VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

British Deputy Chief of Mission to Indonesia, Rob Fenn said that the grand event of the Asian Games held in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra will provide a legacy of infrastructure that will be very useful for the people of Indonesia in the future. He considered that the decision of the government of Indonesia to develop the infrastructure has been very precise. It was delivered on the sidelines of the Open House (Halal Bi Halal) event held at the British Embassy complex in Jakarta recently.

“Now, we wish them well as the big event. It is great that Indonesia is using the event and taking up the opportunity to upgrade its infrastructure, which will be a long legacy. It is a very wise policy by the government. We have the small part helping those preparation,” said Robb Fenn.

In addition, Robb Fenn gave an example of a Velodrome facility in the United Kingdom that was built for the purposes of the 2012 Olympics. According to Robb, the facility is currently an important heritage for the UK to develop velodrome technology in various countries, including Indonesia. The velodrome project in Jakarta involves one of the UK companies-ES Global as the main contractor. (VOI/Rezha/Trans Ndy/RHM)

The government is reviewing the impact of the trade war between the United States and China on Indonesia, Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla stated.

"Indeed, this trade war will come into force next month, and from now on, the minister of economy has the opportunity to evaluate what the pros and cons are. We will examine its impact to avoid negative ones," he noted at the Vice President’s Palace.

The vice president remarked that the trade war between the United States and China will have an impact on Indonesia. Hence, it is necessary to examine the extent of the impact on the economy and the opportunities that can be utilized in the situation.

The United States will impose a 25 percent import tariff on 818 products effective from July 6, 2018, and will levy a charge on 1,300 products from China valued at US$50 billion.

The imposition of high trade tariffs has triggered retaliatory action, which will also result in a trade war between the two sides. As a result, it will also affect other countries.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution had remarked that the improvement of the nation`s export structure held significance to overcome the impact of potential trade wars between developed countries.

"We have to set a policy, either in terms of the industry or natural resources, to improve our exports," he explained.

Nasution has made assurance that Indonesia should seek opportunities from the trade war and not rely solely on it to ensure that the national trade performance does not interfere with the overall economic growth projection. (ANTARA)

Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto opined that connectivity between industrial areas, both within and outside Java Island, will boost the nation`s economic growth.

"If all industrial areas are connected, our economy will become stronger," he noted in a press release on Wednesday.

Hence, the minister expects that the development of industrial area, such as in South Bekasi, West Java, would be emulated in the 100 other areas in the country.

Publicly listed industrial estate developer PT Kawasan Industri Jababeka, located in Cikarang, West Java, has proven able to demonstrate the multiplier effect of industrialization activities that can contribute significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP).

With one million jobs created in the industrial estate, its GDP from the entire area is over US$35 billion per year, or its per capita GDP reaches US$35 thousand.

Hartarto believes such an achievement is in line with the vision of Indonesia`s gold in 2045.

"Our target is that Indonesia`s average GDP per capita can reach US$35 thousand," he added.

Development of the industrial estate is also one of the strategies in implementing the industrial revolution 4.0.

The Making Indonesia 4.0 concept can facilitate the development of industrial zones to encourage economic progress.

Moreover, Indonesia has an industrial corridor in the North of Java as well as industrial areas in Bekasi, Karawang, to Purwakarta.

Furthermore, the corridor of Central Java is in Semarang and Kendal; while the East Java corridor is in Gresik, Lamongan, and Tuban; and outside Java they are in Aceh, Morowali, Bontang, and Bintuni.

Ministry`s Acting Director for General Industrial Development Zone I Gusti Putu Suryawirawan pointed to a spurt in development of industrial areas, especially outside Java Island.

According to Suryawirawan, as many as 10 industrial estates are targeted to be developed until 2019 based on the Nawacita program of President Joko Widodo.

However, currently, 10 new industrial areas are already in operation. In fact, three additional industrial estates will be completed by 2018.

"Three new industrial estates are expected to become operational this year that are the Lhokseumawe industrial area in Aceh, Wilmar industrial estate in Serang, and Tanjung Buton industrial area in Riau. Hence, in 2018, there are 13 areas," he remarked.

In 2019, five other industrial estates are planned to be built.

In order to accelerate the development of industrial estates, Suryawirawan highlighted the need for non-fiscal incentives and ease of investment licensing in the industrial area.

Currently, the Industry Ministry is also focusing on attracting investors to develop the industrial areas. (ANTARA)

The Indonesian Government has set aside US$2 million for capacity building programs in Palestine, as part of its commitment to help in the struggle of Palestinian people.

Indonesia`s commitment was conveyed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi during the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestine Development (CEAPAD) III in Bangkok on Wednesday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement.

The fund will be distributed through a Three-year Work Plan (2019-2021) of CEAPAD, concluded during the Bangkok`s meeting, and other modalities to a number of capacity building programs in various fields such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, women empowerment, information technology and communication, governance, and education.

Indonesia has been committed to provide capacity building assistance to Palestine.

As of today, the Southeast Asian country has provided 169 capacity building programs, involving nearly two thousand Palestinian people.

Indonesia is currently preparing additional assistance in the form of medicine and a desalination plant to Gaza.

During the CEAPAD III meeting, Marsudi emphasized the need for the international community to provide incentive to business sector of Palestine, in order to help create economic growth in Palestine.

Indonesia has imposed zero percent tariff on several products of Palestine in 2018, she added.

Prior to the CEAPAD III meeting, Marsudi met her Palestinian counterpart, Riyad Maliki, in Bangkok on Tuesday.

Marsudi conveyed to Maliki that the Indonesian Government fights along with the Palestinian people for a free Palestine country.

Maliki expressed appreciation of the Palestinian people to the Government of Indonesia for its commitment and assistance.

Maliki and Marsudi also discussed the recent situation in Gaza and sought to promote Palestine-Israel peace talks.

Moreover, Marsudi met the Commissioner General of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Pierre Krahenbuhl, to discuss the steps and future plans of UNRWA amid financial crisis in the agency.

Indonesia, during the CEAPAD III conference on Wednesday, also offered a 3+1 formula to help in the struggle for a free Palestine country.

The 3+1 formula includes capacity building to the apparatus of Palestine Administration in various sectors; creating conducive condition for the economic growth and development of Palestine; and providing synergy on capacity building provided by CEAPAD and other organizations through bilateral, regional, or global mechanisms. (ANTARA)