Better infrastructure is key to kickstarting growth in Indonesian exports, says Maersk

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Like most shipping line executives, Jakob Friis Sorensen does not like to hear the words “empty containers”.

From the carrier perspective, Maersk Line Indonesia’s president director sees empty containers not only as wasted assets, but they also represent the current trade imbalance stalling Indonesia’s economy.

Too many empty containers or underutilised reefers are leaving the country’s ports bereft of exports – an imbalance at least partially caused by poor infrastructure and high logistics costs.

“Clearly, what is required for Indonesia’s manufacturing sector to ...