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Finance Ministry yet to confirm new cigarette prices
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Workers roll cigarettes for a company in Central Java. (Tempo/-)
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inance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati says her ministry has yet to reach a decision on cigarette prices and excise amid reports that it plans to significantly increase prices from the current Rp 15,000 (US$1.14) to Rp 50,000 per pack.
"As of today, the Finance Ministry has yet to issue any new ruling either on the retail cigarette price or cigarette excise,” Sri Mulyani said in Jakarta on Monday.
Sri Mulyani admitted that the plan to hike cigarette prices had led to heated public discussion, given the sensitivity of the rise in relation to cigarette consumption.
She said a decision on the new price and excise rate would be made prior to the deliberation of the 2017 state budget.
Similarly, customs and excise director general Heru Pambudi denied reports that the price hike had been confirmed. “I can assure that the decision [on a price hike] is not final yet,” Heru said.
According to him, the directorate general implements new cigarette prices every Jan. 1, with the decision being announced to the public three months in advance. He added that price rises were announced at the end of September. (dmr)
