Jakarta, Sept. 26 -- The Indonesian government will not raise tobacco excise rates in 2026, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed on Friday.

Sadewa said he had consulted with major domestic cigarette industry players, where both sides exchanged views on the future of the sector and its tax policy.

"One thing I discussed with them was, do I need to change the excise rates in 2026? They said, as long as I do not change it, it will be enough for them. So I will not change the rates," he said.

Sadewa stressed that other strategies are also being prepared to sustain state revenue and support the cigarette industry's long-term viability.

One measure is to expand tobacco industrial zones, designed to attract illegal producers into ...