Day: October 5, 2021

Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Tuesday visited an exhibition showcasing the arms and weapons system of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) near the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, which was held to mark the 76th anniversary of TNI.

“The exhibition aims to show the transparency of the state budget to the public that it has been used to purchase the military armament system,” he said.

Furthermore, by conducting the exhibition, the President said, he expected that the public would get to know more about TNI’s weaponry, especially ones which are rarely known, for instance, the rocket launching Artillery Saturation Rocket System or Astros II MK6.

“We have 56 units of Astros II MK6, which rockets can reach a distance of 39 km. The units were recently bought. For instance, we just bought this one in 2014. Thus, it can be seen that they are new items,” he informed.

In addition, the exhibition also displayed military equipment made by Indonesian producers: 35 units of Anoa tactical vehicles manufactured by state-owned PT Pindad (Persero); 8 units of Indonesia Light Strike Vehicle (ILSV) Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) made by PT Jala Berikat Nusantara Perkasa; 19 units of light strike vehicles P6 ATAV produced by PT Sentra Surya Ekajaya; as well as 2 units of Turangga APC made by PT Karya Tugas Anda.

Meanwhile, beside the Astros II MK6, which was manufactured in Brazil, foreign-made military armament systems displayed at the exhibition included two units of Sherpa Light Scout light armored tactical vehicles, two units of Bushmaster tactical vehicles, 18 units of Mistral missiles, two units of Mistral multi-purpose combat vehicles (MPCV), and four units of Mistral Coordination Post (MCP) radars.

Moreover, two units of BTR-4, one unit of Alligator, four units of multiple rocket launchers RM-70 Vampire along with one unit of Tatrapan tactical vehicle, two units of Orlikon Skyshield, and six units of field artilleries Caesar 155 MM were also showcased at the exhibition.

President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo arrived at the defense equipment exhibition in a golf-car along with the Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and Madam Wury Ma’ruf Amin.

Source: Antara News

Jakarta (ANTARA) – State railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), through its sub-holding PT KAI Wisata, is operating tourist and airport trains to support passenger mobility in several regions, KAI’s commercial director, Dadan Rudiansyah, has said.

KAI has decided to open service trains for all tourists to improve local tourism amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Rudiansyah remarked.

“KAI helps to rising local tourism up by providing trains to offer comfort for international and domestic tourists when they visit various regions,” he said at a webinar on ‘The Role of Railway SOE in Supporting Local Economic Recovery and Tourism’ here on Tuesday.

The availability of trains at Yogyakarta International Airport can shorten travel time between the airport and downtown Yogyakarta from 90 minutes to 40 minutes, he highlighted. PT KAI has also reactivated the Cibatu-Garut train line in West Java as a form of commitment to support local governments in encouraging economic growth and tourism in the region, he added.

“We conducted the railway reactivation to Garut in 2019 and it has ended yesterday. However, KAI’s innovation will continue,” he said.

KAI is aiming to meet logistics and human mobilization needs that have been increasing every year, Rudiansyah added.

He said the efforts align with the government’s vision to increase accessibility to the regions for restoring Indonesia’s economy.

Therefore, he said, KAI has continued working on train lines addition, reactivation, and improvement, so that the number of train trips can be multiplied.

KAI is committed to serving and meeting the community’s needs for transportation, especially trains, he added.

“I think KAI can take more roles in improving the economy in our country. We accelerate the train’s travel time and improve our train services to serve faster and better,” he remarked.

Source: Antara News

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has highlighted many students’ works created during real work lectures (KKN) and sought their realization.

According to the ministry, the students’ works have many creative ideas but have not been optimally used to derive benefits.

“There are many creative ideas for student innovations. Many of them are extraordinary,” acting director general of higher education research and technology at the Education Ministry, Nizam, said at a national conference here on Tuesday.

Students’ creative works are often stopped at the exhibition stage or only featured once a year in the National Education Day or Independence Day showcases, he noted.

According to him, Indonesia has more than four thousand universities and 300 thousand lecturers teaching about eight million students.

With that figure, he said, the country should be able to generate more creative ideas that are smooth and applicable, both by industry players and the community. “We want these works to be realized and run. So, they can be used by industry and the public,” Nizam added.

For encouraging and assisting students in channeling their ideas, the ministry has created a digital platform, Kedaireka, he informed.

Through the platform, students who have creative ideas can meet with investors and innovators so they can work together to meet the industry’s needs, Nizam said.

Currently, more than 25 thousand students and industry partners have joined Kedaireka, he informed.

He also said he hoped that the platform would bring committed students and industries together to accelerate pentahelix synergy, while the government helps them to develop the ideas.

“If there is an idea match between the investors, innovators, and industry, and the industry is committed to use the product, the government will help with the funding,” he said.

Source: Antara News

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Digital financial services can improve the financial inclusion of the community and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)), according to the Demographic Institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (LD FEB UI).

“It widens the matters related to formal finance. So, not only one or two aspects are being seen, but also from the side of society and entrepreneurs involved in the digital ecosystem,” head of LD FEB UI, Turro Wongkaren, said at an online event here on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, deputy head of LD FEB UI, Paksi C.K Walandouw, affirmed that MSME players have tended to lean more towards using digital products and finance ecosystems in carrying out their business.

“Optimism is something we have always been looking for. This is what makes MSMEs and consumers survive in the pandemic. It is true that in addition to the economic impact, (the digital ecosystem) eases and opens access to formal financial services that were lacking,” Walandouw explained.

The majority of MSMEs are more confident and optimistic of utilizing digital services, he informed. The potential of digital businesses is always encouraged and makes them optimistic about the potential of online businesses, he added.

According to LD FEB UI researcher Alfindra Primaldhi, digitalization serves as a catalyst for increasing financial inclusion in the levels of society. “Digital adoption pushes the utilization of financial products that have not previously been preferred by the community,” Primaldhi said.

“So, now (digital financial inclusion) is not only for consumption and daily needs but also the financial future of its users,” he added.

The results of research conducted by LD FEB UI, entitled ‘The Role of GoTo Financial towards Indonesia’s Financial Inclusion in 2021’, were also shared at the event.

The research respondents were consumers and businesses using GoTo financial services and products since before the pandemic, or March 2020, he informed.

A total of 7,355 respondents filled out the questionnaire in full, comprising 5,639 consumers and 1,716 GoTo Financial MSME merchants, he said.

Ninety-five percent of the respondents were spread across 21 cities—Manado, Samarinda, Balikpapan, Pekanbaru, Makassar, Palembang, Lampung, Medan, Denpasar, Solo, South Tangerang, Depok, Semarang, Malang, Bogor, Yogyakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi, Surabaya, Bandung, and Jakarta.

Data was collected online in the second week of August 2021, with a simple random sampling method (M.o.E 2 percent, C.I. 95 percent), he said.

The research showed that digital financial services were able to improve financial inclusion of the community and MSMEs, he added.

“During the pandemic, the utilization of digital platforms has increased rapidly, including digital financial services. Electronic payment methods are replacing cash as the main payment method,” Wongkaren explained.

Financial inclusion can expand people’s access to formal financial institutions for various needs such as saving, getting insurance, ease of digital transactions, credit for business as well as daily needs, he added.

Source: Antara News

Jayapura (ANTARA) – East Java archers Diananda Choirunisa and Riau Ega Agatha, who also competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, snatched the gold medal in the mixed recurve event at the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON).

The match was held at the Harapan Village Sports Complex, East Sentani sub-district, Jayapura district on Tuesday.

The pair succeeded in defeating Yogyakarta Special Region’s Titik Kusumawardani and Hendra Purnama with a score of 6-2.

Choirunisa and Agatha did not encounter any significant obstacles to their entering the final. In the quarter-finals, the pair won 5-1 over Juliana and M. Hanif Wijaya from Jambi.

In the semi-finals, they defeated Papua’s Rezza Oktavia and Anak Agung Bagus Gangga with a score of 6-2.

The smooth wins in the two prior matches boosted the confidence of the two Olympics athletes — proven by their victory in the final match.

After receiving the medal, Choirunisa said that she was grateful for being able to meet her personal target of getting three gold medals at the XX Papua PON. She previously bagged gold medals in the women’s recurve single and team events.

“Alhamdulillah (all praise be to God), I was able to achieve the gold medals according to personal and coach targets,” she remarked.

Winning the gold medal was also quite meaningful for Agatha: it was his lone medal in the three events he took part in.

“Alhamdulillah, I can bag the gold medal. Hopefully, the medal will motivate my comrades in other events,” he said.

Meanwhile, Central Kalimantan’s Linda Lestari and Alex Edward took the bronze medal by defeating the host’s representatives with a score of 6-2.

Source: Antara News

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Transportation Ministry, through the Makassar Merchant Marine Polytechnic (PIP), is committed to generating reliable human resources as part of efforts to build national shipping, an official has said.

“Merchant Marine Polytechnics, including PIP Makassar, have an important role in creating quality, reliable, innovative, creative, and competitive human resources both nationally and internationally,” acting head of the Transportation Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDMP), Capt. Arif Priadi, said in a written statement here on Tuesday.

The efforts for building human resources are aimed at realizing connectivity and safety of shipping, he added.

Overseen by the Ministry of Transportation, PIP Makassar focuses on sea transportation studies. It is the oldest merchant marine education institution in Indonesia and is preparing to mark its century on October 13, 2021.

PIP Makassar, as the oldest shipping college, has a long history and has contributed tremendously to grooming the nation’s merchant marines, Priadi added.

Despite having a long history in the field of marine transportation education, PIP Makassar has continued to innovate for developing excellent, professional, and ethical sailors, he added. PIP Makassar has also adopted information technology in the business process, especially for realizing Society 5.0, he said.

Society 5.0 refers to a society that has reached a balance between technology and economic systems, which are integrated online and offline, he explained.

“This is in line with the government’s strategic program and the direction of the Minister of Transportation that the quality of the human resources is the backbone of the transportation sector progress,” he added.

As a polytechnic, since 2014, PIP Makassar has been accredited “B” by the National Accreditation Board of Higher Education (BAN PT) for three study programs. In August 2021, the Nautical Science Study Program received A (superior) accreditation.

The accreditation of the Marine and Port Engineering Study Program as well as the institution is still in process.

Source: Antara News

Mataram (ANTARA) – The Cooperative, Industry, and Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Service in Mataram has prepared MSMEs in the West Nusa Tenggara provincial capital to welcome the upcoming World Superbike event at the Mandalika Circuit, an official has said.

The Superbike event will take place from November 19-21, 2021.

“Around 1,500 MSMEs have prepared for the Mataram Mandalika Fair to welcome the World Superbike Championship,” head of the Mataram Cooperative, Industry, and MSMEs Service, Dedi Supriadi, said on Tuesday.

According to him, MSMEs in Mataram are ready to participate in the fair, saying his office has provided training almost every week to business owners.

“We are optimistic that MSME business owners in Mataram have prepared themselves with various types of their products,” he added.

Furthermore, Supriadi said his agency is waiting for information on the fixed schedule from the Mataram City Tourism Service, which will then be announced to MSMEs in Mataram. With the number of MSMEs in Mataram reaching in the thousands, MSME participants for the Mataram Mandalika Fair will be chosen fairly, he added.

Several types of MSMEs products have been prepared for the fair, including the culinary specialties of Mataram, such as Taliwang Chicken and Rembiga Satay, and suitable souvenirs, he informed. In addition, there are also processed coffee from Moringa leaves, as well as cakes made from local food ingredients, he added.

Handicrafts of export quality, namely craft made with pearls, silver, and gold, as well as Sasambo batik clothes will also feature at the fair, Supriadi said.

“All of our MSMEs are ready with various souvenirs from Mandalika and Mataram,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, an MSME business owner, Rustiatik Arini, informed that she has prepared several products for the Mataram Mandalika Fair to welcome the WSBK Championship.

“I have prepared coffee, honey, and various processed local foods in the form of pastries,” she informed.

She said she hopes that the Mataram Mandalika Fair will bring more opportunity and open a wider market for MSMEs, as well as increase transactions, which have experienced a significant decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Antara News

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The government is committed to increasing electricity access for people living in the outermost, remote, and underdeveloped (3T) areas through the 100-percent electrification target next year, the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister has said.

“We have a program to provide new electricity installations. Some 80 thousand connections have been allocated in the state budget for the 2022 term,” Minister Arifin Tasrif informed at a webinar accessed from here on Tuesday.

The program will cover households who cannot afford to pay for new installations in 3T areas that are already supported by electricity, he said.

According to the data from the ministry, the national average electrification ratio reached 99.37 percent in July 2021.

Currently, there are several provinces which need special attention—East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Papua, Tasrif said. As rural electricity supply has relied on diesel power plants till date, the government is encouraging them to be replaced by renewable ones according to the villages’ potential, he added.

In addition, the government is also pushing the rooftop solar power plant program to increase consumers’ role in clean energy utilization, the minister said.

“Furthermore, the government also supports the development of electricity connection within and inter-islands to increase the reliability of electricity and the implementation of renewable energy in a place where the electricity source is far from the customers,” he added.

Currently, the government is conducting a study for inter-island connection to connect major islands in Indonesia, he said.

The interconnection program can also overcome the oversupply of large electricity systems, he added.

The Sumatra-Malaysia electricity interconnection is scheduled for commercial operation in 2030, while a study is still being conducted to export clean electrical energy through the inter-island connection from Sumatra to Singapore, Tasrif said.

Source: Antara News