Day: March 15, 2023

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno on Wednesday informed that his administration has formed a task force comprising personnel from several institutions to monitor tourism in Bali.”We have formed a task force. We will monitor well, (from) Bali Tourism World, us (Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry) from center, and region,” he said after attending an event hosted by an online transportation company here on Wednesday. The task force will review many facets of tourism to improve the sector for the future, he said. Other than its scenic views, Indonesia will be known for effective law enforcement, which will prioritize tourists who follow regulations and impose strict sanctions against those who violate them, the minister added. “So, we have the (image) that tourists are welcomed, given the red carpet by Indonesia; however, they have to follow the rules, and if they do not follow the rules and do violations often, they will be warned. And if necessary, if they do multiple violations, we won’t hesitate to deport the tourists and blacklist them,” he expounded. The minister further informed that on average, tourists who were involved in the focus group discussion at the event held by Gojek did not use motorbikes and only used them when there was a traffic jam. “However, they rent motorbikes through the online motorcycle taxi (service); some tourists use point-to-point (services),” he added. ccording to data, only a small percentage of tourists rent bikes, thus the point-to-point ecosystem will be improved in Bali’s tourism system, he said. Commenting on the data on motorbike accidents in Bali, the minister said that they happen because tourists cannot ride the vehicles well, and there are also many traffic violations owing to lack of proper communication on regulations, monitoring, and law enforcement aspects. Hence, he urged the Bali government to pursue policies that are in accordance with the goals of high-quality sustainable tourism. baca-jugaRelated news: Ban on tourists renting motorbikes aims to ensure safety: MinisterRelated news: KEK Sanur expected to become operational in Q1 2024: InJourney

Source: Antara News Agency

This is the first smartphone and laptop brand which is made by the children of Papua. Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Inspiring Papuan Youngsters (PMI), a Papuan youth organization supported by the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), trained some students of a vocational high school in Jayapura to assemble smartphones and laptops.”They (the students) are talented in (assembling) electronics and computers. We train them in assembling a mobile phone from scratch until it can be utilized as a new cell phone,” Manager for the Technology Program of PMI Elia Musa Rawar noted in a statement on Tuesday. Currently, his side is registering the brand of the devices, called TOP.ID, with the Law and Human Rights Ministry to get the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). He noted that TOP.ID stands for “Torang Papua Indonesia,” which means “We are Papua Indonesia.” “This is the first smartphone and laptop brand that is made by the children of Papua,” Rawar remarked. Rawar said that his side was committed to marketing the devices after they are successfully launched. “We have assembled hundreds of mobile phones in this pilot stage so far. Later, we will promote and start selling them (the devices) after being launched,” he remarked. baca-jugaRelated news: Ministry involves 16 Papuan youngsters in electric motorbike workshop Rawar expects that through this training, young Papuans will be able to improve their knowledge and skills to create various innovations and new job opportunities in the communication device and computer repair sector. The launch of the TOP.ID brand will be officiated by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). The launch will coincide with the inauguration of the Papua Youth Creative Hub (PYCH) Building as a space for young Papuans to develop their interests and skills in arts and entertainment; podcast; photography; language learning; coding and programming; marketing; and sports. “We express our deepest gratitude to Mr. Jokowi and the head of BIN, Mr. Budi Gunawan, for all the opportunities, facilities, and works that you have done for the children of Papua, so that they can become creative (human resources) and get such great facilities,” Rawar stated. The TOP.ID smartphones will use the M13 model, with 12 Gigabytes (GB) Random Access Memory (RAM), 512GB Read Only Memory (ROM), Android operating system version 11.0, and a display resolution of 1440×3040 pixels. Meanwhile, the TOP.ID laptops will use a RAM, with total memory of 8192 MB and clock rate of up to 2,133 Megahertz (MHz). baca-jugaRelated news: Jokowi has lunch with Papuan village chiefs, youths

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The government continues to synergize to maintain the momentum of Indonesia’s economic recovery and economic growth that managed to grow 5.31 percent as compared to the same period last year (year-on-year/yoy) in 2022.The synergy to maintain the recovery momentum is undertaken by pushing various strategies, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto noted during the Maybank Indonesia Economic Outlook 2023 here, Wednesday. These include implementation of the social protection program for the vulnerable populace, economic transformation through the Job Creation Law, and downstreaming of natural resources. They also encompass adjustment of the natural resources export proceeds (DHE) policy and development of infrastructure and human resources through various programs, such as the Pre-Employment Card. Moreover, to mitigate the impacts of the rise in global commodity prices, the government also makes various additional efforts to control inflation through the Central Inflation Control Team (TPIP) and Regional Inflation Control team (TPID) forum. The effort to control inflation is undertaken through the 4K policy strategy comprising price affordability, supply availability, distribution smoothness, and effective communication. Through the application of this strategy, Indonesia’s inflation in 2022 had managed to be under control at 5.5 percent (yoy). In confronting global economic uncertainty, Indonesia has demonstrated its resiliency through an impressive economic growth achievement of 5.31 percent (yoy) in 2022. ccording to Hartarto, domestic economic growth is accompanied by the improvement in various sectors, starting from household consumption, export, transportation, and warehouse to accommodation, food and beverage. “A number of indicators in the real and external sector also show positive prospects,” he added. These indicators comprise the Customer Trust Index that remained at an optimistic level and the Manufacture Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) that continues to be at an expansive level. They also include a surplus in trade balance for 33 months in a row, surplus in ongoing transactions, and declining foreign debt ratio. baca-jugaRelated news: AI use could help expedite economic growth: IndefRelated news: Economy can grow 5.1 percent by controlling inflation: BI

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Finance Ministry will spend Rp8.36 trillion, or US$544.17 million, from the state budget for food social aid that will be distributed ahead of Ramadhan 1444H.”This figure is a temporary estimate that will be collected from the state budget for food social aid that comprises rice, eggs, and chicken,” Ministry’s Budget Director General, Isa Rachmatarwata, noted. The food social aid is intended to control inflation and the price of several food commodities at the producer level, he remarked during the March 2023 edition of Our State Budget press conference here, Tuesday. This aid will be given for three months starting from March until May. The distribution will be conducted through two methods: free distribution of rice as well as free distribution of chicken meat and eggs. The rice will be given free of charge to 21.3 million families in the Social Prosperity Integrated Data (DTKS). Rachmatarwata estimated that the state-owned enterprise Perum Bulog will collect Rp7.8 trillion-Rp7.9 trillion, or US$507.52-US$514.02, from the state budget. Meanwhile, chicken meat and eggs will be distributed free of charge to families with infants or children, who are at risk of stunting. Based on temporary estimation, chicken meat and eggs will be delivered free of charge to 2.1 million families according to the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN). In addition to food social aid, the government distributed social assistance in the form of Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) and Family Hope Program (PKH) during the January-March 2023 period. During the event, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani noted that the state budget had recorded a surplus of Rp131.8 trillion, or US$8.58 billion. baca-jugaRelated news: andgtovt’s rice aid readied for 21.6 million people during Ramadan, EidRelated news: Ministry readies data on prospective food aid recipientsRelated news: President distributes aid, reviews prices at Peterongan Market

Source: Antara News Agency

s of February 2023, Indonesia’s trade balance has been in surplus for 34 consecutive months since May 2020, and currently, the trend is still increasing. Jakarta (ANTARA) – Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced that Indonesia’s trade balance in February 2023 experienced a surplus of US$5.48 billion (Rp84.7 trillion), supported by a surplus in the non-oil and gas sector of US$6.70 billion (Rp103.56 trillion).Meanwhile, trade in the oil and gas sector recorded a deficit of US$1.22 billion (Rp18.86 trillion). “As of February 2023, Indonesia’s trade balance has been in surplus for 34 consecutive months since May 2020, and currently, the trend is still increasing,” Deputy for Product Statistics at BPS M. Habibullah noted in a press conference, here, on Wednesday. The three largest contributors to the surplus in the non-oil and gas sector in February 2023 were the machine, electrical equipment, and their parts; animal or vegetable oil and fat; as well as tin and its derivative products, he remarked. The BPS deputy noted that the three sectors recorded a surplus of US$141 million (Rp2.18 trillion), US$106.2 million (Rp1.64 trillion), and US$46.4 million (Rp717.2 billion), respectively. He remarked that the United States, India, and China were the three countries having contributed the most to Indonesia’s trade balance surplus in February 2023. The trade balance surplus with the United States amounted to US$1.32 billion (Rp20.4 trillion). The most exported commodities to the country included machinery, electrical equipment, and their parts; non-knitted clothing and their accessories; as well as knitted clothing and their accessories. The commodities that became the largest contributors to Indonesia’s trade balance surplus with India were mineral fuels; animal or vegetable fats and oils; as well as metal ores, slag, and ash. The trade surplus with India was recorded at US$1.081 billion (Rp16.7 trillion). Furthermore, Indonesia posted a trade surplus with China of US$999.8 million (Rp15.4 trillion), with iron and steel; mineral fuels; as well as animal or vegetable fats and oils as being the most exported commodities. Meanwhile, the three biggest contributors to Indonesia’s trade balance deficit in February 2023 were Australia (US$400.4 million or Rp6.19 trillion), Thailand (US$342.1 million or Rp5.29 trillion), and Brazil (US$158.8 million or Rp2.45 trillion). Habibullah stated that during the January-February 2023 period, the non-oil and gas sector clocked a surplus of US$12 billion (Rp185.48 trillion), while the oil and gas sector had recorded a deficit of US$2.64 billion (Rp40.81 trillion). Hence, Indonesia recorded a surplus of US$9.36 billion (Rp144.68 trillion) during the first two months of 2023, he stated. However, the value of exports in February 2023 had declined by 4.15 percent as compared to January 2023 (month-to-month/m-to-m), the BPS deputy stated. He explained that it was caused due to a decrease by 20.26 percent in the value of oil and gas exports. He stated that the value of imports in February 2023 also decreased by 13.68 percent m-to-m due to less imports of raw or supporting materials by 15.09 percent. baca-jugaRelated news: Pulosari village enterprise succeeds in penetrating Singaporean marketRelated news: Initial trade balance surplus boosts economic resilience: ministry ;o:p;/o:p

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Institute for Development of Economics and Finance’s (INDEF’s) senior economistAvilianibelieves that Indonesia can, in fact, stand to benefit from the closure of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) by the California banking regulators.”We should benefit because when a country experiences a financial crisis, the money can flow to Indonesia,” Aviliani stated at the 2023 Fortune Indonesia Summit here on Wednesday. The senior economist remarked that Indonesia’s current financial system is still stable, so it needs to be maintained to avoid being affected by the SVB closure. Indonesia has been strengthening its financial system stability since the 1998 financial crisis, she pointed out. “Bank Indonesia’s benchmark interest rate is still safe, and surveillance by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) of our financial system is better than in developed countries. This means that we are in a better place due to experiencing the 1998 (crisis), and our (financial) supervisors are much better,” she explained. Meanwhile, the implementation of Law No. 4 of 2023 concerning the Financial Sector Development and Strengthening (P2SK) Law will further strengthen financial system stability through various new provisions, one of which is expanding the authority of the Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS). “LPS not only protects public funds but also provides solutions. They can help troubled banks,” Aviliani remarked. She called for the need to maintain public perception, so that it does not impact the financial system and economic stability in 2023. “If people’s perceptions are good, and they contribute to the economy with balanced consumption and investment, then we will not experience an economic crisis,” she explained. Earlier, on Tuesday (March 14), Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan expressed belief that the SVB closure on March 10 would not have an impact on Indonesian banks. “Until today, we do not see any signs that it will have an impact (on Indonesia) because it seems that the capital of our banks is great,” Pandjaitan stated at the Indonesia Leading Economic Forum 2023 themed “Strengthening the Economic Climate Amid the Global Polycrisis Era.” baca-jugaRelated news: Ministry supporting development of Indonesia’s Silicon ValleyRelated news: Ministry of Industry creates innovations to attract investment

Source: Antara News Agency

Malang, East Java (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is targeting to create one million established young entrepreneurs by the end of 2024.”The creation of established young entrepreneurs is carried out by cooperating with several business incubators in various universities,” Cooperatives and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki remarked here on Wednesday. Masduki noted that currently, the ministry is targeting entrepreneurs from the university community. Masduki elaborated that one of the forms of collaboration carried out by the ministry is cooperation with the Merdeka Malang University. The government is aiming to prepare micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) players that have innovative business models and competitive products. He noted that cooperation with business incubators in universities would help in zeroing in on students, who already have businesses and innovative ideas to start businesses. “We are working with incubators in universities to prepare students, who have started a business and have ideas to run a business,” he remarked. The minister remarked that students, who have started to run their own businesses, would be provided assistance by his ministry to develop their business potential, including in the process of obtaining business licenses. He affirmed that the government will also open access to finance, including opening opportunities to expand market access. Masduki assessed that MSME players should be able to create innovative products in order to compete with those from abroad, considering that currently, e-commerce is still dominated by foreign products. “This is a challenge for MSME players in the country, so that there is an improvement in the quality of products,” he affirmed. He further drew attention to several good business ideas from prospective young entrepreneurs in the country. However, he acknowledged that challenges existed, such as in the form of access to finance to develop businesses and their capacities. “I think there are many (young entrepreneurs) that only need to develop their businesses. However, there are those whose products are less innovative. Thus, their markets are still small. They need to be directed to target products that have quite broad and strong markets,” he remarked. baca-jugaRelated news: Ministry shares five tips for ensuring MSME business continuityRelated news: Ministry praises women MSME players for contributing to economy

Source: Antara News Agency