Green light for deliberations

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has signed a presidential letter permitting the House of Representatives to begin deliberations on the bill, reports The Jakarta Post.

Previously, the president opted to kill the bill.

The bill seeks to triple cigarette production to 524 billion by 2020.

On March 15, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said the President would not issue a letter and would send Trade Minister Enggartiasto Enggar Lukita and State Secretariat Pratikno to inform the House of the government’s stance on the bill.

However, after Pratikno and Enggartriasto met with House leaders on March 19, Jokowi changed his mind about the bill and sent the letter on March 20.