VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia’s senior high school Olympic team won one gold and five silver medals at the 59th International Mathematical Olympiad held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

"This is the highest achievement we have ever made. Thanks to the team that has fought to boost Indonesia’s reputation in the world-level math event, which is one of the prestigious and respected event," Head of Sub-directorate of school students, Directorate of Senior High School Development, Suharlan, said in a press statement received by Antara News Agency in Jakarta on Monday.

The achievement brought Indonesia to the 10th world rank out of 106 countries involved in the competition. Based on data from the official IMO website, for the past 30 years of participation so far, Indonesia has totally collected two gold medals, 22 silver medals, 44 bronze medals, and 30 Honorable Mention titles.

Indonesia’s achievement surpassed those of other countries, such as Australia (ranked 11th), Britain (ranked 12th), Japan (13th), Canada (16th), and Italy (17th) at the competition from July 4 to 14.

The gold medal for Indonesia was won by Gian Cordana Sanjaya (SMAK Petra 1, Surabaya), with a total score of 31. The silver medals were contributed by Alfian Edgar Tjandra (SMA Kharisma Bangsa), Kinantan Arya Bagaspati (SMA Taruna Nusantara), Farras Mohammad Hibban Faddila (SMA Kharisma Bangsa), Valentino Dante (SMAK 2 Petra, Surabaya), and Otto Alexander Sutianto (SMAK Penabur, Gading Serpong, Tangerang).

Alfian, Kinantan, and Farras each scored 29, while Valentino scored 28 and Otto scored 25.

The 10th best title achievement was the best ever made by Indonesia in the history of its participation in the IMO so far.

"This is the second gold medal won after the first one, which was collected in 2013 at the 54th IMO in Colombia, when Indonesia won the first gold medal and was ranked in the 19th position," Suharlan revealed.

The coordinator of Indonesia`s IMO team, Dr Aleams Barra, said the students had been asked to solve six problems, with three problems per day, in 4.5 hours. The problems were original and have never been done by any student before.

"It requires quick decision making, coolness, and creativity," he added.

The director of SMA (senior high school) development, Purwadi Sutanto, noted that the achievement was for the entire country.

"With high spirit and motivation, we believed we could bring home medals" he told them before departure.

Gold medalist Gian noted that their opponents were tough, but he was confident from the start that he would win a gold medal, after he won a silver medal in Brazil last year.

"America, China, Russia, Japan, Korea, and Britain are among the strongest countries," he pointed out. (ANTARA)

Indonesian athletes, who would compete in the 18th Asian Games, received influenza vaccine in an effort to boost their immunity.

A young Indonesian racer at the Asian Games 2018, Terry Yuda Kusuma, was one of athletes who received the influenza vaccine.

"Vaccination is very important in an effort to boost their immunity during the training and competition" Kusuma stated in Jakarta on Monday.

Athletes will be physically protected by the vaccine, because influenza may lower their performance during training and competition.

Youth and Sports Ministry, in cooperation with the Center for Development of Science and Technology of National Sports (PP-ITKON), conducted influenza vaccine campaign for athletes.

"Athletes and coaches are vaccinated against influenza as they may involve in many activities during the Asian Games 2018," Deputy of Sport Achievement Improvement, Youth and Sports Ministry Mulyana remarked.

Mulyana stated that the vaccine was very important. Influenza will affect the preparation of the athletes.

A flu vaccine will prevent athletes from getting sick for a year. Hence, their health conditions would be protected.

The process of influenza vaccination is done gradually.

In first stage, 100 athletes, who have undergone training to face the Asian Games, received the influenza vaccine. (ANTARA)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo hopes, Studio Alam located at Gamplong Village, Moyudan District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, can revive the village economy. Studio Alam or literally means Natural Studio is a donation of one of Indonesian businesswomen, Mooryati Soedibyo, to Sleman regency government. Speaking while attending the handing over of the studio on Sunday afternoon July 16th, the President said that Studio Alam can be used to encourage tourism sector. According to him, nowadays, many people want to have experience in traveling, not just shopping.

"So, we hope this studio can be utilized for tourism. Because, nowadays, a lot of people want experiences, not just see something or buy some souvenirs. They  are seeking experiences. So, if you look at this studio, here, I think Gamplong village will become famous. The economy is also alive. We hope for that," the President said.

Studio Alam is the location of a colossal film shooting titled Sultan Agung: The Untold Love Story. Sultan Agung who led the Sultanate of Mataram in the year 1613-1645 has the full name of Sultan Agung Adi Prabu Hanyakrakusuma. During his tenure, Mataram grew into the largest empire in Java and the archipelago at the time. Studio Alam is built on 2 hectares of land consisting of Pendopo Palace Mataram, Songgo Mataram, Fort Dutch East India Company or VOC, Ungkit Bridge, Kampung Mataram, and Chinatown. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)

Businessmen of some 50 Indian companies were scheduled to visit Jakarta at the end of October to explore trade opportunities with Indonesian partners, an official said in Kolkata on Saturday.

"At the end of October we are going to visit Indonesia," Additional Director of Indian Chamber of Commerce Bodhisattwa Mukherjee said during a briefing with a group of ASEAN journalists in Kolkata, Saturday.

The businessmen of the Indian companies that will attend a business forum in Jakarta would be mainly form textile sector, specifically in furnishing, home decor, machinery, and finished products.

Indonesia is also a potential market for Indian construction companies, Mukherjee added.

Besides Indonesia, the delegation of Indian companies will also tour to several Southeast Asian countries.

It would be one of India’s efforts in achieving balanced and fast-paced growth of its Northeastern region as Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated in the Act East Policy.

The Act East Policy requires increased people to people contact, trade ties and other relations with countries on India`s east, particularly ASEAN countries.

"The idea is not only to exhibit products, but also to interact with other countries as well," Mukherjee said.

Indonesia holds significance for the Indian economy, as it is the biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. India has become an export destination country for Indonesian palm oil and the second-largest coal importer for India.

With regard to investment, India is also important for Indonesia. India`s investments rose significantly in 2017, more than five folds from $55 million a year earlier to $286.6 million.

Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2017, the Indonesia-India trade balance increased 28.7 percent, with total exports of $14.08 billion and imports at $4.05 billion. (ANTARA)