Day: January 28, 2023

Jakarta, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has asked local governments to continue strengthening education about the importance of consuming animal proteins to prevent childhood stunting.

“The local governments must continue to educate and socialize the benefits of animal proteins to prevent stunting,” he stressed in a written statement received here on Saturday.

Local governments, through the related regional apparatus organizations, also need to ensure that pregnant women and toddlers in their respective areas consume nutritious food that is rich in animal proteins, he added.

“I have advised all regional heads to always pay attention to toddlers and pregnant women in their areas to make sure they are consuming enough nutritious food that is rich in animal proteins,” the minister said.

Animal protein sources include eggs, fish, and chicken meat, he added.

“The community can utilize local food ingredients that are rich in animal protein to meet the nutritional intake of families, especially toddlers and pregnant women,” he said.

There are several things that need to become a common concern in efforts to reduce stunting rates in the country, he informed.

“One of them is the importance of adequate nutrition for toddlers and pregnant women; this requires the participation of all parties,” he remarked.

In addition, efforts to increase public understanding and awareness regarding the importance of parenting and the consumption of nutritious food are also needed.

“Public behavior and low public awareness regarding parenting and consumption of nutritious food is our common challenge,” the minister emphasized.

However, he expressed optimism that efforts to accelerate the reduction of stunting prevalence will run according to the expected target through the collaboration and synergy of all parties.

He also urged the community to play an active role in efforts to accelerate the reduction of stunting prevalence. The government is targeted to reduce the stunting rate to 14 percent by 2024.

The latest data from the Indonesia Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) has shown that the stunting rate in Indonesia fell from 24.4 percent in 2021 to 21.6 percent in 2022.

Source: Antara News

Batam, Riau Islands, Infrastructure development in Karang Singa, the coral reef in Malacca Strait bordering Singapore and Malaysia, could become an alternative tourist attraction for people visiting Batam and Bintan, Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad noted.

“Because Karang Singa is only 3.7 miles from Bintan, I feel like it can be an alternative tourist attraction for tourists visiting Bintan or Batam once the construction is complete,” he stated on Saturday.

Ahmad remarked that the construction in Karang Singa is being continued this year.

“Infrastructure development in Karang Singa will continue this year. Last year, in 2022, we just built the foundation. I have met with the transportation minister, and this year, they will build it soon,” he stated.

The governor expects that the infrastructure could be built well so as to attract tourists.

Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian stated in 2022 that he aimed to pursue completing the development of infrastructure in Karang Singa no later than 2023.

The minister noted in a meeting with Commission II of the House of Representatives on Tuesday that Indonesian coral reefs in the borders were strategic places and were prone to being claimed by foreign parties, so the government must build infrastructure to secure Indonesia’s position in areas such as these.

He stressed that the government needed to take such measures to anticipate threats from foreign parties and prevent the recurrence of instances, such as those in Sipadan and Ligitan.

To this end, Minister Karnavian sought the commission’s support on the infrastructure development plan in the Karang Singa area.

“I seek your support, ladies and gentlemen, so that this can be built this year, next year at the latest, before someone messes with us,” he appealed.

Source: Antara News

This year, there will be 110 KEN (festivals) as well as 65 sports, music, and creative events held all over Indonesia…

Jakarta, The year 2023 is expected to be an opportune time for recovering and expediting the growth of Indonesia’s tourism sector, with the government planning to hold several prominent tourism events, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said.

“This year will be a moment of revival for Indonesian tourism,” he remarked virtually at the launch of the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) Festival 2023 on Saturday.

The government has also launched the Proud of Indonesia-Made Products National Movement (Gernas BBI) to get more people to visit domestic tourism destinations, thus the number of domestic tourists is expected to double compared to 2022.

Hence, collaboration and cooperation are required to improve the quality of destinations, hold more attractive tourism activities and events, as well as increase business competitiveness through innovation and creativity, the President said.

“This year, there will be 110 KEN (festivals) as well as 65 sports, music, and creative events held all over Indonesia, which can be a magnet to attract as many foreign and domestic tourists as possible to come and enjoy the uniqueness of tourism throughout this country,” he added.

Widodo said he believes that efforts to improve tourism facilities and infrastructure, ease transportation and connectivity, as well as strengthen the preparedness of human resources and accommodation will help make the tourism and creative economy sectors script a stronger recovery.

“By saying Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), I launch KEN 2023 today,” he added.

Earlier, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said that the government will hold several international events to achieve this year’s target of 7.4 million international tourist arrivals.

The government is targeting to earn foreign exchange of US$500 million from sports tourism, he informed.

It has been confirmed that several international-level sports events will be held in Indonesia in 2023, including the F1 Powerboat, the U-20 FIFA World Cup, the FIBA World Cup, the ANOC World Beach Games, the MotoGP, as well as the World Superbike (WSBK) race.

Source: Antara News