Day: November 3, 2022

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APINDO seeks consistent support over established palm oil policies

Chief of the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) Hariyadi Sukamdani sought consistent support from the government and the country over palm oil, specifically regarding policies that are established.

“Ideally, a policy should not distort the market. We learnt from what happened with the cooking oil dynamics,” Sukamdani noted in a press conference at the Indonesian Palm Oil Conference (IPOC) in Bali, as cited in a statement received here Thursday.

He expects the government to be more thorough in its process in establishing policies regarding the palm oil industry. As a global trading commodity, fluctuations in palm oil prices are fully determined by supply and demand in the market, he stated.

“Learning from the price fluctuations and supply of cooking oil earlier this year, let us not let other countries get the benefit because when the price of palm oil soars, we would stop exports,” he noted.

Sukamdani then lauded the contributions of palm oil for the national economy while reiterating that such substantial contribution calls for a more cautious policy to be established.

APINDO also called on the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) to be more active in voicing concerns over policies that could be counterproductive to the palm oil industry.

 

Source: Antara News

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Health protocol compliance can prevent new COVID-19 variants: IDI

Compliance with the health protocols can help prevent the spread of new COVID-19 variants such as Omicron, XBB, and XBC, chairperson of the COVID-19 task force of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), Erlina Burhan, has said.

“Mutations can occur, but new variants can still be avoided by applying the health protocols, getting the vaccine, wearing masks properly, cleaning hands with hand sanitizers or water and soap, covering the mouth and nose with the elbow or a tissue when coughing, self-isolating if the COVID-19 test result is positive or symptomatic,” she added here on Thursday.

Regarding vaccination, she said that the development of a bivalent vaccine could be considered given that the XBC is a recombination of Delta and Omicron BA.2 variants and the XBB is a recombinant variant of two Omicron sublineages.

“Under certain conditions, there is a risk of clinical worsening (Delta) and increased transmission (Omicron BA.2),” she said.

Burhan also outlined some of the symptoms that are characteristic of the XBB and XBC variants that have spread in a number of countries, including Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines.

She said the symptoms of XBB and XBC are similar to COVID-19 symptoms in general and include fever, cough, weakness, tightness in breathing, headache, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

“To date, there have been no official scientific reports stating XBB and XBC cause more severe symptoms of COVID-19,” she added.

She asked the government to anticipate the trend of rising cases, especially ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“Then, increase booster vaccination coverage, improve distribution or logistics of drugs and vaccines, and promote the hygiene and healthy living program,” Burhan said.

Meanwhile, she advised the community to follow the health protocols and take a test if they experience symptoms related to COVID-19.

 

Source: Antara News

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GAPKI optimistic of palm oil industry protecting economy from crisis

The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) stated that the domestic palm oil industry can protect the national economy in the face of a possible global crisis next year.

Head of Taxation and Fiscal Affairs of GAPKI Bambang Aria Wisena stated here on Thursday that the palm oil industry has the ability to survive and protect the Indonesian economy in the midst of various crises.

“The palm oil industry has contributed Rp500 trillion to the country’s export foreign exchange every year. In addition, this commodity creates employment for 16 million people,” he noted on the sidelines of the 2022 Indonesian Palm Oil Conference (IPOC).

Similar optimism was also echoed by General Chairperson of the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo) Haryadi B. Sukamdani, who said that the national palm oil industry would not experience a crisis, as it is a primary industry that produces food and other products, such as energy and other derivative products.

He emphasized that after successfully emerging from two economic crises, the industry is currently able to contribute up to US$35 billion in foreign exchange and absorb up to 17 million workers.

However, he emphasized the need for the government, especially related ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade, to channel greater attention to the industry.

He cited an example of the policy of banning the export of crude palm oil (CPO) that was implemented some time ago. He considers the policy to be detrimental to the national palm oil industry. The policy, on the other hand, benefits neighboring countries that are also palm oil producers.

Hence, Sukamdani emphasized the need for GAPKI to be more vociferous in highlighting the actual conditions to the government, so that in future, the palm oil industry will no longer be marginalized.

 

Source: Antara News

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Immigration to adopt electronic visa on arrival soon

The Law and Human Rights Ministry will immediately adopt electronic visa on arrival (eVoA).

“Immigration has completed the eVoA system and is currently testing the system that includes payment via payment gateways,” Acting Director General of Immigration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry Widodo Ekatjahjana noted in a written statement  on Thursday.

The eVoA and online payment systems or payment gateways would be officiated on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, before the momentum of the G20 Summit in Bali, he stated.

“Thank God, the system has been completed by the Directorate of Information Systems and Immigration Technology and is also being tested by fellow Immigration Attachés at the Indonesian Representatives,” Ekatjahjana noted.

Foreigners included in the eVoA trial will first arrive in Indonesia on Friday, November 4, 2022, at 10:40 p.m. local time at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The Directorate General will strive to implement the online-based policy as soon as possible in order to support the G20 Summit.

“This is also to respond to the needs of the global community that is keen to take a vacation or have a business meeting in Indonesia,” he added.

He said eVoA would facilitate the global community with regard to traffic activities within and outside Indonesia. Foreigners could complete the eVoA application before departure or when in transit prior to entering the Indonesian territory.

As long as the applicant is connected to the internet, he or she does tend to waste time and energy in exchanging cash into rupiah or US Dollars.

Adoption of eVoA is conducted gradually by prioritizing VoA services at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and I Gusti Ngurah Rai. For starters, eVoA can be accessed by foreigners from the 26 countries that use VoA the most.

Foreigners using VoA are required to pay Rp500 thousand and are allowed to stay in Indonesia for 30 days, and it can be extended for 30 days at the immigration office.

Like eVisa, eVoA can also be used no later than 90 days after payment is made. The transaction means available in the payment gateway is through credit card or debit card listed in the Visa or Master Card network.

Finally, in addition to eVoA, the online payment system will be applied to web-based applications that can be accessed at visa-online.imigration.go.id.

 

Source: Antara News

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3.4 mln hectares palm plantations in high conservation areas: govt

The Environment and Forestry Ministry on Wednesday informed that it has identified 3.4 million hectares of palm oil plantations located within high conservation forest areas in Indonesia.

During a public opinion hearing meeting on conservation here on Wednesday, Biodiversity Director at the ministry Indra Exploitasia said that there are three types of protected areas in Indonesia: conservation forests, protected forests, and high conservation forest areas.

The ministry uses three reference points for protected area terminology, which include Law No. 5 of 1990, which describes a conservation area as a nature reserve and nature conservation area.

Next is Law No. 41 of 1999, which divides the functions of forests into conservation forests and protected forests.

Finally, Law No. 26 of 2007 divides protected areas into Nature Reserve Areas (KSA) and Nature Conservation Areas (KPA), including protected forests and cultivation areas.

Protected areas need to be translated in a simple manner because, based on the terminology, they have to meet three criteria: They need to be legally established to have conservation value, have managers, and have certain unique characteristics in terms of biodiversity preservation at three levels—ecosystem, species, and genetics.

“The terminology related to protected areas may need to be aligned with the three terminologies that we have, conservation forests, protected forests, and high conservation areas,” he noted.

The ministry is working to make biodiversity mainstream in the policy sector. Hence, it is seeking to ensure that whenever there is road construction, consideration is given to animal pathways, and when a plantation is developed, space is provided for animal habitats.

Further, development must not only be oriented toward the economy, but also prioritize the biodiversity aspect in Indonesia, Exploitasia stressed.

 

Source: Antara News

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Some 60 million people projected to travel at year-end holidays

Directorate General of Land Transportation of the Transportation Ministry projects people’s movement during the 2022 Christmas and 2023 New Year holidays to reach 60.6 million.

“The potential for national movement during Christmas and New Year 2022-2023 is 22.4 percent of the total population of Indonesia, or as many as 60.6 million people,” the ministry’s director of river, lake, and crossing transportation, Junaidi, stated here, Thursday.

He conveyed the data based on an internal survey conducted by the Transportation Policy Agency (BKT) of the Ministry of Transportation.

During the Christmas and New Year period, the movement of people in the Greater Jakarta area will reach 12.3 percent, or around 7.5 million people.

Junaidi remarked that the prediction of the peak flow for the 2022 Christmas holiday homecoming would occur on December 24-25. Meanwhile, the peak of the 2023 New Year homecoming flow would occur on December 31 and January 1, 2023.

The monitoring areas for crossing transportation carried out by the Ministry of Transportation cover 11 national monitoring lines: Merak-Bakauheni, Ketapang-Gilimanuk, Padangbai-Lembar, Kayangan-Pototano, Sibolga-Nias, Ajibata-Ambarita, Tanjung Api-api-Tanjung Kelian, Bajoe -Kolaka, Bitung-Ternate, Hunimua-Waipirit, and Kupang-Rote.

On these 11 routes, the Ministry of Transportation projects the number of passengers to reach 3.08 million people, 157 thousand two-wheeled vehicles, and 593 thousand four-wheeled vehicles.

Meanwhile, in 2019 or before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of passengers had reached 3.46 million people, 221 thousand two-wheeled vehicles, and 554 thousand four-wheeled vehicles.

“The justification for the prediction of declining demand may be due to factors affecting the increase in fuel prices, tariff adjustments, as well as economic and social impacts,” Junaidi remarked.

He reported that the Ministry of Transportation continues to coordinate with all stakeholders to ensure transportation for the 2022 Christmas and 2023 New Year occurs smoothly.

He said that the Merak-Bakauheni route was a benchmark for monitoring in other areas due to the high traffic of people and goods at the peak of the holidays.

“Merak-Bakauheni is an extraordinary benchmark, where during Eid transportation, there are almost 40 thousand vehicles crossing. We must create some scenarios, especially to handle the flow of vehicles from toll roads,” Junaidi added.

 

Source: Antara News

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IDI reminds of threat of XBB, XBC subvariants in Indonesia

The COVID-19 Task Force of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB IDI) reported on an early warning of the threat of the Omicron XBB and XBC subvariants in Indonesia.

“Be careful, the risk of suffering from COVID-19 with this XBB variant is higher than with people, who have had COVID-19 from the previous variants. This virus attacks people, who never had COVID-19 before,” Head of the PB IDI COVID-19 Task Force Erlina Burhan stated during a media briefing related to the update of COVID-19 cases in Jakarta on Thursday.

Burhan remarked that XBB was first discovered in India in August 2022 and XBC in the United Kingdom was a hereditary variant of the Delta mutation and Omicron BA.2 and BA.2.75 effects of the virus circulation in the community that cannot be contained.

“For example, Omicron struck in November 2021. In some countries, the circulation cannot be reduced, so the new mutation showed, known as XBB and XBC,” Burhan stated.

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that since October 17, 2022, XBB has been reported in 26 countries, such as Australia, Bangladesh, Denmark, India, Japan, and the United States.

According to observations from countries that already have XBB, its transmission is considered as being the same as other existing variants. In Singapore, XBB is the predominant subvariant, with cases reaching up to 54 percent in the second week of October 2022, while in the previous week, it was only 22 percent.

The country that reported the existence of XBC is the United Kingdom. In addition, in the Philippines, there were 193 cases of the XBC subvariant.

“The transmission is so fast. This variant is spreading in Indonesia’s neighboring country, the Philippines. We know when XBB spread in Singapore in March 2022 and many Indonesians traveled to Singapore. In early October, XBB cases were found in Indonesia,” she remarked.

Until now, the symptoms of XBB and XBC are similar to the symptoms of COVID-19 in general, such as fever, cough, weakness, shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

“Although there is no official scientific evidence report, given that XBC is a combination of the Delta variant, symptoms of anosmia and ageusia, which are typical symptoms of the delta variant, may occur,” she added.

She noted that efforts to prevent mutations of the coronavirus can only be made by preventing transmission to humans.

“This effort can be undertaken by expediting access to booster vaccination and complying with health protocols by wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining distance,” she emphasized.

 

Source: Antara News

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Ministry highlights need for raising awareness on cyberwarfare

Deputy Minister of Defense M. Herindra has highlighted the importance of raising awareness on cyberwarfare since it can cause more damage than a physical war.

“The concept of threat has changed, from what was originally a physical war, now the destruction of a nation’s resilience can be penetrated through cyber networks. The impact of the damage from this cyberwar is more severe than the destruction caused by physical war,” he said while delivering the keynote address on “Defense Industry Collaboration: For Better Economy and Stronger Defense” at the Indo Defense 2022 Expo & Forum at JIExpo Kemayoran, here on Thursday.

According to Herindra, a war that uses cyber media would have a more severe impact than a physical war because it would directly attack state ideology. Thus, such a war could cause mental, economic, social, cultural, political, and even ideological destruction.

Therefore, the Indonesian people, especially those involved in the national defense sector, need to increase their mastery over technology to protect Indonesia from cyberattacks, he said.

In addition to cyberwarfare, Herindra outlined a spectrum of other defense threats that the Indonesian people need to be alert against, including violations of state sovereignty, theft of natural resources (SDA) at sea, radicalism, threats of biological attacks, and natural disasters.

“Another spectrum of threats includes violations of sovereignty, theft of natural resources at sea, radicalism, and biological threats, as well as natural disasters. Everything has changed from traditional (threats) to non-traditional,” he noted.

However, Herindra also reminded the Indonesian people not to ignore traditional wars, such as physical warfare. He said that there is still potential for traditional wars as evidenced by the current turbulent war between Ukraine and Russia.

“As a nation, we must not forget. Sometimes, we are given the knowledge that in the future, there will be no physical war, traditional or conventional war. But it happened,” he said.

 

Source: Antara News

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