarta Post, Hong Kong-based CSLA economist Jim Walker, visiting Jakarta on the day, caught the general mood: “Memo to self, do not visit Jakarta in the rainy season again. Today’s traffic problems are an apt metaphor for Indonesia. Stuck in first gear with long periods of sitting around waiting for the jam to clear. The country is stuck with lousy leadership, weak institutions and below-potential growth.”

Not long before the submerging of the capital’s transport systems, Indonesia’s House of Representatives introduced a law to end the monopoly and the regulatory function of the four state-owned port management companies in port operations. The law will allow private national and foreign investors to build and manage seaports, and will almost certainly force an improvement of port services which are regarded as among the main causes of inefficient logistics in the country.

Supply Chain Asia Forum 2008 will be held in at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel in Singapore from 8-10 July 2008. The event is expected to attract more than 300 delegates from various parts of the industry as well as Asia and globally. Supply Chain Asia Forum adopts an open sharing and discussion platforms and encourages networking and collaboration through an informal and non-commercial style structure. We look forward to welcome many past participants as well as new ones to join us this year and further the vision of our community to COLLABORATE FOR SUCCESS!

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