Day: June 14, 2023

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono has thanked the World Bank for contributing to and cooperating with his ministry on achieving the 20202024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) targets.”The World Bank has the largest portion of financing in ongoing projects in the ministry, with the support amounting to 24.71 percent or around US$1.68 billion from the total loan of US$6.8 billion,” Hadimuljono informed here on Tuesday. total of 10 projects under the ministry have been funded by the World Bank. In the 20202022 period, the ministry rehabilitated and modernized 826,531 hectares of irrigation systems, improved 163 dams, and provided access to drinking water at a rate of 2,988 liters per second. The ministry also repaired and built 546,561 houses and helped more than 25 thousand families get affordable houses. These achievements were supported by loans from the World Bank, such as through the Dam Operational Improvement and Safety Project (DOISP) II and the Strategic Irrigation Modernization and Urgent Rehabilitation Project (SIMURP). Hadimuljono also discussed future projects that have been proposed to be funded through collaboration with the World Bank. “In April 2023, the ministry proposed increasing the loan amount for the River Basin Improvement Program from US$50 million to US$500 million,” Hadimuljono said. His side also proposed US$178.38 million in funding for the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) Service Project Towards Safely Managed Urban Sanitation. He also invited World Bank delegates to participate in the 2024 World Water Forum (WWF) in Bali, which carries the theme “Water for Shared Prosperity.” He expressed the hope that cooperation between the ministry and the World Bank will continue to strengthen and generate benefits through inclusive development strategies. Minister Hadimuljono received Benoat Bosquet, the World Bank’s regional director for sustainable development, East Asia Pacific, and other delegates in Jakarta on Tuesday. The candidate for the post of the new regional director, Anna Wellenstein, was introduced during the meeting.

Source: Antara News Agency

It will be difficult for ASEAN to anticipate the recession if the member countries implement trade protection policies and do not encourage a mutually beneficial trade system. Yogyakarta (ANTARA) – The 59th ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) meeting is being held to discuss the road map for the harmonization of standards to ensure the successful realization of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).The meeting, which is being held from June 13 to 16, 2023, is being attended by representatives of the standardization and conformity assessment institutions of ASEAN member countries. The harmonization of standards is required to ensure the quality of products, especially those manufactured by developing countries so that the products can compete internationally, Head of Indonesia’s National Standardization Agency (BSN)Kukuh S. Achmadsaid after opening the meeting here on Tuesday. He said he believes that harmonization will further support the goods and services trade as well as help realize equitable prosperity in Southeast Asian countries. “We (ASEAN member countries) do not aim to develop the same standards in each country, but we attempt to synchronize the standards in all ASEAN countries,” he added. chmad informed that his agency has been tasked with completing the development of the Road Map of ASEAN Harmonized Standards to Support SDG Implementation under Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023. He stated that the road map is one of Indonesia’s 16 priority economic deliverables (PED) to make ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a global growth center. He continued that the road map also aims to increase trade productivity in the Southeast Asian region by improving production cost efficiency, preserving sustainable resources, and strengthening environmental protection. The BSN head noted that ASEAN member countries have endorsed a number of initiatives during prior ACCSQ meetings, for instance, product acceptance agreements on various commodities, such as electronics and cosmetics. Later, the same agreement will also be followed up for medical devices and automotive products, he said. There are also a number of agendas that need to be realized, such as the development of an action plan by the Joint Sectoral Committee on Electrical and Electronic Equipment (JSC EEE) to map regional trade in the sector, he added. chmad emphasized that Southeast Asian countries must anticipate the threat of economic recession given the ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade war. “It will be difficult for ASEAN to anticipate the recession if the member countries implement trade protection policies and do not encourage a mutually beneficial trade system,” he added.

Source: Antara News Agency

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) – Indonesia and the United States are holding the Cope West 2023 air combat joint exercise at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru to strengthen military relations between the two countries.”This joint exercise was officially opened by the head of the Indonesian Air Force delegation and the head of the US PACAF delegation, Lt. Col Eric ‘Heff’ Broyles,” Head of the Air Force Delegation Colonel I Gusti Putu Setia Dharmasaid here on Tuesday. The joint exercise is aimed at fostering understanding between the two countries and strengthening relations between their air forces. Dharma said that the Cope West exercise has provided an opportunity for the two air forces to interact with each other and share knowledge. “The Cope West is also aimed at enhancing the capabilities and professionalism of personnel from both air forces in terms of developing tactics and techniques for conducting air operations,” he said. The Air Force’s elite Bravo Detachment 90 and the US Marines are also sharing experiences and knowledge through the Military-to-Military Connection Direct Action Ground Reconnaissance (M2MC DAGR). Meanwhile, Lt. Col Broyles lauded the Air Force delegation for welcoming and preparing for the exercise very well. “This is a wonderful opportunity to build on mutual cooperation,” Broyles said. Cope West, which is being held for two weeks, involves the participation of hundreds of personnel using F-16 fighters from both air forces. Elite troops in the M2MC DAGR exercise will practice close combat, pistol, and rifle shooting, day and night snipers, VVIP security, and the field health exercise. This year’s Cope West is being held for the 10th time in Indonesia, with the first being organized in Medan, North Sumatra, in 1989. The exercise is part of an implementation of the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries for jointly maintaining regional stability in Southeast Asia.

Source: Antara News Agency