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Ambassador of Canada to Indonesia, H.E. Cameron MacKay during an online discussion (29/10) on sharing lessons learned between countries.  (Antara/ Documentation of Embassy of Canada) - 

Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Cameron MacKay said Canada is committed to working with Indonesia to improve the quality and competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises in the country. 

He made the statement when speaking at an online discussion on sharing lessons learned among countries that Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs held in collaboration with the NSLIC/NSELRED Project on October 29 (29/10).

The issues discussed included learning about good practices, challenges, and opportunities in creating better competitiveness and ecosystem of MSMEs.

Ambassador MacKay highlighted the importance of MSMEs for job creation in Indonesia, saying that 64 million micro, small and medium enterprises provide jobs to 97 percent of the national workforce.

"We are all aware of the importance of the micro and small enterprises in Indonesia," the ambassador was quoted as saying in a statement that ANTARA received here Sunday.

Through the NSLIC project, Canada has been supporting micro and small businesses across Indonesia with total beneficiaries of approximately 5,278 business units, ranging from farmer groups, cooperatives, to micro and small enterprises that provide jobs to 71,376 individuals.

MSMEs play an important role to the Indonesian economy. As many as 97 percent of the workforce in Indonesia work in the MSME sector and this sector contributes 61 percent to GDP.

However, one of the most affected sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic is MSME.

Based on the study report of  the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Economics and Business Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM FEB UI) and UNDP in September 2020, the highest increase in unemployment occurred in the MSME sector. Nine out of 10 MSMEs in Indonesia experienced a decline in demand for their products during the pandemic.

In addition, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso said the Job Creation Law mandated the convenience, protection, and empowerment of MSMEs through an integrated management of MSMEs, MSME participation in public infrastructure, ease of business licensing, legal assistance and assistance services, convenience facilitation of financing and fiscal incentives, as well as training and assistance in the use of bookkeeping systems/applications.

All these facilities could hopefully encourage the growth of MSMEs in Indonesia which would affect job creation, he said.

“In this webinar, participants are expected to be able to broaden their knowledge by getting lessons from international best practices on increasing economic competitiveness taken from policies that have been implemented so far by several member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),” Susiwijono said.

A report of Indonesia’s Banking Development Institute (LPPI) and Bank Indonesia revealed that the barriers to MSMEs are in the form of internal barriers (financial access, human resources, legality, and accountability) and external barriers (unsupportive business climate, lack of infrastructure support and access to raw materials as well as access to international markets).

Deputy for Population and Manpower of Bappenas Pungky Sumadi, Head of the Regional Development Planning Agency of Central Java Province Prasetyo Aribowo, Head of the Regional Development Planning Agency of East Belitung District Bayu Priyambodo, Policy Analyst of OECD Marco Marchese, Expert on SMEs Policy and Best Practices Greg Elms, and Founder of Archipelago (the Canada-based digital platform for Indonesia SMEs products) Liza Wajong joined the webinar as speakers in the presentation and discussion sessions.

Lessons learned from developed countries highlighted the importance of utilizing digital technology, coordination between stakeholders, and coordination between levels of government, both central and regional//ANT

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (right) held bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister  Scott Morrison (left) in Rome on Saturday (October 30, 2021). (ANTARA/HO-Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden) - 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo began the agenda of his working visit to Italy by holding bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Rome on Saturday.

At the meeting, which took place at the Splendide Royal Hotel, the two leaders discussed several issues ranging from COVID-19 vaccinations, economic recovery, to climate change.

“For bilateral ties, I am glad to see the continued progress. First, let me convey our appreciation for Australia’s assistance of 1.2 million vaccine doses, which arrived (in Indonesia) last week, and we warmly welcome the planned shipment of 10.5 million vaccine doses from Australia,” President Widodo said in a written statement received in Jakarta on Saturday.

The current condition of COVID-19 in Indonesia is very good, with the positivity rate below one percent and more than 185 million vaccines administered, he added.

“Of equal importance, we still uphold the health protocols,” he said.

The positive trend in the handling of COVID-19 has offered a chance to the two neighboring states to think of economic recovery, including in the tourism sector, he noted.

To that end, he proposed the creation of an Indonesia-Australia vaccinated travel lane (VTL) and cooperation for mutual recognition of vaccination certificates.

"I know that the foreign ministers of the two countries have begun communicating the possibility of the cooperation. May VTL and mutual recognition of vaccination certificates materialize soon. I believe this will accelerate economic recovery,” he said//ANT

President Joko Widodo (right) delivers a speech at the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy, on Saturday (October 30, 2021). (ANTARA/HO-Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden/Laily Rachev) - 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Saturday asked G20 member states to help reduce the shortage and availability gap of COVID-19 vaccines as well as support the distribution of medicines and essential equipment.

G20 members should support product diversification and transfer of technology to developing countries and ease trade obstacles to vaccine raw materials, he said at the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy, on Saturday.

He also asked the members to support the COVAX Facility program.

“The restructuring of the world health resilience architecture must be inclusive, and uphold the principles of solidarity, justice, transparency, and equality,” he said.

The architecture can be strengthened through the preparation of mechanisms to raise global health resources, such as funding, vaccine support, medicines, medical equipment, and health workers, to help countries resolve the health crisis, he added.

President said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has provided an example of how global financial funds can be raised to help countries facing a monetary crisis.

He then invited state leaders to arrange inter-state standard health protocols, including international travel protocols.

These three strategies, he said, are expected to strengthen the global health architecture.

The G20 is a global forum that was established in 1999.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Financial Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati accompanied the President to the G20 meeting//ANT

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi (second from left) reviewed the implementation of health protocols at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali province on Saturday (October 30, 2021). (ANTARA/HO-Transportation Minister/uyu) - 

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi reviewed a simulation for handling the arrival of international passengers at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali province, on Saturday to ensure the strict implementation of the health protocols.

"I laud the passenger handling process which is being implemented by carrying out COVID-19 PCR tests. In addition, immigration and customs processes can be carried out quickly using the same quick response code technology," he said in a statement received here on Saturday.

Furthermore, in preparing for reopening international flights, which officially opened on October 14, 2021, a number of simulations have been carried out at the airport since October 9, 2021, he informed. 

The simulation on Saturday was the 10th to be conducted by state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura I (AP I) along with relevant stakeholders, he added.

The minister said that it is necessary to properly inform prospective airplane passengers of the arrival protocols.

"Hence, I am coordinating with the Foreign Affairs Minister to ask Indonesian embassies in the 19 countries from where people have been allowed to travel here to carry out the socialization," he informed.

Furthermore, he also reviewed the COVID-19 PCR test facility and the passenger waiting room at the airport before inspecting one of the hotels designated to serve as a quarantine facility for international passengers.

Sumadi sought the assistance of the military and police personnel as well as the COVID-19 Task Force to monitor the implementation of health protocols closely.

"We do not want any passenger to escape the self-quarantine site or to not adhere to the regulation. The violation potential exists. Thus, we must carefully monitor it,” he said.

He lauded the joint efforts of AP I, Port Health Office (KKP), Immigration Office, military, and police toward handling the arrival of international passengers at the airport.

Currently, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport has opened international flights to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, and Norway.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Ministry has issued Circular Letter Number 85 of 2021 regarding the requirements for international air travelers.

The circular requires international passengers to take three COVID-19 RT-PCR tests – before leaving the origin country, upon their arrival at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, and on the fourth day of self-quarantine.

A five-day quarantine upon arrival has been also been made mandatory. Travelers need to bring their vaccination certificate or letter, fill out the Electronic Health Alert Card (E-HAC) on PeduliLindungi app, as well as show their visa, proof of health insurance ownership, and receipt of accommodation booking upon arrival, as per the circular//ANT