VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Japan's employment trends showed "improvement recently", the government said in its latest monthly assessment of the economy, noting a decline in the jobless rate and the positive impact of bigger wage rises awarded by major firms.

It was the first time that the government had upgraded its assessment of the employment situation in 11 months. In May, the government had said the employment situation was "picking up".

The government maintained its overall assessment of the economy for the month, saying it was "recovering moderately" thanks to solid consumer spending and capital expenditure. But it also remained cautious about the potential risks of a global economic slowdown, price increases and financial market volatility.

Japan's jobless rate fell in April from the previous month as a result of the post-pandemic economic recovery and the nation's chronic labour shortages.

In annual labour talks, Japan's major companies pledged the biggest wage hikes in about three decades for this fiscal year.

A Cabinet Office official said that the wage hikes would be reflected in salaries with a time lag but that some firms have already started raising wages.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government sees sustaining wage hikes as key to shoring up households' purchasing power, needed to encourage economic growth. He said on Wednesday his government would mobilise all available policy tools to ensure wage growth.

Both private consumption and capital spending were "picking up", the June report said, maintaining the assessment from May.

The Cabinet Office described corporate profits as "improving moderately overall" in the report after upbeat corporate results in the first quarter.

Business sentiment at big Japanese manufacturers edged up in June, staying in positive territory for a second straight month, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday. (Reuters)

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday briefed International Monetary Fund's managing director Kristalina Georgieva on the economic outlook of the cash-strapped South Asian nation, hoping for the release of critical stalled funds.

The meeting on the sidelines of the Global Financing Summit in Paris came with about a week left before the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreed in 2019 expires on June 30.

Under the $6.5 billion EFF's 9th review, concluded earlier this year, Pakistan has been trying to secure $1.1 billion of funding that has been stalled since November.

"The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the funds allocated under the IMF's EFF would be released as soon as possible," said a statement from his office.

It said Sharif outlined the steps Pakistan had taken for economic growth and stability, adding that his country had already completed all the IMF's conditions to meet the 9th review.

With central bank foreign exchange reserves barely enough to cover one month of controlled imports, Pakistan is facing an acute balance of payment crisis, which analysts say could spiral into a debt default if the IMF money doesn't come through.

The IMF funding is critical to unlock other bilateral and multilateral financing.

Islamabad has expressed its frustration over the delay. It argues it has met all the painful fiscal measures the lender requested.

The IMF, however, still has concerns over Pakistan's external financing gap, foreign exchange market operations and the budget presented earlier this month which it said violated the programme's objective.

Pakistan has defended the budget, but at the same time offered to review it in any further talks with the IMF. (Reuters)

VOINews, Jakarta - Emperor of Japan Hironomiya Naruhito visited Borobudur Temple in Magelang District, Central Java, on Thursday.

During his visit, Emperor Naruhito was accompanied by Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who said that the emperor enthusiastically listened to the explanation on the temple provided by a tour guide.

"He even took selfies," he remarked.

The governor stated that the emperor's seven-day visit to Indonesia serves as proof of the harmonious relations fostered between Japan and Indonesia.

"This cooperation yields important things, be it in diplomatic, political, and economic terms. We can make the most of this good relationship," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Educator Staff of Museum and Cultural Heritage Mura Aristina, after guiding Emperor Naruhito on his visit, said that the emperor went up only to the ninth floor of the temple, as the 10th floor is dedicated for worship purposes.

"We told (the emperor) that the top floor, or the 10th floor, is specifically used for worship. He fully understood and respected it," Aristina noted.

Hence, the emperor went up only to the ninth floor of the temple and spent approximately half an hour there while listening to Aristina's explanation on the reason why Borobudur Temple was built on a hill area close to rivers.

"There is a confluence of the Elo and Progo rivers not far from here. The stones from the rivers were brought here and used to build the temple," he explained.

He said the emperor, with his cell phone camera, took pictures of several temple reliefs.

Apart from Governor Pranowo, the Japanese emperor was also welcomed by President Director of PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur and Ratu Boko Febrina Intan as well as sub-coordinator of Borobudur World Heritage Wiwit Kasiati. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) stated that it had conducted a review on the national strategy road map related to the long-term use of hydrogen until 2060.

The BRIN identified the need for hydrogen until 2060, main expert researcher at BRIN's Energy Conversion and Conservation Research Center Eniya Listiani Dewi stated here Wednesday.

This road map underlines the need for an ecosystem that supports the implementation of hydrogen use in Indonesia, she noted during the Indonesia International Hydrogen Summit 2023.

She said the road map contains an explanation on the course for hydrogen utilization divided into three segments: pilot project or demo plant segment, introduction to market and market penetration development, and impact to economic value added.

According to Dewi, Indonesia's economy in the future will be supported not only by oil but also hydrogen, as this commodity can be used in various sectors.

These sectors range from the power plant sector to industries, especially the petrochemical industry, housing, and transportation.

The BRIN encourages the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to create a national hydrogen strategy that encompasses not only the potential but also production chain, distribution, and usage in Indonesia.

This is done, so that the private sector no longer doubts the government's commitment to hydrogen utilization.

Some 20 projects from industries already implement the pre-feasibility study on hydrogen technology in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Java, Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, and Papua, Dewi remarked.

However, when a feasibility study is conducted, the private sector will seek a road map or a commitment. This is what the government must work on, she affirmed.

Dewi acknowledged that realizing the use of hydrogen energy takes time. It requires commitment from the government along with the existence of a road map, regulations, and clear standards, including an incentive mechanism.

The utilization of hydrogen has to start with the production of green hydrogen by the industry sector, though it still can only be done on a small scale due to the high price.

Dewi believes that the price will start to decline in 2030, but Indonesia cannot wait to start utilizing hydrogen until 2030, as the country may lag behind by then.  (Antaranews)