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November
The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment develops the maritime sector in collaboration with Denmark through the Second Bilateral Maritime Forum between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of Denmark. Expert Staff for Maritime Law at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Okto Irianto in a press release on Saturday (28/11) said that this forum was a follow-up and evaluation of the first Bilateral Forum and the signing of a cooperation agreement in the maritime sector between the two countries on September 7 2018.
He explained that amid the Covid-19 Pandemic situation, there are so many challenges in the oceans that are threats to Indonesia and Denmark. Environmental problems such as pollution and marine debris, illegal activities such as smuggling of illegal drugs, weapons, and also rare animals are challenges that must be faced.
On the one hand, these challenges can provide opportunities for both countries to balance the socio-economic life of the community with the preservation of ecosystems in the maritime sector through various innovations. According to Okto Irianto, the forum is two-way nature, where Indonesia and Denmark have the opportunity to discuss various topics in turn. Indonesia discussed Sustainable Marine Development and the handling of the Covid-19, while Denmark discussed the delivery of environmentally friendly goods and environmental issues, as well as the digitization of the maritime sector. Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority, Andreas Nordseth said that this meeting was a good opportunity for the two countries to exchange experiences that they have had, especially from the maritime sector.
Meanwhile, Danish Ambassador to Indonesia, Lars Bo Larsen emphasized that there are three important issues that can be jointly guarded by Indonesia and Denmark. Both countries can oversee and encourage the real implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning which includes capacity building and certification related to these issues, Green Shipping which can help improve joint maritime sector management, and Marine Debris Management to develop related regulations regarding waste management.
November
Job Creation & Micro Small and Medium Enterprises –MSMEs Must Get Special Attention
Written by MaryatiIndonesian President Joko Widodo urged that job creation and increasing household consumption through the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have to receive special attention in the National Economic Recovery program. This was conveyed by President Joko Widodo when opening the Limited Meeting of the Committee for Handling Covid-19 and National Economic Recovery, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta Monday (Nov23).
President Joko Widodo also said, budget realization of several programs has been implemented well, such as for salary subsidies has reached 82 percent, productive social assistance of president for providing capital to micro businesses has reached 79 percent. Nevertheless, the government encouraged that the realization of the budget continues to be increased so that it can help improving people's purchasing power. Previously, President Joko Widodo also stated that in the third quarter of 2020, the Indonesian economy had begun to recover and rise.
The President quoted data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) that the national economic growth in the third quarter grew minus 3.49 percent (year on year). This means that economic growth has increased by 1.83 percent in the third quarter compared to the second quarter. Nevertheless, President Joko Widoodo asked the ministers not to be satisfied with these positive symptoms.
The government still has to work hard to create jobs and increase the development of MSMEs on a large scale in order to be able to compete in the global market. On the other hand, the President wants a strategy to regulate balance between handling health and economic recovery. President Joko Widodo also assessed that the results of the efforts so far have begun to appear, especially in controlling COVID-19 and economic recovery. As of November 22, 2020, the average active case of COVID-19 throughout Indonesia was 12.78 percent. This figure is lower than the world average of active cases, which is 28.41 percent.
November
Indonesia Urges the UN Security Council to Stop Violence in Afghanistan
Written by nuke
Indonesia Urges the UN Security Council to Stop Violence in Afghanistan - FOCUS KEMLU
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi attended the UN Security Council (DK) Arria Formula meeting regarding the Peace Process in Afghanistan, which was held virtually on Friday (20/11). The meeting was co-hosted by members of the Estonian Security Council, Germany and Indonesia along with the Afghan co-sponsors: Finland, Norway and Qatar.
The Aria Formula summit with the topic "What can the Security Council do to support the peace process in Afghanistan?" led by the Estonian Foreign Minister, Urmas Reinsalu and attended by President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani and Afghan Foreign Minister, Mohammad Haneef Atmar and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani and Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto. The meeting was also attended by a number of briefers, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons; member of the Afghan negotiation team, Fatima Gailani; and Asia Director of the International Crisis Group, Laurel Miller.
As quoted on the page Kemlu.go.id (20/11), Minister Retno emphasized the importance of the peace process in Afghanistan and put the people of Afghanistan at the center. According to Minister Retno, UN member countries must act immediately and cannot wait anymore. She also explained that violence in Afghanistan must be stopped because it will only erode efforts for peace and trust among the Afghan people. She also remarked that the violence in Afghanistan continues and the casualties have reached more than 6,000 people this year.
To realize this goal, Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized three important points: First, violence must be stopped immediately, because it threatens the peace process and erodes the trust of the Afghan people. Second, the international community must increase its contribution in helping the peace process in Afghanistan. Increased international assistance is needed to create a more conducive situation on the ground, increase the capacity of the Government, and at the same time sustain the economy of the Afghan people. Third, the synergy among various UN agencies needs to be strengthened to be able to further assist the peace process in Afghanistan.
Minister Retno Marsudi also pointed out that this synergy is important not only to create a conducive situation on the ground, but also to better protect vulnerable groups, including women's empowerment. All levels of society must be involved in the process of reconciliation and country development. In addition, she reiterated Indonesia's commitment to keep supporting Afghanistan, until the peace that the people of Afghanistan have longed for.
Meanwhile, President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani expressed his appreciation to the UN Security Council for its continued support for Afghanistan. Thereby, the UN Security Council is considered to have a major role in encouraging a ceasefire, implementing sanctions, supporting efforts to fight terrorists, including funding, and supporting regional connectivity efforts.
The countries participating in the meeting expressed support for an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan and condemned the ongoing violence. A number of countries also expressed their appreciation for the roles of Indonesia and Germany so far as countries on the agenda of discussing Afghanistan at the UN Security Council. The UN Security Council Formula Arria meeting aims to identify efforts that can be made by the UN Security Council and the international community to support the Afghan peace negotiations and ensure stability and peace in Afghanistan. In this Arria Formula meeting, Indonesia is one of the co-sponsors of the joint meeting with Afghanistan, Estonia, Germany, Finland, Norway and Qatar.
November
Indonesia will continue to fight discrimination against its palm oil by the European Union. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized this in her speech at the virtual Jakarta Food Security Summit-5, Thursday (19/11). According to her, this discriminatory act is against the principles of partnership and collaboration promoted by Indonesia. She ensured that this problem would be faced firmly by Indonesia.
Palm oil is a leading commodity that forms the backbone of Indonesia's economy. The export value reached 23 billion US dollars last year. Retno Marsudi said, a few days ago she had communicated with the European Commission's High Representative-Vice President Josep Borrell to discuss the importance of increasing partnerships with each other and resolving the issue of discrimination in Indonesian oil palm. During the talk, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi conveyed the importance of a stronger partnership and resolving the issue of discrimination against Indonesian palm oil. She ensured that Indonesia will always communicate openly with the European Union to resolve the oil palm issue. What Indonesia wants is only one, namely fair treatment of Indonesian palm oil. According to Retno Marsudi Indonesia wants to have a stronger partnership with the European Union, which has been a natural partner for a long time, because the two parties shared the same views on many issues.
Apart from palm oil, Retno Marsudi also ensured that she would continue to oversee various leading Indonesian commodities that experienced injustice in the global market, such as coffee, tea and rubber. She emphasized that Indonesian diplomacy does not want to remain silent and will continue to stand tall and defend national interests.
November
The 35th Trade Expo Indonesia Virtual Exhibition successfully noted total of transaction worth 678.1 million US$
Written by MaryatiIndonesian Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto officially closed the 35th Trade Expo Indonesia Virtual Exhibition (TEI-VE) in Jakarta, Monday (Nov16). Until the last day of its implementation, this year's TEI-VE has recorded a total transaction value of 678.1 million US dollars. Minister Agus expressed his gratitude and high appreciation to all parties who participated and supported this activity.
This year's Trade Expo Indonesia Virtual Exhibition managed to record a temporary transaction value of US $ 678.1 million, covering trade in goods, investment and services. This value will continue to increase, considering that there are several transactions still in the negotiation stage until the closing of the product exhibition on December 10, 2020. The Minister said, in this TEI-VE, the countries with the highest trade transactions in goods are Japan, Egypt, Australia, Malaysia, and Netherlands. While the products with the largest transaction value are paper, coffee, vehicles and vehicle components, strategic industrial products, and spices. Until the last day, the 35th TEI-VE had been visited by 7,156 people from 127 countries. The largest number of visitors came from India, followed by Pakistan and the United States.
Minister Agus Suparmanto explained that various other activities were also carried out in this 35th TEI-VE. These activities include the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Director General of National Export Development with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Trade Tourism and Investment Forum, the launch of the IDN Store platform, business forums, business outreach activities, and virtual business meetings between the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency and buyers from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
The Minister also expressed his appreciation to foreign trade representatives who were actively promoting the 35th TEI-VE by holding various activities such as socializing the TEI-VE in countries respectively, assisting buyers in finding Indonesian products, opening a help desk, and holding business gatherings. Synergy, coordination, and collaboration between the government and business actors in increasing national exports will continue to be improved in the future. Therefore, export performance will continue to increase and contribute to driving the wheels of the national economy.
November
Adaptation and International Cooperation are Key in Efforts to Resolve Transnational Crime
Written by nuke
Adaptation and International Cooperation are Key in Efforts to Resolve Transnational Crime - focus ctoc
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi said that amid the Covid-19 pandemic, organized crime continues to occur, even in the health aspect, such as drug counterfeiting and cyber-attacks on vital health infrastructure. This was expressed by Minister Retno Marsudi in her speech at the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The commemoration was held virtually from the UN Headquarters in New York on Friday (13/11). The website of the Ministry of Foreign, kemlu.go.id reported that this commemoration was also attended by UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, President of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir and UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly.
Minister Retno Marsudi also said that to face the challenge of transnational organized crime, she emphasized that the first thing to understand is that the characteristics of transnational organized crime tend to differ from one country to another country. So, the approach taken must be situational. The second point is the importance of building and maintaining cooperation among countries globally. According to Minister Retno, no country can solve this problem alone, both before and amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Minister Retno also specifically touched on the issue of Rohingya refugees as a form of organized human smuggling and trafficking in the region. Currently, Indonesia is hosting more than 900 people who have been victims of human trafficking and stranded on the high seas. Indonesia re-emphasizes the importance of solving the Rohingya problem from the root of the problem through voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation. She also said that for Indonesia, Myanmar is the home of the Rohingya refugees.
The third point is that the approach and solution taken must continue to adapt according to the characteristics of the crime. In this regard, Minister Retno reiterated the importance of continuous adaptation so that UNTOC remains always relevant in overcoming organized transnational crime both now and in the future.
The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) was adopted in Palermo, Italy in 2000. The convention is the main international legal instrument regulating the problem of combating trafficking in persons, people smuggling and the illicit trade in firearms. Indonesia has been a party to the Convention since 2009. Indonesia was chosen to be one of the joint sponsors of Italy and Morocco at the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UNTOC which was initiated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The offer as the only sponsor from Asia shows international recognition for Indonesia's major role and leadership in the effort to combat transnational organized crime.
November
President Joko Widodo stated that the implementation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement requires high political commitment. The signing of the RCEP is only a beginning, while a long and steep road might be waiting ahead. That was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi in a virtual press conference from Bogor Palace, West Java on Sunday (15/11). She conveyed that after the RCEP signing was done by 10 ASEAN member countries along with 5 ASEAN partner countries namely Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, and South Korea. According to Minister Retno Marsudi, the RCEP country signees expressed appreciation for Indonesian leadership during the negotiation process. Minister Retno also remarked that the negotiation showed ASEAN leadership in their relationship with partner countries.
RCEP is Indonesia's initiative when being the leader of ASEAN and was agreed during ASEAN leader meeting in November 2011. The first negotiation began in March 2013 and Indonesia was the RCEP Negotiation Leader. Minister Retno Marsudi added that RCEP is expected to create conducive and competitive conditions for the economy in Indo-Pacific. It also marks the commitment towards open, just, and mutually beneficial multilateral trade principles.
Besides Minister Retno Marsudi, Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto said that RCEP had been through a long process namely 31 rounds of plenary negotiation. Fifteen country signees of RCEP cumulatively represented 29.6 percent world population, 30.2 percent global Gross Domestic Product, 27.4 percent of global trade and 29.8 percent global Foreign Direct Investment.
Data of Indonesia's export to 14 RCEP countries for the last five years showed a positive trend namely 7.35 percent while in 2019, total non-oil and gas export to RCEP region represented 56.51 percent of total export of Indonesia to the world namely around US$84.4 billion dollars. Meanwhile from import, RCEP represented 65.79 percent total import of Indonesia from the world namely US$102 billion dollars.
Minister Agus Suparmanto quoted a research from a private company in September 2020 which concluded that after five years of ratification, RCEP is potential to increase Indonesia's export to member countries around 8-11 percent and investment to Indonesia around 18-22 percent.
November
Agriculture Ministry Maintains 11 Commodities to Guarantee Food Security
Written by MaryatiIndonesian Agriculture Ministry maintains 11 commodities to guarantee food security amid the crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic. That was stated by Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo in a webinar themed "Indonesian Food Security and Self-Sufficiency 20145 in Relations with Human Resource Quality" organized by National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) in Jakarta on Monday (9/11). The evelen commodities include rice, corn, shallot, garlic, chili, cayenne pepper, beef, carabeef, purebred chicken meat, sugar, and cooking oil. Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo predicted that food security in Indonesia will be safe until December 2020, because the eleven commodities have been secured.
Besides maintaining the availability of the 11 main food commodities, the Agriculture Ministry also maintains the import substitutes, such as garlic and beef.
The Agriculture Ministry also attempts to guarantee food supply not only until 2020, but also until the next two years to face the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry took some steps to maintain the availability, namely by expanding the planting area for corn and shallot. In addition, the Ministry also tried to increase productions of sugar, beef, and garlic. It also made local food diversification such as cassava, corn, banana, potato, and sorghum besides utilizing yards and marginal land through Sustainable Food Gardening (P2L) Program and urban farming.
Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo further stated that many celebrities or high officials are planting food in their gardens.
Furthermore, the government also made food estates in national, provincial, regency, and even village level that are expected to guarantee people food supply, besides also developing milling strategy command and price stabilization.
November
Indonesian Minister of Trade, Agus Suparmanto sent off 5 containers of exported rattan furniture from a total of 40 containers produced by 3 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from Cirebon, West Java. A total of 40 containers were sent to Indonesian export destination countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, as well as European Union countries such as Germany, France, Italy and Denmark.
Minister Agus Suparmanto warmly welcomes the success of rattan business players to gain a place in the global market. He hopes that the determination and struggle of these exporters from Cirebon will be able to motivate other exporters, especially the other SMEs throughout Indonesia, so that they can boost the performance of Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports.
Furthermore, Minister Agus Suparmanto stated that the success of this export also shows that Indonesia's rattan furniture products are able to not only maintain quality, but also comply with current world market demands and trends that tend to use natural and environmentally friendly materials, and have legal timber certificates (V-Legal). He emphasized that the current exported products are also the guidance of the Indonesian Export Training Center at the Ministry of Trade through the Export Training and Assistance program. This coaching program is a manifestation of the Ministry of Trade's commitment to supporting the SMEs so that they can target the global market to sell their products. Thus, the SMEs are increasingly showing their contribution to Indonesia's trade balance surplus.
In 2019, Indonesia was ranked 3rd in the world's largest exporter of rattan products with an export share of 6.11 percent, behind China and Vietnam. Meanwhile, the export value of Indonesian rattan products for the January-August 2020 period was up 4.35 percent over the same period in 2019.
Minister Agus Suparmanto also conveyed that for the US market, the extension of the Generalized System of Preference facility which was announced on October 30, 2020 was a momentum to keep intensifying exports of rattan products to the country. He added that to enter the export market, business players can take advantage of market information from trade representatives abroad.
November
President Joko Widodo Encourages Young People to Become Farmers
Written by MaryatiPresident Joko Widodo hopes that young people are not ashamed to become farmers. This was conveyed when virtually closing the 'Young Organic Festival 2020' (YORFest), Thursday (29/10). In his closing speech, President Joko Widodo expressed his hope that the existence of this forum for young organic farmers could encourage more young people to return to farming.
He believes that on one hand, if more and more young people become farmers, Indonesia can get rid of food imports. On the other hand, Indonesia has the potential to meet domestic food needs and can even become a food exporter to various countries. Nowadays, organic farming is becoming a trend. President Joko Widodo also remarked that organic agriculture is agriculture in the future and has enormous opportunities.
President Joko Widodo further said that in the midst of the rapid trend of living back to nature, people are increasingly concerned about health by choosing healthy and safe food ingredients. This opportunity must really be put to the best of it. He also hopes that the young farmers who were present could continue to innovate in producing these organic fruits and vegetables. From production to post-harvest, they can use modern technology in planting, raising and processing. Then, they strengthen branding, packaging and marketing. In addition, they will enter the national supply chain so that they can reach a wider market.
President Joko Widodo further hopes that with modern agricultural processing, agriculture can grow as an important pillar of Indonesia's economic growth. If Indonesian agriculture will be more advanced, its people will be more prosperous. In his closing speech, President Joko Widodo encouraged young farmers to keep working while still caring about the environment, and continuing to innovate while still caring about job creation.
Young Organic Festival 2020 took place on 28 and 29 October 2020 virtually. YORFest is an annual activity for organic activists in Indonesia, in the form of a community of young people who care about agriculture, plantations, animal husbandry and businesses related to the utilization of organic ecosystems. They shared their experiences in pursuing organic agriculture.