VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 PT Industri Nasional Kereta Api (INKA) returned to deliver trains to Bangladesh. This time the state-owned company sent 250 trains in stages.

INKA President Director Budi Noviantoro said the delivery of passenger trains to Bangladesh was the third time his side had done. For this shipment, the total contract value is US $ 100.89 million or around Rp 1.4 trillion for 250 trains.

"Previously in 2016, PT INKA also exported 150 trains with a contract value of US $ 72.39 million and 50 trains to Bangladesh in 2006 with a contract value of US $ 13.8 million," Budi said after the train delivery event through the Port of Tanjung Perak, Surabaya, Sunday (01/20/2019). 

According to Budi, the success of PT INKA in winning every tender made it increasingly trusted by the world. Because in addition to Bangladesh PT INKA has also fulfilled train orders abroad.

"Like Power Generating Car (PGC) and freight cars to Malaysia; Well Wagon to Singapore, Ballast Hopper Wagon (BHW) to Thailand, Locomotives to the Philippines, and Blizzard Center Sills to Australia," explained Budi.

Then what makes PT INKA's production worldwide? Budi explained, in addition to the good quality, the production of PT INKA is also known to be cheap and shipping is also fast.

Meanwhile, in the near future, added Budi, his party has received a contract from the Philippines with a total value of Rp 700 billion. And currently under construction.

"The contract with the Philippines is 4 KD and 3 locomotives and 16 passenger trains. Currently it is being worked on at PT INKA. In June we will send an electric diesel train. Later we will send the end of the year to the Philippines," he concluded. ( detik )

Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara said the government has anticipated a shortage of digital talent in the face of the 4.0 industrial revolution.  Rudiantara said that Indonesia is projected to lack 600 thousand digital talents per year. The projection is based on McKinsey data which states, Indonesia has a shortage of 9 million digital talents until 2030.

"There are 20 thousand digital talents that we will educate and certify. The certification of technology competency is not just general knowledge, but more skills," Rudiantara said at the 10th anniversary of Young Leaders for Indonesia (YLI) in Jakarta on Saturday, Jan 19.

This year, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics has allocated Rp109.4 billion for the digital talent scholarship program. From this program, the government has targeted to give certification for 20 thousand digital talents this year.   After attending the education program, digital talent can work for a company or become an entrepreneur. In addition, they can connected to various companies through job-seeking platform karir.com platform.

Rudiantara said that the certification is not only valid in Indonesia, but also in Southeast Asia. According to him, digital talent certification is a government effort to proactively prepare competent resources in the industrial era 4.0. He added that industry 4.0 does not necessarily eliminate employment, but there are many potential new jobs created. (ant)

 Cultural, ethnic, religious, and racial differences along with tolerant attitudes in Indonesia have been proven to unify people, Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated in his speech at the launch of the Asian Cultural Council (ACC). 

"Indonesia is a country where cultural differences have been tested and proven to unite (its people). Through tolerance and moderation, we succeed in developing a very rich culture that reflects cultural and religious enlightenment," Kalla noted during the gala dinner of the ACC Summit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on Tuesday  evening (15 January).

As a country, with more than 300 ethnic groups, 748 languages, and six official religions, Indonesia is able to maintain the people`s unity by prioritizing tolerance.  According to Kalla, Indonesia recognizes cultural differences while emphasizing the importance of unity as a reflection of the nation`s motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika," which means unity in diversity.

Such principle is expected to be implemented by people living in the Asia region that has a diverse culture and national character. The launch of ACC is also expected to maintain and intensify cooperation and unity among countries in the region in future.

"The launch of ACC, of course, (shows) that we also care to discuss issues of culture and religion, so it will strengthen relations between Asian countries," Kalla noted.

Through a cultural approach, he said, Asia will witness increased development, especially in terms of peacekeeping.

"The focus is on how culture ties us, so that there is an improvement in peace, rebuilding the Asian region as it is making progress," Kalla remarked.    ( ant ) 

Indonesia`s imports in December 2018 fell 9.60 percent to US$15.28 billion from a month earlier, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). But compared to the same month of 2017, the December 2018 imports rose 1.16 percent, BPS Chief Suharyanto said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The imports comprised non-oil/non-gas imports worth US$13.31 billion and oil and gas imports worth US$1.97 billion. The non-oil/non-gas imports in December 2018 tumbled 5.14 percent compared to November 2018 but increased 6.16 percent compared to December 2017. The oil and gas imports in December 2018 dropped 31.45 percent compared to November 2018 and 23.33 per4cent compared to December 2017. Among non-oil/non-gas commodities, the import of organic chemicals recorded the largest decline of US$174.4 million, or 27.07 percent, while the import of fruits saw the largest increase of US$69.8 million, or 68.90 percent.

"(The increase) was the result of demand for fruits during Christmas and New Year holidays," he said.

Three countries were listed as the largest suppliers of imported non-oil/non-gas commodities to Indonesia last year. They were China with a value of US$45.24 billion, or 28.49 percent, Japan with a value of US$17.94 billion, or 11.30 percent and Thailand with a value of US$10.85 billion, or 6.83 percent. Non-oil/non-gas imports from ASEAN member states made up 19.85 percent and European Union represented 8.86 percent. (ant)