MINISTER SOFYAN NOT SURE STATE CEMENT COMPANIES INVOLVED PRICE CARTEL

Jakarta, Apr 16 (ANTARA) - State Enterprises Minister Sofyan Djalil said he was not sure that state cement companies were involved in price cartel practices as alleged by the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU).
"I am sure that no state cement company was involved in a cartel," Sofyan said at his office here on Thursday.

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission is currently investigating eight cement companies for alleged unhealthy business practices by arranging the price of the commodity.

The eight companies had allegedly manipulated cement prices in Indonesia by maintaining the domestic price of the commodity higher than those in other countries.

The state cement companies in Indonesia are Semen Padang, Semen Gresik, Semen Tonasa and Semen Baturaja.

According to the minister, what was being done by the KPPU to follow up on their findings would be enforcing the law.

"Let KPPU investigate it ...If I were invited by KPPU, I would come," he said.

For that purpose, the minister said that his office as a stake holder of state companies has left the handling of the case.