Day: June 10, 2023

Padang, West Sumatra (ANTARA) – Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo underscored the need for special innovative breakthroughs or ideas to face the global food crises and climate change.”There must be ideas or breakthroughs, such as for each district to become a food barn by planting in one thousand hectares of plots in each district,” the minister stated in Padang, West Sumatra, on Saturday. Limpo delivered the statement at the opening of National Agriculture Week XVI. The minister remarked that the food crises is forecast to impact agricultural productivity by 30 percent. Limpo also highlighted the need to use fertilizers efficiently by opting for more organic varieties and reducing the use of chemical ones. He drew attention to the ministry’s initiative to ink collaboration with the Outstanding Farmers and Fishermen Association (KTNA) as part of the efforts to address the issues. He highlighted the need for the two entities to consistently adopt the same point of view in pursuing national agricultural programs. “We have to be grateful for farmers, as agriculture is the economy’s cushion during pandemic,” Minister Limpo remarked. The collaboration between the ministry and KTNA is expected to result in synergy in pursuing the anticipatory programs, head of agricultural human resources development and training at the ministry Dedi Nursyamsi affirmed. “This collective commitment will strengthen the bond of agricultural entities in anticipating climate change and global food crisis,” he noted. The ministry has prepared several measures to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and global food crisis, so as to enable farmers to still be productive with no significant issues, Nursyamsi stressed. Head of KTNA Yadi Sofyan Noor noted that some higher-ups in the ministry will pursue the collaborative efforts with the association in order to anticipate the issues. “This measure is expected to become a collective effort in developing national agriculture,” he concluded.

Source: Antara News Agency

Padang, W Sumatra (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Agriculture continues to push all districts in the country to cultivate one thousand hectares of land to strengthen national food security and self-sufficiency.”This is where the importance of collaboration is to strengthen the realization of (the target of being the) world’s food barn,” Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo stated here on Saturday. Limpo made the statement on the occasion of the XVI Indonesian Farmers and Fishers National Week (Penas Tani), held on June 10-15, 2023, at the Sutan Sjahrir Air Base, Padang, West Sumatra. ccording to the minister, food is the most strategic sector, as it is directly related to the basic aspect of the people’s needs. Moreover, the food sector supports the creation of jobs and strengthening of Indonesia’s economy. Speaking in connection with the threat of extreme weather due to the El Nino phenomenon, projected to occur in August 2023, he reminded all parties of the importance of the handling aspect. The threat could be anticipated by taking several measures, such as opening all infiltration wells, operating water pumps, arranging irrigation facilities, and preparing superior-quality seeds that are resistant to extreme weather. In addition, farmers are encouraged to use organic fertilizers as an alternative to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Moreover, currently, the raw materials for manufacturing chemical fertilizers are also starting to become scarce due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “We need to respond to this by creating our own fertilizers as an alternative to the use of chemical fertilizers that are becoming scarce all over the world,” he remarked. The minister expressed optimism that the idea of creating fertilizers would be realized, as Indonesia has local wisdom that supports it. “Hopefully, with the efforts and hard work, we would be able to overcome this El Nino problem well,” Limpo stated. The main conference of the XVI Penas Tani resulted in several agreements, including strengthening the position of local foods as a form of national food self-sufficiency and setting Gorontalo Province as host for the XVII edition of Penas Tani. Related news: Food security strategic issue due to global population rise: Ministry

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) is committed to supporting the new capital Nusantara City’s development by conducting a study on the potential for developing a financial center in the new capital.”As OJK is committed to supporting the acceleration of the new capital’s construction and development, the OJK has conducted a study on the establishment of the financial center in the new capital,” OJK’s Chief Executive of Banking Supervision, Dian Ediana Rae, noted as per the statement here on Friday. The study will be the basis for future policies to realize a financial center that can positively impact the national economy, he affirmed. The financial center in Nusantara City is expected to be the hub for financial services and the center for technological development of financial services and its supporting aspects, Rae explained. “The financial center in the new capital, which will be known as the Nusantara Financial Centre, is projected to be the financial center niche to gather and supply the funding from and to local and offshore markets,” the chief executive stated. The financial center is also expected to be the hub of financial services’ innovation in Indonesia, with a greater diversity of financial products, to bolster the Indonesian financial sector’s competitiveness and stature in the Southeast Asian region. He expounded that several products and services that will be available at the financial center would be commercial banking, cryptocurrency, sustainable finance, wealth management, trustee, and Islamic financial services. Those services will be handled by special business units that will be autonomous with their own capital allocation, Rae stated. Meanwhile, the OJK official affirmed that the success of the financial center development hinges on several factors, such as the business environment, human resources, and infrastructure. Hence, contributions from other ministries and agencies to the development will be vital. “OJK hopes for inputs to the study and policy recommendation on the development of the financial center conceived by the OJK to accommodate banks’ aspirations, so we can develop an ideal financial center concept to benefit Indonesia’s economy,” Rae remarked. Related news: PPATK launches FIR to fortify financial system integrity

Source: Antara News Agency

Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA) – Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno urged pesantren (Islamic boarding school) students, commonly called santris, nationwide to embark on entrepreneurship through various programs provided by the ministry.t a gathering with religious leaders and pesantren students at Al-Itqon Pesantren here on Friday (June 9) evening, the minister stated that entrepreneurship programs would help to resolve the students’ concerns regarding difficulties in finding jobs. “Hence, students are encouraged to open new business opportunities through various programs from the ministry for them to embark on (careers in the) creative economy and tourism sectors,” Uno stated. The minister highlighted that two main ministry programs that pesantren students, locally known as santri, can partake in are the Santri Digitalpreneur program, under which they will learn about digitalization and the creative economy training program. “They can also embark into the culinary and fashion sectors where the demand is huge,” he pointed out. Uno encouraged santris to play their role as drivers in the development of national human resources in the future. “We have developed the infrastructure and to ensure they will get a job, they must be nurtured by knowledge and noble character,” he affirmed. “Thus, we can become an advanced country, and they will create new jobs instead of looking for one,” the minister explained. Uno also noted that religious tourism sites in Indonesia, such as the trail to the graves of Wali Sanga, the nine Javanese saints credited to the spread of Islam in Java, hold high potential to be developed further. “We should arrange religious tourism in the form of ziarah(grave visit) tourism with historical enrichment (to tell) how the spread of Islam in Indonesia was conducted by approaches harmonious with the local culture and wisdom,” Uno remarked. Related news: Over 1,000 Islamic school students get cybersecurity training

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian called on acting regional heads to emulate President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi’s) blusukan (impromptu visit) habit to gain a first-hand understanding of issues that concern people the most.”You are appointed as acting regional leaders by the president, so emulate his action to visit regions. Do not avoid the people that want to convey their complaints,” Karnavian told acting regional leaders present at a coordination meeting on Friday, as per a statement. During the meeting at the Home Affairs Ministry office complex here, the minister stated that through blusukan, acting regional leaders could be in a better position to consider various aspects to take decisions on programs and policies that can address issues faced by the people. Moreover, he called on acting leaders to develop good relations with all parties and stakeholders, including their superiors. Building harmonious relations is essential to ensure acting leaders will be strong figureheads in their regions, he affirmed. Karnavian also assured that acting regional leaders have a firm legitimacy for their leadership, as acting governors are appointed on the basis of presidential decisions, while acting mayors and district heads are appointed as per the home affairs minister’s decisions. Nonetheless, it is important that acting leaders strive to nurture good communication with all parties, including with the president and the home ministry, he emphasized. The minister believes that sound relations would also help to strengthen support for acting regional heads and ensure that their staff remain supportive and loyal. “However, nurturing loyalty does not always require formal relations, as informal relations and personal touch are more essential,” the minister stated. He also highlighted that strong leaders would have strong legitimacy, supportive staff, and strong public support and approval as their foundation. Related news: Regional heads know actions needed to end extreme poverty: President

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Efforts to eradicate stunting, one of the government’s priorities, have been mandated by Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution, according to the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN).”The preamble of the 1945 Constitution stated that Indonesia should advance public welfare, educate the nation, and participate in the establishment of a world order based on freedom, perpetual peace, and social justice,” BKKBN Deputy for Training, Research, and Development M. Rizal Martua Damanikstated on Friday (June 9). t the “Global Friendship for Prosperous Families: Zero Stunting for the Nation” event here, Damanik said the Constitution preamble dictates that the state should develop quality human resources and realize prosperity, and one step to achieve it is through stunting eradication acceleration programs. Stunting prevention programs are also consistent with the Indonesian government’s mission to achieve the 2045 Golden Indonesia Vision at the country’s independence centenary, he affirmed. “We should prepare our children to be the nation’s successors, who will play their role as citizens of the world,” the BKKBN deputy remarked. Reducing the stunting prevalence rate to 14 percent in 2024, as targeted by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), is also consistent with the Constitution’s preamble. Meanwhile, Damanik noted that according to the Indonesian National Status Survey (SSGI), the stunting prevalence percentage in Indonesia in 2022 had reached 21.6 percent. Nonetheless, the president called for stunting eradication acceleration programs to be continued through collective action among various stakeholders, from the national to the family levels. The official said various interventional actions have been taken to reduce child stunting, including providing nutritious food for mothers and babies as well as clean water and sanitation facilities. Moreover, the BKKBN is committed to providing business empowerment assistance for contraceptive users, which in turn is expected to improve the well-being and nutritional conditions of families. “Hence, we hope this program can encourage active participation in assisting stunting reduction acceleration programs to realize healthy and prosperous Indonesian families,” Damanik remarked.

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Bucharest has sponsored promotions of Labuan Bajo Super Priority Destination in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to Romanians.The event was held in a hybrid method from Bucharest and Labuan Bajo on Thursday, June 8, 2023. The promotion focused on introducing Labuan Bajo to travel agents, tour operators and travel bloggers in Romania, KBRI said in a statement released on Friday. Director of the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Shana Fatina was invited to virtually explain about the natural and cultural attractions, and business opportunities, in the region. The participants were also invited to virtually enjoy the beauty of Labuan Bajo. “Through this event, we aim to familiarize Romanian tour operators, travel agents, and travel bloggers with Labuan Bajo as a prime Indonesian destination, and encourage further exploration of collaborative opportunities with Indonesian counterparts,” the embassy said. In addition to the presentation on Labuan Bajo, this event also explained the latest international travel regulations to Indonesia, and discussed cooperative opportunities between tour operators of Romania and Indonesia, particularly in selling tour packages. In May, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency. The decision is expected to revive Indonesia’s tourism. KBRI said that Romanian people have only been familiar with Bali as a tourism destination in Indonesia. While Bali has long been the centerpiece of Indonesian tourism, “We want to showcase Labuan Bajo’s extraordinary natural beauty and cultural charm,” said Fatina. In 2019, the Indonesian government named Labuan Bajo as one of the five super-priority tourism destinations along other hotspots, including Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in Lombok, and Likupang in North Sulawesi. Labuan Bajo is home to Komodo Lizards or Varanus Komodoensis, which are the largest living prehistoric lizard. They can be found in Komodo National Park, which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These giant lizards, existing nowhere else in the world, are most commonly known as ‘Komodo Dragons’, due to their appearance and aggressive behavior. These lizards grow to an average length of two to three meters.

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Directorate General of Financing and Risk Management (DJPPR) at the Finance Ministry has launched the KPBU 4.0 web-based application, which facilitates stakeholders across Indonesia in accessing services through a digital office.”This application will fully digitize the process of KPBU (public private partnership), which aims to facilitate stakeholders from Sabang to Merauke in accessing services,” said Brahmantio Isdijoso, the DJPPR Director for Government Support and Infrastructure Funding, in a statement received on Saturday. He confirmed that the launch of the application on Monday is one of the initiatives from DJPPR to establish a digital office. He believes that the application will make processes more efficient, as previously, face-to-face meetings and stacks of documents were required. The application allows stakeholders to obtain information on government support and facilities, convey key information on projects, and update and monitor information for better decision-making, he explained. ccording to Isdijoso, KPBU is an effort by the government and business entities to establish infrastructure and services for the public. The specifications of infrastructure and services refer to the targets set by the government and use all or some of the resources from companies while taking into account risk sharing among the parties involved. He highlighted DJPPR’s commitment to consistently improve and maintain services for the people. He expects users of KPBU 4.0 to be able to benefit from the application.

Source: Antara News Agency