Author: Web Desk

A number of foreign airlines will begin direct flights to a number of tourism destinations in Indonesia, other than Bali, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno announced.

“Yesterday, I directly witnessed Malaysia Airlines open a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Pekanbaru (Riau Province),” he noted, during The Weekly Brief with the Sandi Uno virtual event on Monday.

In addition to Malaysia Airlines, the airlines Jeju Air from South Korea has also opened a flight to Manado, North Sulawesi, after the two parties signed an agreement.

“We appreciate and thank those parties that have facilitated this,” he remarked.

Moreover, state-run airline Garuda Indonesia will begin operating a flight from Japan to Bali three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The plan is to open this flight at the start of November 2022.

Officially, Garuda Indonesia will announced that Japanese tourists can travel to Bali from any where.

Uno estimated that Narita and Osaka in Japan will be the departure location for tourists travelling to Bali, much like during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

“After we fought, finally more direct flights came to Indonesia,” he said.

He said he expects that the direct flights will not only depart for overseas from each destination, but also return to Indonesia.

During the occasion, Uno also condemned catcalling toward tourists, which ruins the image and reputation of Indonesian tourism.

This statement came as a response to suspected catcalling toward a tourist that visited the tourism destination Gili Trawangan, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, which became viral on TikTok.

“Catcalling is a heinous act toward tourists or anyone, usually the opposite sex,” he remarked, while adding that such actions are considered an annoyance.

 

Source: Antara News

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto highlighted President Joko Widodo’s directives to no longer rely on imports for domestic soybean stocks.

“Mr President wants to not be 100-percent dependent on imports (for domestic soybean stocks), because of almost all the demand for 2.4 (million tons, source from) national production continues to decline,” Minister Hartarto stated at the Presidential Palace here on Monday.

Hartarto made the statement after attending a meeting at the Merdeka Palace, led by President Jokowi, to discuss governance and boost soybean productivity.

To this end, President Jokowi urged State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) to purchase the commodity from farmers at a predetermined price.

“Hence, to reach that price, there will be an assignment for SOEs, so that farmers can produce. That is (set) at a price of Rp10 thousand (per kilogram),” he remarked.

The price being unappealing to farmers was one of the reasons behind their hesitation to plant soybeans lately.

He pointed out that farmers found it unfeasible to grow soybeans if the price was below Rp10 thousand per kg, as the product imported from the United States was priced at only Rp7,700 or even cheaper.

“Hence, in 2018, for example, we produced 700 thousand hectares, and now, it is at 150 thousand hectares. Hence, if farmers are urged to choose if they rather grow corn or soybeans, then they all (choose) corn. Now, we want everything to be mixed, not only corn but also soybeans (production) can go up,” he elaborated.

The head of state also gave the second directive in which he encouraged farmers to use superior seeds that have been genetically modified (GMOs). Using these seeds is expected to aid in multiplying soybean production per hectare.

“By using GMOs, the production per hectare can increase, from the current 1.6-2 tons per hectare, to 3.5-4 tons per hectare,” he remarked.

The next measure was for the government to prepare a budget for the expansion of soybean planting areas, from the current 150 thousand hectares to 300 thousand hectares and to 600 thousand hectares next year. The government has been striving to pursue its target of one million hectares of production in the next few years.

“The budget has been prepared for around Rp400 billion, and next year, it will also be increased, from 300 (thousand) to 600 thousand hectares. The existing one is about 150 thousand hectares. Thus, the production target of one million hectares is pursued for the coming two to three years,” the minister added.

For other commodities, such as shallots, cayenne pepper, and curly red chili, Hartarto highlighted President Jokowi’s request that production centers in Solok and Indragiri, West Sumatra Province, and Brebes in Central Java should continue to boost their production rate.

“Mr President asked for production to continue to be increased and for cold chain or cold storage to be provided, and it will also be assigned to SOEs to work on it. Hence, of course, hopefully, all of these farmers’ production can be fully (absorbed),” he remarked.

He also reminded the regional government of President Jokowi’s directive which stated that they had to bear the costs of commodity transportation in order to contain the inflation rate.

“The current transportation distribution is conducted in accordance with the directions at the coordination meeting on inflation, transportation subsidies are applied by each regional government, but nationally, the National Food Agency and the Agriculture Ministry are assigned to pro-subsidy from transportation,” he concluded.

 

Source: Antara News

Online transportation fare hike caused by the increase in fuel price (BBM) in early September 2022 must be balanced by better services, Rizal Pauzi a public policy observer of Makassar-based Hasanuddin University, said.

Hence, Rizal Pauzi advised the government to not only focus on increasing tariffs, but also paying more attention to other things that make people feel comfortable.

“Because based on the Ability to Pay (ATP) and Willingness to Pay (WTP) studies, one of the reasons people are willing to pay more is for good service quality,” he said here on Saturday.

Pauzi also advised the government to monitor the quality of the vehicles, as well as the identities of the drivers and related vehicles to ensure the safety of passengers.

“So we hope that the government is not only stuck on the tariff issue, but they also need to ensure that this online-based transportation is able to provide quality services. Moreover, the local government obtains local revenue from the driver’s licenses, which is paid by the drivers,” he said .

Meanwhile, the South Sulawesi Provincial Government is also encouraged to review the increase in online taxi fares based on the results of an appropriate study in setting tariffs so that the regulation does not harm the community and related parties.

In South Sulawesi, the increase of four-wheel transportation rental tariff is still being discussed. However, the transportation fare proposed by the Transportation Agency is also considered not to be proportional and is a matter of concern because the fare increase may reach 100 percent.

“If you want to be proportional, the rate increase must be limited. Fuel rates increased by about 20 percent. Therefore, the increase in goods and services that are affected by fuel should also not exceed 20 percent,” he said.

Pauzi suggested that the increase in online transportation fares be between 10-15 percent.

Previously, the increase in tariffs referring to the Decree (SK) of the Governor of South Sulawesi number 1162/IV/2020 concerning the Determination of Lower Limit Tariff and Upper Limit Tariff for Special Lease Transport (ASK) was also discussed.

During a hearing at South Sulawesi Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) office, online transportation organizations proposed increasing the lower limit fare from Rp3,700 to Rp6,000 per kilometer.

Furthermore, the upper limit tariff is also proposed to increase from Rp6,500 to Rp7,800 and the minimum tariff of Rp15,600 per kilometer.

 

 

Source: Antara News

The government of Central Kalimantan readied as many as 30 thousand affordable food packages for the Low-priced Market activity carried out in various districts and cities in the province.

“This activity is the government’s effort in maintaining the stability of staple goods’ prices, to control the regional inflation rate, and help people with low income,” Central Kalimantan Governor Sugianto Sabran said here on Sunday.

One package containing five kilograms of rice, one kilogram of sugar, and one liter of cooking oil, is sold at Rp50 thousand. Based on the current actual prices in the market, the Central Kalimantan government provided a subsidy of Rp58 thousand or 53.7 percent of the real price, for each package.

“We hope the existence of the Low-priced Market and the Balancing Market can maintain people’s purchasing power,” Sabran said.

According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data, inflation in Central Kalimantan in July stood at 6.79 percent (YoY). The figure was far above the national inflation of 4.94 percent (YoY).

Therefore, the situation has become a concern for the government to curb and mitigate the impact.

Aside from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the relaxation of health protocols, the other challenge that must be watched out for is the government’s decision to increase fuel prices.

The increase in fuel prices becomes a concern as it can trigger an increase in the prices of several commodities due to the increase in distribution cost, especially for staple goods and essential goods.

Earlier, the Indonesian government, on September 3, raised the price of subsidized Pertalite fuel, from Rp7,650 per liter to Rp10 thousand per liter; subsidized diesel, from Rp5,150 per liter to Rp6,800 per liter; and non-subsidized Pertamax, from Rp12,500 to Rp14,500 per liter.

 

Source: Antara News

Central Kalimantan Governor Sugianto Sabran has called on the Bakumpai people in Central and South Kalimantan provinces to welcome the new capital, Nusantara, by enhancing human resources development.

“To welcome the new capital, let us enhance the development of our human resources,” Sabran stated while attending the gathering of local organisation Bakumpai Family Association (KKB) here, Saturday.

Bakumpai are indigenous people of Kalimantan and are considered as a sub-ethnic group of the Dayak Ngaju. They occupy along the Barito riverbanks in South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan.

In particular, the governor expressed hope that the Bakumpai elders could contribute to preparing the younger generation to win the competition and grab opportunities to develop and face challenges in the future.

He noted that the Bakumpai people, a sub-ethnic of Dayak people which the organisation unites, occupy the Barito river basin, not far from the new state capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan.

To demonstrate the provincial government’s commitment to enhancing human resources development in the region, he affirmed that a university will be developed in the Barito river basin region.

“We have surveyed several prospective locations for the university and also devised the development masterplan,” Sabran noted.

He then expressed hope that the university development could commence in 2023.

Meanwhile, the head of KKB’s Central Kalimantan branch, Suriansyah Murhaeni, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting developments in various sectors, including sectors which would elevate the dignity of Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan residents.

He added that the gathering was the first to involve the Bakumpai people of Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan provinces.

“This gathering is also to reintroduce elements of the Bakumpai people and society in Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan,” Murhaeni noted.

Moreover, Central KKB Chairperson Yuni Nur Abdi Sulaiman H.B., who also attended the event, commended the support expressed by Sabran and provincial officials for the gathering and the Bakumpai community.

 

Source: Antara News