Day: April 27, 2022

Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo commended the Makassar Agriculture Quarantine Agency’s initiative to organize a farmers’ market event to help residents meet their food needs during the Eid al-Fitr period.

“We need to appreciate this event because the presence of a bargain market like this could help residents fulfill their basic food needs,” Limpo said while opening the Farmers’ Market and Quality Food Bazaar event organized by the Makassar Agriculture Quarantine Agency Office, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday.

The event demonstrated the quarantine office’s firm commitment to fulfilling its duty as the institution in charge of food availability in South Sulawesi along with the province’s Food Resilience Office, he added.

He then affirmed his ministry’s commitment to optimizing the management of basic foods in Indonesia’s 34 provinces, including South Sumatra.

The ministry has also set up a team that will monitor the stocks of 12 basic foods—rice, corn, soybean, red chili, bird’s eye chili, onion, garlic, beef, chicken meat, chicken egg, sugar, and cooking oil, Limpo informed.

The team will comprise officials from the first and second echelons of the ministry who will cooperate with the provincial authorities to monitor the 12 basic food stocks in markets, he said.

Meanwhile, Makassar Agricultural Quarantine Office head Lutfie Nasir said that the event will be held for two days from April 27–28, 2022.

The event has involved relevant institutions in South Sulawesi, such as the Makassar Agricultural Office, South Sumatra Livestock Office, State Logistics Board’s (Bulog’s) South Sumatra Office, and distributors of basic foods, he added.

“The Farmers’ Market event is expected to help stabilize the prices of basic needs (in the region) before Eid al-Fitr,” Nasir remarked.

The event is being held simultaneously in Gowa, Jeneponto, Barru, Soppeng, North Luwu, and Enrekang districts, the office head said.

Source: Antara News

Tesla will lose out if it does not invest in Indonesia, Investment Minister and Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Head Bahlil Lahadalia stated during an online press conference on Wednesday.

As a former businessman, Lahadalia opined that Tesla’s indecisiveness to enter Indonesia is part of a communication strategy in building a negotiation.

At the start, it is possible that Tesla feels that the offer from Indonesia is not yet prospective for its business, he remarked.

At the very least, the minister outlined two reasons for Indonesia having the advantage as a supplier of raw materials for electric car battery.

Firstly, Indonesia’s nickel ore reserves constitute 25 percent of the world’s nickel reserves. Secondly, the mineral supply for other battery raw materials exists within the nation.

“We have manganese. There are four components of electric car battery, specifically manganese, cobalt, nickel, and lithium. Three of these are found in Indonesia,” he pointed out.

“I believe that this is a matter of strategy. They may ask for more during that time, but Mr. Luhut does not want to give it to them during that time,” he remarked.

He deemed that the decision of Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan was typical, given that the nation cannot be dictated by entrepreneurs.

Currently, there are several global investors in the electric vehicle battery industry that have confirmed to invest in Indonesia, Lahadalia noted.

These investors comprise LG, CATL, VW, BASF, and BritishVolt. This certainly has its own appeal for Indonesia.

“If Tesla does not enter, America will be supplied by Europe and the UK. I think, geo-economically speaking, Tesla will see this as something interesting to be developed,” he stated.

Moreover, the minister admitted to not having contacted Pandjaitan concerning the result of his meeting with Tesla.

“I am also curious, but I believe that Mr. Luhut has the skills to lobby with Elon Musk,” he remarked.

He expects that what was agreed upon in the US can be a mutually beneficial deal and bring prosperity to the nation and people.

Tesla had earlier expressed interest to enter Indonesia, but it had not been realized.

The expectation that the electric car factory will enter Indonesia emerged once again after the meeting between CEO of Tesla Inc. Elon Musk and Pandjaitan.

Source: Antara News

Preparations for the second G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) session scheduled in Yogyakarta on May 10-12, 2022, had already reached 90-percent completion, according to the Ministry of Manpower.

“Our preparations are 90-percent complete because we have already prepared for the second EWG before the first EWG began,” Manpower Minister Special Staff Hindun Anisah noted in a written statement on Wednesday.

To support the success of the G20 EWG, the ministry had formed technical teams, such as the logistics team, media team, and health team, since before the first G20 EWG started.

This had already been prepared and coordinated since the start until the most minute details, she remarked.

“We had also already conducted a survey at locations in Yogyakarta not just once to ensure that they are ready,” she added.

The ministry had also communicated and coordinated with the Yogyakarta provincial government and the police as a precautionary measure against anything that may disrupt the second G20 EWG.

The decision on Yogyakarta serving as the host of the second G20 EWG relates to one of the topics brought up for the meeting, specifically Sustainable Job Creation towards Changing World of Work.

In Yogyakarta, there are several micro, small, and medium enterprises that can share their best practices and businesses managed by people with disabilities that can serve as an example for other parties.

“Thus, we are keen to showcase that what matter we bring up is not just hot air but there are real examples,” Anisah remarked.

It so happens that there are examples in Yogyakarta, so the government decided to choose Yogyakarta, she explained.

After the meeting, a national seminar will be held on EWG with Gajah Mada University on May 13, 2022.

Source: Antara News

The Indonesian government is committed to enhancing cooperation with the Chinese government to tackle transnational crime, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly has said.

“This collaboration is motivated by the important role played by China in helping ASEAN countries to address transnational crimes,” Laoly said, according to a statement received on Wednesday.

The minister made the remarks while receiving a courtesy visit from the Ambassador of China to Indonesia, Lu Kang, at the ministry’s office here.

As an ASEAN dialogue partner country, China is playing an important role in assisting ASEAN member countries in managing transnational crime more effectively, hence, collaboration in the sector must be enhanced, according to Laoly.

“Indonesia and China must enhance their cooperation and coordination in the law enforcement scope,” he stressed.

During their meeting, the minister and Ambassador Lu discussed a cooperation agreement between Indonesia and China that was finalized by Law No. 8 of 2006 on the Ratification of the Treaty Between the Republic of Indonesia and the People’s Republic of China on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

“We had inked a mutual legal assistance treaty that had been ratified (by our law), yet, we have no agreement on extradition between Indonesia and China,” Laoly pointed out.

Laoly and Lu also discussed cooperation regarding immigration and intellectual property based on a cooperation agreement inked between the ministry and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) in 2019.

The minister highlighted that relations between the countries were further enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta made a grant of three units of body temperature detection cameras to the ministry’s Directorate General of Immigration.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Lu said that he agrees that Indonesia and China must enhance cooperation to manage transnational crime.

“A cooperation between China and Indonesia to manage transnational crimes issue is indeed necessary,” the ambassador remarked.

Source: Antara News

The Indonesian government and the United Nations (UN) signed an agreement on security cooperation ahead of the 7th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Wednesday.

Deputy for systems and strategies at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Raditya Jati, said that the agreement signifies a joint collaboration to succeed the 7th GPDRR, which will be held in Bali from May 23–28, 2022.

“Collaboration between parties and commitment to work together as an integrated and solid team will become an important contribution to succeed the 7th GPDRR,” he remarked in a press release issued on Wednesday.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will provide a legal basis for and demonstrate shared commitment toward GPDRR, as well as detail joint security operations, including anticipatory measures for potential security hazards and natural disasters, he informed.

The MoU focuses on security cooperation, which will regulate the role of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri), and the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS), Jati said.

Meanwhile, UNDSS coordinator for event security, Sassan Rahimi, lauded the support from the Indonesian government, especially in the field of security, for the upcoming GPDRR. He said the cooperation had been built since the preparations had been very good and professional.

“The GPDRR event is a very important event for the United Nations. We appreciate the help from the Indonesian government as the host for this year’s GPDRR. We will fully support security cooperation to build a better world, as well as the 2022 GPDRR event,” Rahimi said.

The collaboration is a part of joint disaster risk reduction measures. Each party will conduct a risk analysis, design an operation plan, identify the resources needed, and ensure that all of them are available in the area to anticipate any potential crisis.

Bali Police chief, Inspector General Putu Jayan Danu Putra, said that Polri and UNDSS will share authority over a certain area called the blue zone. Meanwhile, adjustments will be made for respective fields for areas outside the blue zone.

At the MoU signing, Jati expressed his appreciation to all parties involved in securing the GPDRR. The MoU on security cooperation was carried out by the Commander of the Defense Area Joint Command 2 (Kogabwilhan) and the UNDSS Event Security Coordinator, and signed by the Commander of the Regional Military Command IX/Udayana, Major General Sonny Apriyanto, and the Bali Police chief.

The signing of the MoU was witnessed by representatives of UNDSS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture.

The security cooperation will be fully supported by TNI Headquarters, Police Headquarters, Kogabwilhan 2, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Security Guard (Paspamres), Presidential Military Secretariat (Setmilpres), Police Headquarters, Bali Police, and Bali Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

Source: Antara News

The centralization of the remote sensing and satellite imaging database has helped the state save Rp15 trillion (US$1.03 billion), according to the Remote Sensing Research Centre of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).

“Through the centralization of (the remote sensing) database at BRIN, some Rp15 trillion budget was saved from the state budget in 2021. This is one economic benefit (of the scheme),” acting head of the research centre, Rahmat Arief, said at a webinar on collaboration for enhancing Indonesia’s satellite industry ecosystem, on Wednesday.

A total of 571 institutions, mostly regional government institutions, applied to BRIN for satellite imagery data and information in 2021, he revealed.

Other institutions that requested satellite imagery data were the military, police, and educational institutions, he added.

Regional governments utilized remote sensing data to devise regional spatial planning (RTRW) and detailed spatial planning (RDTR), while other institutions used the data for research and agriculture, forestry, and spatial planning, Arief informed.

The agency head said that BRIN is running a program for developing high- and very high-resolution satellite imaging technology to cater to institutions requesting data with high imagery and accuracy.

As satellite data is essential for national interest, the agency has made the data available free of charge to government ministries and institutions, regional authorities, the military and the police, as well as educational institutions, he added.

“In the past, everyone bought the same data taken in the same area and at the same time, hence, it could be duplicated several times. But now, all data has been centralized at BRIN,” Arief remarked.

Source: Antara News

Online ticket reservations can help manage the number of visitors during the Eid holiday, Deputy for Digital Products and Creative Economy Muhammad Neil El Himam at the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has said.

“The important thing is how to break down (the crowd), so they do not gather in one place,” Himam told ANTARA in Tangerang on Wednesday.

Ragunan Zoo is one of the tourist attractions that require visitors to register online one day before the visit, he noted. The implementation of online reservations can help prevent crowding, he explained.

Himam urged people to take advantage of the long Eid holiday by choosing a visiting schedule that ensures tourism spots are not crowded. According to him, tourist attractions are expected to be full at the beginning of the Eid holiday, so people can opt to visit them later.

Meanwhile, Jakarta residents who have not participated in the exodus can also find alternatives by exploring hidden gems in the capital, in addition to visiting popular tourist destinations such as Ancol Dreamland, Ragunan, and Kota Tua (Jakarta Old Town), he said.

People can unwind by breathing fresh air in the city’s forest in Srengseng, West Jakarta, he added. They can also take a closer look at the attractive Betawi culture in the Betawi Setu Babakan Cultural Village Area, as Setu Babakan will hold a regular show featuring mask performances, ondel-ondel, and hadroh music.

Meanwhile, the Jakarta Transportation Office has prepared 300 personnel to supervise a number of tourist spots in the capital city to anticipate traffic density during the Eid holiday.

Several tourist attractions in Jakarta that are expected to be crowded with visitors during the Eid holiday are Ragunan Zoo, Ancol Dreamland, and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII).

Source: Antara News

The Transportation Ministry recorded an increase in the volume of passengers across transportation modes on Tuesday, that is, day minus six (D-6) of Eid al-Fitr, according to a press statement issued here on Wednesday.

“On D-6, or yesterday, there was an increase in the number of passengers in all modes of transportation, be it land, sea, air, and train,” spokesperson for the ministry, Adita Irawati, informed in the press statement.

Based on data collected by Transport Command Posts for Eid al-Fitr, passenger movement on each mode of transportation jumped on Tuesday (D-6) compared to a normal day (April 16, 2022).

The number of bus passengers on D-6 was recorded at 97,427, an increase of 55.2 percent compared to 62,760 passengers on April 16.

The number of train passengers on D-6 was 76,597, or up 58.3 percent from 48,372 passengers on April 16.

The number of plane passengers on D-6 stood at 137,354, or 30.7 percent higher compared to 105,101 passengers on April 16.

The number of passengers using sea transportation on D-6 was 60,658, an increase of 202.3 percent compared to 20,064 passengers on April 16.

The number of passengers traveling by ferry on April 26 was 70,762, reflecting a jump of 27.4 percent compared to 55,525 passengers on April 16.

The ministry monitored the movement of passengers at 111 bus terminals, 16 ferry ports, 50 airports, 110 seaports, and 13 railway stations.

“It is predicted that the number will continue to increase until the peak day of homecoming exodus (“mudik”) from April 28 to April 30, 2022,” he said.

The government has appealed to the public to go home early and continue to apply the health protocols to ensure a safe and healthy homecoming, according to the spokesperson.

Millions of Indonesian Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on May 2, 2022, after fasting for one month during the holy month of Ramadan. The Transportation Ministry recorded an increase in the volume of passengers across transportation modes on Tuesday, that is, day minus six (D-6) of Eid al-Fitr, according to a press statement issued here on Wednesday.

“On D-6, or yesterday, there was an increase in the number of passengers in all modes of transportation, be it land, sea, air, and train,” spokesperson for the ministry, Adita Irawati, informed in the press statement.

Based on data collected by Transport Command Posts for Eid al-Fitr, passenger movement on each mode of transportation jumped on Tuesday (D-6) compared to a normal day (April 16, 2022).

The number of bus passengers on D-6 was recorded at 97,427, an increase of 55.2 percent compared to 62,760 passengers on April 16.

The number of train passengers on D-6 was 76,597, or up 58.3 percent from 48,372 passengers on April 16.

The number of plane passengers on D-6 stood at 137,354, or 30.7 percent higher compared to 105,101 passengers on April 16.

The number of passengers using sea transportation on D-6 was 60,658, an increase of 202.3 percent compared to 20,064 passengers on April 16.

The number of passengers traveling by ferry on April 26 was 70,762, reflecting a jump of 27.4 percent compared to 55,525 passengers on April 16.

The ministry monitored the movement of passengers at 111 bus terminals, 16 ferry ports, 50 airports, 110 seaports, and 13 railway stations.

“It is predicted that the number will continue to increase until the peak day of homecoming exodus (“mudik”) from April 28 to April 30, 2022,” he said.

The government has appealed to the public to go home early and continue to apply the health protocols to ensure a safe and healthy homecoming, according to the spokesperson.

Millions of Indonesian Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on May 2, 2022, after fasting for one month during the holy month of Ramadan.

Source: Antara News