VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia welcomes the interest of Brunei Darussalam businessmen to invest in the tourism sector. The Indonesian Government through the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN) have prepared Special Economic Zone in Tanjung Lesung, Banten as a destination offered to investors from Brunei Darussalam. Tanjung Lesung Special Economic Zone is part of Ten New Bali initiated by President Joko Widodo. Director of Southeast Asia Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Denny Abdi in his press conference in Jakarta, on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 said Brunei Darussalam delegation who will attend the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) meeting on Friday, July 20, 2018 in Jakarta seek the opportunity to review directly how the conditions of Tanjung Lesung Special Economic Zone.

"Yesterday we discussed with Chamber of Commerce. They said one of the visible views is the possibility of Tanjung Lesung in Banten, now we are building the infrastructure. If Brunei is interested then we will offer to visit the location. In terms of tourism, we will see the possibility, may be the destination, hotels and other supports. But the most important thing is Indonesia has focused on, Denny Abdi said.

In addition to discussing about investment in the tourism sector, Denny Abdi said that during the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBD), Indonesia and Brunei is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between one of Indonesia's private airlines and one of Brunei's private airlines for charter flight cooperation. The flight will connect Bandar Seri Begawan Airport with the airport in one of the cities in Kalimantan. In addition, at a meeting that will be attended by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam Erywan Yusof will also explore Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for halal products from Indonesia. (VOI/Rezha/NDY/AHM)

The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi will receive a working visit of Brunei Darussalam Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Erywan Yusof in Jakarta on Friday, July 20, 2018. The two ministers will meet in the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) corridor to discuss various issues, covering economies that include trade and investment. In addition, the two foreign ministers will also discuss the issue on Indonesian migrant workers.

The bilateral meeting is a follow up of the meeting between President Indonesia Joko Widodo and Sultan Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah in May 2018. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also considered that the meeting of the two ministers will be an important opportunity for Indonesia to boost the economic strength for both countries. According to Southeast Asia's Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Denny Abdi, this is due to Brunei Darussalam's plan to diversify the economy to get out of dependence from the oil sector.

"So far Brunei has relied on its economic growth from oil reserves, but now they are thinking of diversifying to see other growth sources. In this case Indonesia which has a lot of attractions for investment is considered as one of the destinations for Brunei investors. So we will do this, we will discuss about it. Brunei Foreign Minister will also bring in a number of entrepreneurs. So we will also hold a business meeting between entrepreneurs see the opportunity," Denny Abdi said.

Related to investment, Denny Abdi underlines the interest of Brunei investors to invest in the tourism sector, mainly in the Ten New Bali project. Ten New Bali is the idea of ​​President Joko Widodo to diversify the popular tourism destinations of Indonesia in other areas besides Bali, the Island of the Gods. As for the issue of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Brunei Darussalam, Denny Abdi also underlines the number of Indonesian migrant workers in Brunei which reaches more than 80,000 workers or 20 percent of the total population of Brunei. Most of them are professional workers with special skills. Therefore the issue of migrant workers will be a high concern for both Foreign Ministers. (VOI/Rezha/Ndy TRANS/AHM)

Indonesia`s National Alms Agency (Baznas) has disbursed a total of US$300 thousand to assist Palestinian and Syrian refugees this year, the agency`s chairman, Bambang Sudibyo, said in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 18.

The donated funds were disbursed to the refugees through the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization for Relief and Development (JHCO) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), he stated.

Each of the non-governmental organizations received $150 thousand ($1=Rp14,414), Sudibyo noted, adding that the JHCO would assist the Palestinian and Syrian refugees being sheltered in Jordan.

Meanwhile, JHCO Secretary General, Ayman R. Al-Mufleh, ensured that Baznas` donations would be distributed to help the refugees in his country by providing them with health and education services and facilities as well as food and clothing.

The health services and facilities for the displaced Palestinians and Syrians include extra number of doctors and paramedics, medical equipment, and medicines.

"The targets are the eight groups of relevant recipients of the zakat (alms). May this initiative cement our relationship with Baznas ," he remarked.

The Jordanian authorities have allowed the Syrian refugees to work in the country so that they can return to their country after they become financially sufficient, he revealed.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, the Indonesian people and government have shown their consistent and never-ending support to the Palestinian people`s struggle for gaining their independence.

The Indonesian Government`s political stance remains unchanged from the era of Soekarno to the present time, when Jakarta supports a two-state solution and emphasizes the significance of impartiality of the international community in dealing with the Palestinian issue. (ANTARA)

Construction of Jakarta's Light Rail Transit (LRT) project has been 85 percent completed and it is expected to be ready for operation ahead of the Asian Games next month.

Jakarta and Palembang will co host Asia's largest sport event in August this year, and the LRT with elevated track is designed to help facilitate transport free from traffic jams in the city.

"LRT of Jakarta is to be operational in August this year a week before the start of Asian Games," Veri Yonnevil a member of the city council (DPRD) said in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 18.

The LRT has been designed to cope with worse traffic jams in the capital city.

In Palembang , the government has already built a 24 kilometer long elevated rail track of LRT linking the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport and the Jakabaring sport center in the South Sumatra capital city.

The Rp10.9 trillion project has a local content of 95 percent making it relatively cheap compared with those of Malaysia and Manila of the Philippines.

The project was built by the state-owned construction company PT Waskita Karya.

Construction of the project which began in 2014, is to be completed this month designed mainly to facilitate the transport of athlete from the airport to the city.

The track is built over land along the main road in the city that the implementation of the project would not be delayed on difficulty in land clearing. Land clearing has been one of the main drag in the implementation of many infrastructure projects in the country. Land owners would put a much higher price when they know their land would be used for big projects. (ANTARA)