Day: August 21, 2022

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the government is formulating a price adjustment scheme to reduce the burden of fuel subsidies and compensation in the state budget.

Pandjaitan said in a statement here on Sunday that the high price of world crude oil had pushed up the gap between the economic price and the selling price of Pertalite and diesel fuel and had an impact on increasing subsidies and energy compensation.

To date, the state budget has covered energy subsidies and compensation of Rp502 trillion. Without any policy adjustments, this figure could increase to more than Rp550 trillion by the end of the year.

“The government is still calculating several scenarios for adjusting subsidies and energy compensation by taking into account the impact on the community,” he said .

However, he emphasized that the price of fuel in Indonesia is relatively cheaper than the majority of countries in the world.

Pandjaitan said that the government is also conducting scenario simulation of volume limitation.

“The government will continue to encourage the use of the MyPertamina application to obtain accurate data before the restriction is implemented,” he said.

However, he ensured that the government would consider this plan very carefully.

Changes in policies of energy subsidy and compensation will later need to take into account several factors such as the inflation rate, fiscal conditions, as well as economic recovery.

This is very important to maintain the stability of the country in the midst of global uncertainty.

“The budget for energy subsidies and compensation can later be diverted to other sectors that are more in need and people who are less able to receive compensation programs,” he said

The government will also take other steps such as accelerating B40 and adopting electric vehicles In an effort to reduce subsidies and energy compensation.

“What needs to be remembered is that the final decision remains with the President. However, the first step that needs to be taken is to ensure that Pertamina’s supply of Pertalite and Solar continues to be distributed smoothly,” Pandjaitan said.

Source: Antara News

Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Head of Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa said as many as 22 countries have confirmed their planned attendance at the G20 Development Working Group (DWG) meeting to be held in Belitung, Bangka Belitung (Babel) Islands Province, on September 7-9, 2022.

“The number of confirmations per day has reached 22 countries that will attend the G20 DWG in Belitung,” Minister Monoarfa said while reviewing the readiness of airport and hospital facilities here on Sunday.

The G20 is an international forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union that work together to handle major issues. Indonesia is holding the G20 Presidency this year.

Minister Monoarfa said that so far 22 countries have confirmed both registered and informally that they will attend the G20 DWG in Belitung. Meanwhile, there are also several countries that will attend it by considering flights, security and accommodation.

“Some countries want direct flights from Singapore. Hence, we have communicated with the minister of transportation so that flights from Singapore to Belitung can be reopened,” he said.

Acting Governor of Bangka Belitung Islands Ridwan Djamaluddin said that the provincial, district and other relevant agencies had made various preparations to support the G20 DWG meeting in Belitung.

“In general, it has been reported that although it has not been one hundred percent completed and there are no major obstacles such as airport access, flights, roads, hospitals, hotels, they have been prepared. Then, PLN, Pertamina, internet, and clean water from PDAM have also been prepared,” he said.

He said that security preparations were also continuously improved by the police, army, the Ministry of Transportation and Basarnas.

“God willing, all preparations for the G20 (DWG) in Belitung have been prepared,” he said.

Source: Antara News

Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki has asked noodle and meatball soup vendors to join online business given that Indonesia is expected to become the largest digital economy with potential reaching Rp4,500 trillion, in Southeast Asia by 2030.

“Hence, Mr. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) understands very well that our huge digital economy in Southeast Asia must also be enjoyed by meatball soup vendors,” he said here on Sunday.

Masduki said the President asked him to guide meatball noodle soup vendors to enter the digital ecosystem to grow their businesses further.

By 2024, the government is targeting 30 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enter the digital market, including 19.5 million MSMEs in 2022.

Minister Masduki is optimistic that the target will be achieved especially by the participation of noodle and meatball soup vendors.

Chairman of the Association of Chicken Noodle and Meatball Soup Vendors (Papmiso) Bambang Haryanto said 1,200 out of the 50 thousand Papmiso members are already connected to the online businesses.

Meanwhile, GoFood accommodates 62,700 food vendors and Grab Food 120,000 food vendors to offer their food products using online application.

The minister hoped that all of the 50 thousand members of Papmiso will go online in the next two years.

The Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry is ready to help noodle and meatball soup vendors to obtain business registration numbers (NIB), to facilitate access to banks to obtain capital assistance under the people’s business credit (KUR) scheme, and to obtain distribution permits, and halal certificates.

On the occasion, President Jokowi opened a virtual shadow puppet show organized by Papmiso.

The event was held to celebrate the 77th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, which was attended by hundreds of noodle and meatball soup vendors from 34 provinces.

It was also enlivened by a fashion show and a free meal of three thousand bowls of meatball noodle soups for the audience.

The President advised noodle and meatball soup vendors to use digital technology so that their businesses can grow faster and even can open up job opportunities.

Source: Antara News

The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is making an effort to preserve endemic nutrition-rich fish species jelawat in Sipin Lake and Batanghari River in Jambi Province in order to maintain its population through restocking.

Jelawat is endemic fish species living in general waters in Jambi, Director General of Fish Farming at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry Tb Haeru Rahayu said in a written statement on Saturday.

Rahayu said jelawat is nutrition-rich freshwater fish which has high economic value and is much sought after fish for consumption.

The restocking is aimed at increasing the population of jelawat fish which begins to decline, she said.

Restocking is also undertaken at Lake Sipin which covers an area of 85 hectares and serves as a means of livelihood for local residents, she said.

The restocking of local fish species such as jelawat and nilem undertaken through the Sungai Gelam Freshwater Fish Farming Center (BPBAT) is expected to increase freshwater fish stocks in Jambi City and its environs.

“Of equal importance is that the program can increase food security so that it can reduce stunting rate in Jambi City,” she added.

Meanwhile, Head of the Sungai Gelam Freshwater Fish Farming Center (BPBAT) Andy Artha Donny Oktopura said Jambi has various kinds of local fish, however, their declining population is highly regrettable.

“In total, 154 thousand heads of local fish are restocked in Lake Sipin and River Batanghari, Jambi City. With the restocking, we are trying to increase the freshwater fish population in general waters, preserve diverse fish resources and increase fish production to fulfill nutrition needs, welfare, income and additional job opportunities from the fishery sector,” he said.

Source: Antara News

Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo has encouraged the Southeast Sulawesi Provincial Government to export rice so that it could generate large profits.

“If the rice production here is good, we can export it because the domestic stock is sufficient,” he said during a working visit to Cialam Jaya Village, Konda Sub-District, South Konawe District, on Saturday.

Minister Yasin Limpo and his entourage made a working visit to Cialam Jaya Village, accompanied by Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Mazi and South Konawe Regent Surunudin Dangga.

The minister said that the price of rice in Indonesia which stands at Rp12,000 per kilogram is the second cheapest in the world. Meanwhile, the price of rice in Japan has reached Rp47,000, the United States Rp62,000, Singapore Rp29,000, Malaysia Rp22,000 per kilogram.

The minister said that Southeast Sulawesi can export rice if the rice production has good quality.

Rice exports can be carried out since the government has sufficient rice stocks and can meet domestic needs for the next two years.

“Now, our rice stock is 10.2 million tons. I hope this amount can meet the needs for two years. I will control this stock so we can continue to prepare it for the people,” he said.

However, before rice is exported, he stressed the need for rice processing to improve its quality.

“The quality of rice must be improved so that it becomes premium rice. To improve the quality, it is necessary to repair water machines, machines to whiten rice and others. It has a certain economy of scale, so this is not detrimental,” he said.

Meanwhile, Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Mazi said food crop commodities, especially rice, had a surplus since 2019, it is evident that in 2021 the provincial government had sent 1,000 tons of rice to North Sulawesi through the State Logistics Agency.

This, he said, shows that Southeast Sulawesi Province can become one of the national food barns, especially in the central and eastern regions of Indonesia.

“We hope that rice production from Southeast Sulawesi in the future will not only maintain the availability of regional food but also the availability of national food in facing global challenges such as uncertain climate change and the threat of a food crisis,” he said.

Source: Antara News

Minister of National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa ensured the readiness of facilities at the Marsidi Judono Hospital, Belitung District, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, ahead of ministerial meeting of 2022 G20 Development Working Group (DWG).

“It is a very good facility to support the G20 DWG,” he stated after visiting the hospital, as quoted in a release on Sunday.

DWG is one of the working groups of Indonesia’s G20 Presidency that aims to discuss developmental issues in least developed countries, developing countries, and small developing islands countries. The ministerial meeting of 2022 G20 DWG will be held on September 7-9, 2022. The minister, accompanied by Acting Governor of Bangka Belitung Islands Province Ridwan Djamaluddin, reviewed the intensive care unit (ICU) of the VVIP inpatient room, the emergency department unit, as well as the ambulance for the G20 DWG ministerial meeting.

“I request that Marsidi Judono Hospital to be included in the (tourism) annual calendar. The (health) facilities in Belitung deserve to be one of the health tourism (destinations) in Indonesia,” he said.

Monoarfa asked the G20 organizing committee to also ensure the preparedness and availability of adequate number of specialist doctors in the hospital.

“The (provision of the health) facility must be informed to the delegation (as well as regarding) how this facility has been prepared,” he remarked.

Director of the Marsidi Judono Hospital Hendra said that his party has readied 12 specialist doctors and added the health facilities of the hospital ahead of the G20 meeting.”(We have readied) the ICU, VVIP inpatient rooms, emergency unit, four ambulance units, including the assistance from the National Police in cooperation with the Bangka Belitung Provincial Police,” he added.

In addition to the health facilities, previously the Government of Belitung District said that it focused on completing the renovation of H.A.S Hanandjoeddin Airport in Tanjung Pandan by the end of August 2022 to ensure the success of the event.

Source: Antara News