How PT Kary Indomas Elok unblocked its raw-material imports with AEO certification.

The company

PT Kary Indomas Elok (“KARY”) is a leading Korean foreign-investment (PMA) manufacturer of polyester plush fabrics and the largest producer of its kind in Indonesia, operating since 1995. Its high-quality fabric goes into export-oriented stuffed toys, garments and apparel, and home textiles, primarily for the European and United States markets.

Located in Kawasan Industri Mitra Karawang, the company runs two factory sites plus warehousing, covering knitting, dyeing, tentering, printing and finishing in-house.

The challenge

To meet its brand customers' quality requirements, KARY relies on imported yarn and in-grey fabric alongside local supply. In Indonesia, importing those materials means first obtaining a Pertimbangan Teknis (PERTEK) recommendation from the Ministry of Industry, then a Persetujuan Impor (PI) from the Ministry of Trade — under Permendag 16/2025 on import policy, Permendag 17/2025 on textile and textile-product imports, and Permenperin 27/2025 on PERTEK issuance for textiles.

That approval chain, combined with customs clearance at Tanjung Priok, created a compounding delay:

Why AEO was the answer

Authorized Economic Operator is the supply-chain security standard developed under the World Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards (WCO SAFE FoS) to make the cross-border movement of goods both more secure and more efficient. In Indonesia, an AEO is an economic operator formally recognised by Direktorat Jenderal Bea dan Cukai (DJBC) and granted specific and preferential customs treatment — in practice, a priority lane with customs.

Five benefits made the business case for KARY:

• International recognitionWCO acknowledgement and access to Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), widening and easing cross-border trade.
• Specific customs treatmentGeneral and special facilities granted on a risk-management basis.
• Faster customs inspectionSimplified document checks and physical examination of goods.
• Relaxations from other agenciesExemption from Ministry of Trade import restrictions (Lartas) for certain commodities — including textiles, as well as iron, steel, glass and plastics.
• Lighter cash-flow burden and cost savingsEligibility to use a Corporate Guarantee and to make periodic customs payments.

The engagement

In July 2025, KARY's management engaged RKM Consulting, a South Jakarta management consultancy working across IT, business and management systems — including international ISO standards and the AEO system — to take the company through certification.

The work followed RKM's standard four-stage AEO route: eligibility and gap analysis against the two general and seven special requirements; documentation of SOPs, risk register and evidence; implementation, internal audit and organisation-wide awareness training; and hands-on support through DJBC validation.

The outcome

KARY was formally recognised as an Operator Ekonomi Bersertifikat (Authorized Economic Operator) under Surat Keputusan Direktur Jenderal Bea dan Cukai No. KEP-94/BC/2026, issued in Jakarta on 22 April 2026.

The certificate was handed over at the Penyerahan Sertifikat AEO Tahun 2026 ceremony on 17 June 2026 at Gedung Merauke, DJBC headquarters in Jakarta, presented in person by the Director General of Customs and Excise, Letjen (Purn.) Djaka Budi Utama.

Recognition by DJBC as a certified Authorized Economic Operator is a source of pride for the employees, management and staff of PT Kary Indomas Elok — it places KARY among the manufacturers, exporters and importers operating at genuine international class. — From the PT Kary Indomas Elok AEO release, 31 July 2026 (translated from Bahasa Indonesia)