IECIE Indonesian Expo: Interviews with Customs and Industry Regulators

Oct.21.2022
IECIE Indonesian Expo: Interviews with Customs and Industry Regulators
The IECIE expo in Jakarta showcased Indonesia's booming e-cigarette industry and tax policies to promote healthy usage.

On October 20th, the Shenzhen Electronic Cigarette Industry Expo (IECIE) held an event in Jakarta, Indonesia at the Jakarta International Expo Center. The exhibition covered over 12,000 square meters and had nearly 100 participating companies. It was expected to attract over 10,000 attendees. 2FIRSTS, a global cooperative media of IECIE, and the strategic media partner of China Electronics Chamber of Commerce Electronic Cigarette Professional Committee, set up a newsroom at the exhibition to provide full coverage of the event.


During the exhibition, 2FIRSTS interviewed Mr. Nirwala, the Director of Compliance for the Indonesian Customs Authority, in the press room to discuss communication and interests with relevant stakeholders.


The 2FIRSTS frontline team asked Mr. Nirwala about Indonesia's import-export data and the size of the country's e-cigarette industry. According to Mr. Nirwala, the e-cigarette industry in Indonesia has experienced rapid growth from 2018 to 2021, with tax revenues increasing by 530%. He emphasized that the Indonesian government's taxation aims to protect the public from excessive e-cigarette use, while also promoting economic development in the country.


When discussing specific tax policies, Mr. Nirwala stated, "Until 2022, e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes will have the same policy. However, this year we will separate the two policies, with e-cigarettes having a new policy that is relatively friendly to distributors and brands. We will also listen to industry suggestions to ensure everyone's interests are protected.


According to Mr. Nirwala, the Indonesian e-cigarette policy will also undergo gradual adjustments. The government will consider the following aspects in the policy-making process:


The Indonesian government is currently assessing the impact of electronic cigarettes on public health as the primary factor in determining taxation policies. Other considerations include employee qualifications, factory environment, and industry size. The taxation price must strike a balance - if too low, it could lead to excessive e-cigarette use, but if too high, it could drive consumers towards the black market and negatively impact legitimate e-cigarette businesses. Therefore, the government is still weighing its options regarding taxation.


After hearing presentations from 2FIRSTS frontline staff on the regulation of electronic cigarettes in China, as well as in the UK, EU and other countries, Mr Nirwala expressed a strong interest in further communication. These presentations will also be shared with Indonesia's health and trade departments.


At the end of the interview, Mr. Nirwala expressed a warm welcome to Chinese electronic cigarette companies to invest and establish factories in Indonesia. He also mentioned that the country will be adjusting policies related to the electronic cigarette industry to balance the interests of the government, users, and electronic cigarette manufacturers.


To learn more about the IECIE Jakarta Vape Expo, please click on the featured image to access the dedicated section.


Statement


1. This article is intended solely for internal industry discussion and communication, and does not contain any brand or product promotion or recommendations. 2. Smoking is detrimental to health. Minors are prohibited from reading this article.


This article is an original creation of Shenzhen 2FIRSTS Technology Co., Ltd. The copyright and permission to use belong to the company, and no individual or organization is permitted to copy, reprint or use in any other way without authorization, which would infringe upon the company's copyright. The company reserves the right to pursue legal responsibility for any unauthorized use.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

UK Councils Seize More Than 1.3 Million Non-Compliant Vapes One Year After Disposable Ban
UK Councils Seize More Than 1.3 Million Non-Compliant Vapes One Year After Disposable Ban
One year after the UK disposable vape ban came into force, local authorities continue to seize illegal and non-compliant vaping products. FOI data compiled by nicotine retailer Northerner shows more than 1.3 million products were seized between June 2025 and May 2026, with Bolton recording the highest number of seizures and Swansea reporting the highest estimated value.
Jul.21
BAT's VELO Partners With McLaren F1 Team for Global Fan Campaign to Expand Nicotine Pouch Brand Reach
BAT's VELO Partners With McLaren F1 Team for Global Fan Campaign to Expand Nicotine Pouch Brand Reach
BAT-owned nicotine pouch brand VELO and the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team have launched a global fan engagement campaign offering motorsport enthusiasts opportunities to win exclusive team-related experiences. The initiative aims to connect racing culture, fan interaction and VELO’s brand experience across global markets. The partnership reflects BAT’s broader strategy of expanding modern nicotine product brands beyond traditional tobacco categories through lifestyle and cultural marketing.
Jul.23
PMI Expands Colorado Investment to $1.2 Billion to Boost ZYN Nicotine Pouch Production
PMI Expands Colorado Investment to $1.2 Billion to Boost ZYN Nicotine Pouch Production
Philip Morris International (PMI) is expanding its investment in its Golden, Colorado campus, bringing total investment to approximately $1.2 billion to support its smoke-free products business. The investment will strengthen PMI’s research, production and innovation capabilities in smoke-free products. As one of the world’s largest tobacco companies, PMI has continued advancing its “Smoke-Free Future” strategy through heated tobacco, oral nicotine and other reduced-risk product categories.
PMI
Jul.28
French Vape Market Under Pressure as Europe’s First Listed Vape Company Kumulus Vape Reports 7.8% H1 Revenue Decline, Retail Sales Rise 41.5%
French Vape Market Under Pressure as Europe’s First Listed Vape Company Kumulus Vape Reports 7.8% H1 Revenue Decline, Retail Sales Rise 41.5%
Kumulus Vape, Europe’s first publicly listed vape company, reported a 7.8% year-on-year decline in first-half 2026 revenue. Amid changing conditions in France’s vape market, the company said channel diversification helped offset pressure, with physical store sales increasing 41.5% year on year. Listed on Euronext Access Paris in 2019 and later transferred to Euronext Growth Paris, Kumulus Vape is viewed as a representative company of Europe’s vape sector. Its performance highlights the industry’s shift from rapid expansion toward more operationally focused growth.
Jul.27
Japan Health Ministry Cites Limited Evidence in Decision Not to Tighten Heated Tobacco Rules
Japan Health Ministry Cites Limited Evidence in Decision Not to Tighten Heated Tobacco Rules
Japan’s health ministry has proposed not tightening regulations on heated tobacco products to the same level as cigarettes as part of a review of passive smoking measures, with an expert panel broadly agreeing with the proposal, Jiji Press reported.
Jul.10
KT&G’s Lil Strengthens Market Lead in Korea as Heated Tobacco Share Reaches 47.4%
KT&G’s Lil Strengthens Market Lead in Korea as Heated Tobacco Share Reaches 47.4%
According to South Korea’s UpKorea, KT&G’s heated tobacco brand Lil reached a 47.4% share of Korea’s heated tobacco stick market in the first quarter of 2026. The company is expanding its next-generation products (NGP) business through product development, technology investment and overseas growth. KT&G reported NGP sales of 890.1 billion won (approximately US$650 million) in 2025, up significantly from 279.3 billion won in 2020. Lil products are now available in 34 markets, while KT&G continues building its technology portfolio through patents and multiple product platforms.
Jul.23