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The Indonesian Textile Association on Tuesday hailed the government’s plan to require four major seaports to operate around the clock as part of its commitment to boost trade this year.

Ade Sudradjat, deputy chairman of the association, known as the API, said the plan would speed up the flow of imports and exports through ports.

“Customs and excise offices should have operated 24 hours a day since a few years ago like other seaports in Malaysia and Singapore,” Ade said.

Pardamean Sipahutar, operations director of customs expediter PT Dayoda Gihon Anugerah, said the around-the-clock opening hours would speed up the time to process import documents.

Previously the four ports — Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta; Belawan in Medan, North Sumatra; Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, East Java; and Soekarno-Hatta in Makassar, South Sulawesi — were only open for eight hours a day, six days a week.

The new hours, announced by the government last week, are being tested at the ports and will be officially implemented next January.

Tanjung Priok port spokesman Hambar Wiyadi said that the port was anticipating an increase in the amount of general cargo it handles from 9.4 million tons in 2008 to 10.2 million tons this year.

“By 2011 we are anticipating cargo volume will reach around 11.2 million tons,” he said.