Day: March 15, 2023

Now (in 2023), it will be disbursed door-to-door. Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog)Budi Waseso has assured that the agency will disburse rice aid to 2.3 million beneficiaries as soon as it receives recipient data from the Social Affairs Ministry.”(We will distribute the assistance) starting this month (March 2023). Currently, we are just waiting for the list of names (of the beneficiaries) from the Social Affairs Ministry,” he said here on Wednesday. He informed that Bulog will only disburse rice assistance. Earlier, the government had planned to also provide chicken, meat, and eggs assistance, which will be distributed by state-run food holding company ID FOOD. The food assistance package will be provided for three months. The head of Bulog said that the distribution of the rice assistance would be carried out door-to-door for beneficiaries. In 2022, state-run postal company PT Pos Indonesia was tasked with distributing the aid. “The (distribution) scheme is different from prior (in 2022), which (the rice) was stored (at post offices) and then taken (by the beneficiaries) at the determined locations. Now (in 2023), it will be disbursed door-to-door,” Waseso informed. However, he said that currently, only 380 thousand tons of government rice reserves (CBP) are available at Bulog’s warehouses, while the demand for rice assistance over the next 3 months is estimated at 640 thousand tons. The rice reserves will increase since the harvest season in Indonesia will peak at the end of March and early April 2023, he added. Furthermore, his agency will also cooperate with modern rice mills to meet the rice needs. “It (the amount of rice which will be supplied by the mills) is being calculated by the National Food Agency (NFA),” he disclosed. He said that in the near future, the NFA will review the production capabilities of the mills and how much rice the mills can provide for the social assistance program. Meanwhile, the deputy for food availability and stabilization at NFA, I Gusti Ketut Astawa, said that the distribution of the social assistance will not affect the Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) Program, which also uses the CBP, since the aid will be disbursed in stages over three months. baca-jugaRelated news: andgtovernment probes cause behind rice price hike despite harvest periodRelated news: President asks farmers to accelerate rice planting

Source: Antara News Agency

Malang, East Java (ANTARA) – Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Minister Teten Masduki has asked Indonesian youngsters, especially university students, to strengthen the marketing of products made by local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).fter attending an interactive dialogue at Merdeka Malang University here on Wednesday, he said that the digital literacy of Indonesian youth is already very good. Thus, it needs to be optimized to strengthen the marketing of MSME products. “The digital literacy of our youngsters is already very good. It is actually necessary to bring youngsters closer to MSME products so that they can become resellers,” he expounded. Masduki said that currently, there are around 21 million MSMEs that are already connected to digital markets. The government is targeting to help 30 million MSMEs enter digital markets by 2024. ccording to the minister, efforts to reach the target are inseparable from the role of youngsters, who can develop new digital applications, especially those that can support the marketing of local MSME products. The government is trying to encourage those youngsters to support the development of digital-based applications at the local level, he added. This would provide local MSME products the opportunity to develop. The aim of developing digital applications at the local level is to expand the market penetration of products of MSMEs that are still small in scale, he informed. This has been deemed necessary considering that there are still a number of challenges to MSME digitization. “The main issue of digitalization is not merely about them joining digital platforms but how they are able to survive and grow,” he explained. He further said that most MSMEs that have entered digital platforms have not yet been able to survive because they have not been able to meet market demand. Thus, digital platforms at the local level are urgently needed. baca-jugaRelated news: Ministry blocks 56 pieces of exploitative digital contentRelated news: Digital platforms necessitated to timely adjust to Personal Data Law

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has given ministries and agencies a deadline of 23 months for improving the data and mechanism for the distribution of subsidized fertilizers, Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo has informed.”The President gave a time that in 23 months, it must have been finished, and at least those who are eligible to receive fertilizers must (have received them),” he said at the Presidential Palace complex here on Wednesday. ccording to him, the President has called for an improvement in the program and concept for the distribution of subsidized fertilizers so that they can be implemented accurately in the field in terms of time, target, recipients, and fields. The available budget is only sufficient for allocating 89 million tons of subsidized fertilizers, he noted. Therefore, the mechanism for the distribution of subsidized fertilizers must be effective and right on target. The national need for subsidized fertilizers is more than 20 million tons, Limpo added. “For this reason, the President ordered us, fertilizers should not be insufficient,” he said. The minister informed that he will strengthen coordination with the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), the National Food Agency, state-owned fertilizer holding company Pupuk Indonesia, and regional governments. “Starting from preparing the fertilizers in line 1 in provinces, line 2 in districts, line 3 in sub-districts, to line 4. The coordination must be more mature, and we hope this agenda will not take too long,” he added. He further said that his ministry will validate the data of recipients for the allocation of nine million tons of subsidized fertilizers. Earlier, President Widodo had said that most farmers that he had met with had complained about the availability of fertilizers, particularly subsidized fertilizers, for supporting their crop production. Problems related to the distribution and availability of fertilizers are not only being faced by Indonesia but also all countries, he pointed out. This is due to the war between fertilizer suppliers Russia and Ukraine. baca-jugaRelated news: ESDM Ministry asked to ensure gas supply for fertilizer factoriesRelated news: Jokowi demands solution to handle gas supply for fertilizer factories

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has expressed the hope that the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework For Prosperity (IPEF) whose second round of negotiations is being held in Bali Island will strengthen the economies of partner countries, including Indonesia.During a virtual meeting with the United States trade representative (USTR), Ambassador Katherine Tai, Minister Hartarto said he hoped that the IPEF negotiations would produce concrete and useful actions for partner countries, especially for workers, consumers, business actors, and investors. “Our goal at IPEF is to increase resilience and economic growth in the Indo-Pacific region by presenting new ideas and innovations to encourage and deepen cross-border trade,” he conveyed in an official statement received here on Wednesday. The minister said that the Indonesian government has continued to focus on the real benefits of IPEF, which would be realized through increased trade and investment. Responding to Minister Hartarto’s statement, Ambassador Tai conveyed the optimism of the US government that IPEF would benefit Indonesia. “We see potential collaborations in several sectors that can be encouraged to strengthen our bilateral relations, such as increasing digital competence, clean technology, and banking services,” she said. During the meeting, she also conveyed the United States’ concerns to Indonesia, including on the implementation of the commodity balance (NK) for imported products and Indonesian regulations regarding the imposition of import duties on intangible goods. The minister explained that the implementation of the commodity balance, such as the application of NK for sugar, oil, and gas products, aims to control the number of goods in circulation, which will have an impact on selling prices for consumers. “In principle, the application of the commodity balance is based on requests from importers through a digital platform. A commodity balance is applied to provide a price balance for the community. The Indonesian government is still open to inputs from all stakeholders to improve the commodity balance mechanism,” Hartarto said. While concluding the meeting, Ambassador Tai said that she would welcome the Indonesian delegation and 12 other IPEF partner countries at the IPEF ministerial meeting in Bali in May 2023. baca-jugaRelated news: US joins second round of IPEF negotiations in Indonesia

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry to provide performance allowances to ministries, agencies, regional governments, and government-owned enterprises that make the largest purchases of domestic products.”I have instructed the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister (Abdullah Azwar Anas) to prepare the performance allowances. If it is rewarded by allowances, then surely, everyone will become motivated (to realize it),” he remarked. t the inauguration of the 2023 Business Matching for Domestic Products in Istora Senayan, Jakarta on Wednesday, he lauded the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry as the ministry with the largest budget in purchasing domestic products. Therefore, the ministry received the Intensification of Domestic Product Utilization (P3DN) Award on the same occasion. In addition, the award was bestowed upon the Jakarta Provincial Government, Bekasi City Government, and state-owned cement company PT Semen Indonesia (Persero) Tbk for their absorption of several domestic products. The president expects that the provision of performance allowances will encourage government institutions to increase their spending on domestic products. Furthermore, he encouraged all ministries, agencies, provincial, district, and city governments, as well as state-owned and regional-owned enterprises to allocate 95 percent of their budget allocation for the procurement of goods and services to purchase domestic products. “You do not have to seek investors if this (the P3DN program) can run well,” Jokowi affirmed. He noted that being able to attract investors and secure investments is a good achievement, but if local stakeholders are committed to spending more on domestic products, then domestic industries will be able to develop faster. Bolstering domestic industries, especially those run by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), will also drive national economic growth, he affirmed. On the occasion, the president said that the government would also impose sanctions on any ministries, agencies, provincial, district, and city governments, as well as state-owned and regional-owned enterprises that imported foreign products using the state budget (APBN) or regional budget (APBD). He had called on Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who concurrently serves as head of the P3DN National Team, to formulate the penalties. baca-jugaRelated news: President urges ministry, TNI, and Polri to use domestic productsRelated news: Ministry hosts 2023 domestic products’ purchase business matchingRelated news: Minister urges officials to spend budget for domestic products

Source: Antara News Agency

High-ranking officials are expected to consistently enhance capacity and competence, as well as improve and simplify the government’s business process so public services can be more (effective and efficient) in facing rapid changes. Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry has opened the eighth batch of Tier II National Leadership Coaching (PKN) this year to improve human resource skills, particularly the strategic leadership competence of public sector officials.”Form good collaboration and synergy with many stakeholders so that the measures conducted can be meaningful for everyone, and for those (measures) to be able to offer best services for Indonesia,” Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim said in a written statement received here on Wednesday. Strategic leaders must be able to anticipate every kind of change, and they must also promote good change by developing the skills and competence of other human resources, he added. “Everyone must be able to anticipate changes outside the organization and can influence the performance of organization for the better, and can compete and set the right priorities,” he said. ccording to Makarim, great human resources are the key to obtaining the skills needed to compete in many aspects, which would ultimately increase value. “This is what Indonesia expects in order to win global competition,” the minister affirmed. One of the measures to achieve those ends is improving officials’ strategic leadership skills, he said. “High-ranking officials are expected to consistently enhance capacity and competence, as well as improve and simplify the government’s business process so public services can be more (effective and efficient) in facing rapid changes,” the minister added. The theme for this year’s coaching is “transforming education, culture, research, and technology aspects to combat poverty.” He said he expects the participants to support the government’s mission of improving the quality of human resources. He deemed digital transformation as a necessity for developing the bureaucracy. “This is to ensure transparent and flexible public services, which ultimately create effective and efficient e-government,” he added. baca-jugaRelated news: Ministry asks all elements to strengthen vocational educationRelated news: Preparation of quality generation starts from the family: ministryRelated news: andgtovt outlines support for digital human resources

Source: Antara News Agency

Regarding weapons (and) ammunition, we (also) have been able to make them — let alone shoes. Why do we have to buy them from overseas (producers)? Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on the Defense Ministry, Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), and National Police (Polri) to purchase domestic products for their personnel’s equipment, including uniforms and weapons.”We have been able to produce and export them (the uniforms) to many countries. However, we also keep buying them from overseas (foreign producers),” he remarked here on Wednesday. Jokowi noted that undeniably, the military and police are still allowed to import sophisticated products, such as fighter planes, as Indonesia had yet to produce them on its own. However, since several Indonesian companies, including state-run defense products manufacturer PT Pindad, had been able to manufacture uniforms, weapons, and ammunition, the president encouraged all stakeholders to absorb the domestic products. “Regarding weapons (and) ammunition, we (also) have been able to make them — let alone shoes. Why do we have to buy them from overseas (producers)?” he emphasized at the inauguration of the 2023 Business Matching for Domestic Products. In addition, PT Pindad produces special vehicles, heavy equipment, industrial and service equipment, as well as transportation infrastructure, mining equipment, and cybersecurity infrastructure. Furthermore, Jokowi recalled that Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is a retired TNI officer, had once told him that the catering provider for the soldiers remained the same ever since he was in the forces until now. Pandjaitan served in the military from 1970 to 1999. “Regarding the soldiers’ food, I got a story from General Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, ‘Mr. President, since I was a soldier until I retired, and now I am a minister, how come the (catering) provider of the goods (the soldiers’ meal) is still the same,'” the president stated. In fact, having several catering providers will offer better choices, as the prices of the service will also become more competitive, he noted. He vouched to review the provision of the meal to confirm the story. On April 20, 2022, President Jokowi had launched the state-owned defense industry holding company DEFEND ID. In addition to PT Pindad, the electronic enterprise PT Len Industri, aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia, shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia, and explosive manufacturer PT Dahana are members of the holding. baca-jugaRelated news: Minister confident of national defense despite MEF target delayRelated news: Need to balance TNI infrastructure push with armament modernizationRelated news: Minister inspects production of arsenal at PT Pindad Malang

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) vouched that the government will consistently look for the reason behind the increase in the price of rice despite the current harvest period.”We see that it is still the harvest period. (Supposedly), supply during the harvest period is plenty, and the price should be going down. Why does not this one?” the head of state remarked after the opening of the 2023 Domestic Product Business Matching here on Wednesday. ccording to the Trade Ministry’s data on market and staple items’ monitoring, the national average price of medium-quality rice reaches Rp11,800 per kg (US$0.77) on Tuesday, March 14. Moreover, the national average price of premium rice reached Rp13,700 per kg (US$0.89), thereby turning out to be the highest record in the last five years. “(With a rate like) this, the farmers are happy, but the consumers will (complain). I feel like the balance is something we want to maintain,” Jokowi emphasized. He admitted that it was a challenge to find a middle ground in terms of the grain price that would be agreeable to both the farmers and customers. “(Finding the) price of rice reasonable for the trader (and also) reasonable for the consumer, that is one difficult thing,” he stated. If the end goal is just to lower the price of rice, then the easy solution is to just import them, he remarked. “Lowering the price of rice is very simple. Just import as much as possible, and put it in the market, then the price will go down. However, what we are currently doing is maintaining a balance. When we look at it, indeed the supply is lacking, (thereby) causing a perpetually high price, so then, of course, the imports will come in,” he elaborated. In order to maintain the farmers’ competitiveness, the National Food Agency has revoked circular letter number 47/TS.03.03/K/02/2023 on the limit to rice and grain prices. It is revoked due to the latest progress in rice production and supply in terms of distribution from farmers to milling places. In Circular letter number 60/TS.03.03/K/03/2023, issued as a follow up to the revocation of the other circular, the agency urged rice milling companies to maintain reasonable rice and grain prices. On February 20, 2023, the National Food Agency issued a circular informing that the buying price of grain and rice prior to the harvest season in March 2023 had risen by eight to nine percent, wherein the increase in the main production costs was considered. baca-jugaRelated news: Jokowi inaugurates Bulog’s modern rice milling plant in SragenRelated news: Central Java Governor voices support for world food estate pushRelated news: Jokowi reviews stocks, prices of food commodities at Wonokromo Market

Source: Antara News Agency