Day: August 28, 2021

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President leading rapid handling of COVID-19 pandemic: Hartarto

Chairman of the Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto, has said that the rapid handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is being led directly by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

“So, it is better to be led directly by the President with the help of TNI – Polri. We have tried to handle it from lower administration, but it did not work out,” Hartarto remarked during President Joko Widodo’s meeting with leaders of coalition political parties on Wednesday, which was streamed on the official Youtube channel of the Presidential Secretariat on Saturday.

He was referring to the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Greater Jakarta, Bekasi, and Bogor district that had failed to suppress COVID-19 transmission.

Regarding economic policies, the government has carried out major reforms by implementing Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning job creation, Hartarto said.

“This is one of the biggest reforms carried out by President Jokowi,” he added.

Hartarto said that Indonesia’s economic growth in the coming years must be much higher than the average growth that has been achieved. This would help eradicate poverty and create many jobs so that development targets can be achieved, he added.

“Regarding the future economy, we need to achieve growth above the achievable average; the main homework is to encourage poverty reduction and employment opportunities,” said Hartarto, who is also Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs.

The chairmen of several parties attended the President’s meeting with the leadership of the coalition political parties — PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, accompanied by PDIP secretary-general Hasto Kristianto, Nasdem Party general chairman Surya Paloh, accompanied by Nasdem secretary-general Johnny G Plate, and Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, accompanied by Gerindra secretary-general Ahmad Muzani.

Golkar Party general chairman Airlangga Hartarto, accompanied by Golkar secretary-general Lodewijk Paulus, PKB general chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, accompanied by PKB secretary-general Hasanuddin Wahid, PPP general chairman Suharso Monoarfa, accompanied by PPP secretary-general Arwani Thomafi, and new friends of the coalition of PAN general chairman Zulkifli Hasan and PAN secretary-general Eddy Soeparno were also present at the meeting.

Source: ANTARA News

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Transportation Ministry supports mass vaccinations in Purworejo

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Transportation Ministry helped organize mass vaccinations in Purworejo district, Central Java on Saturday, with Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi reviewing the program, which targeted three thousand people, including residents, drivers, and students.

“As Mr. President has instructed that ministries and agencies must help with mass vaccination programs. Our support of mass vaccinations in several regions has seen some 250 thousand people getting vaccinated. With mass vaccinations in Purworejo, it is expected that it would cover more (people) in Purworejo, thus herd immunity is achieved,” Sumadi said in a statement received here on Saturday.

For organizing the vaccination program, the Transportation Ministry worked with other stakeholders such as the national defense force, police force, Central Java government, and state-owned enterprises, he informed.

Mass vaccination programs were also hosted in several other locations such as 10 Purworejo district public health centers, 0708 Purworejo District Military Command, and schools, the minister said.

“With more and more people taking vaccines, it is expected that herd immunity against COVID-19 will be formed, which is expected to immediately restore and drive economic activity and community activities will return to normal towards Advanced Indonesia,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, deputy head of Purworejo district, Yuli Hastuti, welcomed the vaccination activities.

She deemed the collaboration between the central, regional government, national defense force, police force, and all stakeholders important for immediately arresting COVID-19 spread in Purworejo district.

House of Representatives member, Sujadi, who was also present at the event, expressed his appreciation for the program and the opportunity for helping organize it. He said he expected Purworejo district to soon be free of COVID-19.

The Transportation Ministry along with Jasa Raharja and Pertamina provided 500 ‘Devotion for the Country’ assistance packages to representatives of the vaccine recipients — online motorcycle taxi drivers, public transportation drivers, and traders. In addition, they symbolically provided helmets to representatives of teachers and students.

Furthermore, to support the Nusantara Fruit program, the Nusantara Fruit Package was symbolically given to healthcare workers on duty.

The Transportation Ministry also reviewed the restoration of Syech Baidlowi Santren Mosque, Purworejo district. The restoration project involved residents living in and around the district, the ministry informed.

Source: ANTARA News

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Spokesperson outlines criteria for pregnant women to be vaccinated

– The government’s spokesperson for COVID-19 handling Reisa Broto Asmoro explained the criteria for pregnant women, who can participate in the COVID-19 vaccination.

“It is recommended that pregnant women who participate in COVID-19 vaccination are in their second trimester wherein their gestational period has exceeded 12 weeks,” Asmoro stated during a virtual talk show on Friday evening.

She explained that during the second trimester of pregnancy, the foetus has grown stronger, with an average weight of 42 grams and length reaching nine centimeters.

Asmoro noted that the baby’s bones and skeleton also become harder, its hearing capability has improved, and brain capacity has developed since the first trimester.

She suggested pregnant women to express their intent to be vaccinated to their obstetrician or midwife.

In addition, Asmoro emphasized that they should fulfill all the basic preconditions for vaccination, such as not having any fever or temperature below 37.5 degrees Celcius and blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg.

“They should not have any disease and show no sign of preeclampsia, hypertension, and others,” she affirmed.

People often raise the question of whether pregnant women can be administered the COVID-19 vaccine. Significant amount of information related to it is not yet verified.

To this end, Asmoro called on citizens to be careful of hoaxes that spread misleading information regarding COVID-19.

She urged citizens to recheck every information they gain through official website.

The government’s official website that shows information regarding the pandemic situation in Indonesia is covid19.go.id., according to Asmoro.

Citizens can check the validity of the information that they obtain through that website, she asserted.

“You just need to click Hoax Buster, enter the keywords, and check if the news is hoax or not,” Asmoro explained.

Source: ANTARA News

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KONI chairperson confirms sporting venues for Papua PON XX ready

The Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) unveiled on Saturday that sporting venues for Papua’s PON National Games XX, scheduled on October 2-15, 2021, were ready with only minor finishing touches required at some places for the completion.

“In general, out of our target, preparations for the PON sporting venues have reached 95 percent completion, with minor finishing touches necessary at some places to complete the process,” KONI Chairperson Marciano Norman noted in a statement.

Norman earlier inspected sporting venues prepared for the PON National Games, with a rugby arena constructed by PT PP as one venue that he had visited.

“The rugby arena is currently in the finishing stages, as synthetic grass for the arena has yet to be laid out,” Norman added.

Despite preparations for the rugby arena yet to be completed, Norman insisted that the progress aligned with the schedule set earlier.

“Rugby matches during the PON National Games will take place on October 10-13, just a few days before the closing of the games. The matches, among the last played, give the contractor additional time to complete the arena,” he stated.

Other sporting venues, spread across Papua’s four regions of Jayapura City and Jayapura, Mimika, and Merauke Districts, are currently under KONI’s supervision to ensure their readiness for the PON National Games scheduled in October 2021.

“Other sporting venues are ensured to be in their best condition,” he noted.

Apart from inspecting the rugby arena constructed within the Indonesian Air Force compound on Friday (Aug 27), Norman also inspected sporting venues for baseball, indoor and outdoor hockey, softball, cricket, and the athletes’ village.

Norman confirmed that all venues and the athletes’ village were ready for the games, and internet had also been installed at sporting venues.

Source: ANTARA News

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Indonesia honored to host MotoGP pre-season at Mandalika Circuit

Indonesia is honored to host the MotoGP pre-season test at the Mandalika Circuit, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on February 11-13, 2022, Chief Strategic Communication Officer of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) Happy Harinto stated.

“It is an honor for the Mandalika circuit, for Indonesia, to be able to serve as a location for the pre-season test in 2022,” Harinto told ANTARA on Saturday.

Although counted as a new circuit, the Mandalika Circuit has also joined the World Superbike calendar as the host of the closing series on November 12-14 this year.

Harinto believes this is an extraordinary opportunity for Indonesia, since not all countries can be trusted as locations for holding pre-season tests. Various aspects were tested during the pre-season test, starting from the physical racers, motorbikes, engines, chassis, tires, and clothes to helmets.

“Hence, basically everything is being tested from drivers to test technicians, so later standardization or technological specifications will be applied during the 2022 racing season,” he stated.

Most importantly, all MotoGP riders along with manufacturers and partners will come to the Mandalika circuit, he remarked.

Harinto later noted that this is an Indonesian automotive asset to grab the world’s attention. Indonesia should be able to take a cue from automotive industries of other countries.

“Hopefully, the future of Indonesia’s automotive will be brighter. This is also an encouragement not only from the automotive sector but also the tourism industry. We should package and manage the presence of a MotoGP class world event properly,” he emphasized.

Prior to Mandalika, MotoGP had scheduled a pre-season test at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on February 5-6.

The shakedown test session will also be held from January 31 to February 2 in Sepang, with attendees comprising test riders and rookies.

After testing the latest motorcycle package in Malaysia, the racers will head to Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Meanwhile, the temporary pre-season test for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes will be held at the Jerez Circuit, Spain, on February 22-24, 2022.

Source: ANTARA News

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Domestic food production suffices demand, lowers food imports

The Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that domestic food production in 2021 sufficed the national food demand, so food imports can be curtailed this year.

The ministry’s spokesman Kuntoro Boga Andri informed that the current national rice stocks as of August 2021 reached 7.60 million tons, comprising 1.52 million tons in rice millings, 708 thousand tons in market circulation, and the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) that is holding around 1.16 million tons, and others.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data also showed a positive trend in Indonesia’s agriculture exports from January until July 2021, increasing by 8.72 percent (YoY), with a total export value of around US$2.24 billion.

Indonesia’s total import value had reached US$15.11 billion as of July 2021, a decline of 12.22 percent as compared to imports in June 2021. Non-oil and natural gas imports, valued at US$13.33 billion, also decreased by 10.67 percent during the same period.

Andri noted that the Agriculture Ministry’s main role was to control national agriculture cultivation and productivity, and the price and supply chain control functions are handled in concert with other ministries or institutions.

The Agriculture Ministry encourages collaboration with relevant institutions to enhance product quality and value, he noted.

“We have achieved our target to control rice stocks for two years in a row. We also successfully maintain stocks for other 11 food commodities for Indonesia’s 270-million population,” Andri stated.

Andri pointed out that current issues faced by the ministry were related to marketing and logistics infrastructure, taking into account the perishable character of food commodities necessitated during a special handling process.

Collaboration with relevant institutions is also essential to improve existing infrastructure and enhance product distribution and post-harvest technology utilization, he noted.

“Collaboration from other ministries and institutions, as well from regional governments and stakeholders, is necessary to address those issues,” Andri affirmed.

Source: ANTARA News

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Indonesia presses for TKDN certification for electricity products

The government continues to encourage electricity products in Indonesia to have a local content requirement (TKDN) certificate in a bid to substitute imported products while fostering greater self-reliance in the local electricity industry.

Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated that the development of machinery and electricity supporting the equipment industry in Indonesia is currently expected to be in line with the increase in the use of domestic products.

“All communities and industries require electricity whose availability is continuous, affordable, and sufficient. This can spur domestic industries to provide quality and competitive electricity products,” he affirmed.

The government is focused on strengthening the energy industry, especially the electricity sector since electricity has until now been one of the main energy sources used by the community and industry in the country.

The government has readied various programs for this sector, including providing nine thousand free TKDN certificates.

Efforts to increase the use of domestic products, including electricity infrastructure, are in line with the mandate of Presidential Regulation Number 14 of 2017 on Acceleration of Electricity Infrastructure Development.

According to the regulation, the use of local products is one of the key aspects in the construction of a 35 thousand-megawatt power plant and a transmission network of 46 thousand circuit kilometers of transmission lines.

In an effort to realize TKDN in the electricity sector, the government requires synergy, support, and openness from all stakeholders.

“The involvement of domestic industries as partners in electricity projects, is expected to run optimally in accordance with the latest industrial conditions and capabilities,” Kartasasmita affirmed.

Based on the Industry Ministry’s data, the import value of the electrical equipment industry reached Rp116 trillion in 2019 and declined to Rp103 trillion in 2020.

The decline in imports indicates that the electricity supporting industry in Indonesia is growing and is able to meet demand in the domestic market.

Currently, there are 3,404 certified electrical equipment products out of which 413 products have a TKDN value below 25 percent. Some 664 products have a TKDN value between 25 percent and 40 percent, and 2,327 products with more than 40 percent of the TKDN value.

The Indonesian Government believed that the policy of using domestic products and the rapid development of electricity infrastructure would have a wide multiplier effect, especially in boosting the performance of the national industrial sector.

“Electricity is like the heart of the industrial sector. Hence, it is not undue if investors keen to invest in Indonesia always look for available electricity supply,” the minister concluded.

Source: ANTARA News

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Ambon clove per-kg prices fluctuate to Rp90 thousand at Aug-end

Clove prices in Ambon City, Maluku, fluctuated to Rp90 thousand (around US$6.2) per kg at the end of August 2021, affected by demand vacillations in the main market in Surabaya, East Java.

Evi, a local clove merchant trading at the Setia Budi Road, Ambon, stated that clove price fluctuations in Surabaya were causal to the price change in Maluku. She informed that the current price of the commodity stood at Rp90 thousand, increasing from the earlier price of Rp87 thousand (around US$6) per kg.

She highlighted the discontent among fellow farmers over the changing price of the commodity in the last two months, yet they were helpless, as the price is entirely determined by the market mechanism in Surabaya’s markets.

“The price of cloves had increased in the last three days, up to Rp90 thousand, from Rp87 thousand. In mid-July, the price also hiked up to Rp105 thousand (around US$7.2) for one kg before continuously decreasing in August,” Evi stated.

Maluku Regional Industry and Trade Agency Head Elvis Patiselano admitted that Maluku’s clove price depended on the Surabaya market despite the region being a major clove producer.

He stated that the regional authority could not control the price, as it was fully determined by the market mechanism. The regional authority on price control is limited to basic and strategic commodities, such as rice and sugar, he added.

“The price of a commodity is determined by seller and buyer interactions. The government cannot set the commodities’ sale price unilaterally, except for basic and strategic commodities for which we could set the highest retail price,” Patiselano stated.

Apart from clove, he noted that several commodities were also affected by the recent price fluctuations. The price of copra was down to Rp11 thousand (around US$0.7) per kg, while the price of round nutmeg fluctuated in the price range of Rp85-95 thousand (around US$5.8-6.5) per kg.

Despite price fluctuations in several commodities, Patiselano also highlighted that the cost of nutmeg remained stable at Rp240 thousand (around US$16.5) per kg, while the cost of cacao beans stayed unchanged at Rp29 thousand (around US$2) per kg.

Source: ANTARA News

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