VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia is targeting the American market as the main destination for local streetwear brands to expand their business.

Streetwear fashion was born from skate and surf cultures in the US, Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) deputy head Ricky Pesik stated in Jakarta on Friday.

The US is also Indonesia`s largest export market for Indonesian fashion products, with an export value of US$4.72 billion.

"The biggest commodity for fashion products to the United States comes from the apparel industry," he said, especially since the young generation prefers to buy independent products made by artisans that have certain characteristics, he added.

Streetwear fashion, he added, will provide the opening for Indonesian artisans to introduce their local products.

Fashion observer Khairiyyah Sari said that although streetwear clothing originally came from America, local Indonesian brands have successfully developed their products with unique characteristics.

It also became the artisan`s main source of capital for its products to be marketed globally.

"In America, these brands have stories behind them. Therefore, Indonesian products also need a good story as their selling points," she said.

Indonesia`s competitors in the streetwear industry, according to her, are Japan and South Korea, as these two countries` products have unique and detailed designs.

"Their enthusiasm to make good clothing is their strategy to profit in the global market," she said.

For the first time, Bekraf supports five local brands to showcase its products at the largest streetware exhibition, "Agenda Show", in California, USA, from 28-30 June 2018.

One of the participating brands is the "Paradise Youth Club". The brand owner, whose products are inspired by the style of the 90s, Hendrick Setio, said his participation in the exhibition, which will be represented by 50 countries, can become their opportunity to penetrate the American market.

"We already have distribution channels in some countries, such as in the UK and South Korea, but until now we have not found the right distributors in the US. Hopefully, by participating in this event, we can find the right one," he said.

The other four brands that will showcase their products in the US are "Elhaus", which focuses on men`s and denim outfits, "OldBlueCo", the classic denim focus born from American miners, "Monstore", which creates clothing oriented to history and then combines it with pop art, as well as "Popmeetpop" which is very creative with modern denim designs. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said he was optimistic the 1,167 kilometer Trans Java toll road extending between Merak in the western end of Java and Banyuwangi in the eastern coast of Java would be fully completed by the end of 2019.

"The toll road will increase the mobility of people, facilitate distribution of goods and the logistic cost would be cheaper," Jokowi said after officially commissioning the Gempol-Pasuruan toll road project on Friday.

The 20.5 kilometer Gempol-Pasuruan toll road is part of the Trans Java toll road project in East Java.

The president said construction of toll road projects, which are crucial for goods and service distribution, has been completed one by one.

The government has given high priority to infrastructure development mainly in the transport sector in its economic development program.

Massive infrastructure projects including toll roads, railways , ports and airports have been built or under construction all over the country.

The president was accompanied by Public Work and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, East Java Governor Soekarwo, Head of the Toll Road Regulator (BPJT) Hery Trisaputra Zuna, and Chief Executive of state-owned toll road developer PT Jasa Marga Desi Arryani when commissioning the Gempol-Pasuruan section of the Trans Java toll road project.

The section was built by PT Transmarga Jatim Pasuruan (TJP) a subsidiary of PT Jasamarga Gempol Pasuruan (JGP).

It was built at a total cost of Rp4.03 trillion including Rp2.82 trillion in loan from a bank syndicate. (ANTARA)

The Indonesian Trade Ministry that has targeted export value rise for 11 percent in 2018 has an opportunity to fulfill the target through Shanghai Expo that will be held on November 5^th to 10^th , 2018. On the gathering occasion at Main Building Auditorium of Indonesian Trade Ministry on Friday, June 22^nd 2018, Trade Minister, Enggartiasto Lukita mentioned that Indonesia will make an effort to increase export value with many countries, especially China.

“In Tokyo early this month, we will hold a bilateral meeting with several countries, including People’s Republic of China to discuss possibilities that we can do to increase our export. There are many products that we will put on the Shanghai Expo. Now, we have an extra quota because of Indonesian President meeting with Prime Minister Li Ping; the extra quota is at least 500 thousand tons of CPO and we will also see the textiles products or garment and steel product because I heard that China is over supply. So, everything has a chance, we will see later and we’ll talk about it,” Enggartiasto Lukita said.

Furthermore, Director General of National Export Development of Trade Ministry, Arlinda said that Indonesia will do transaction as much as possible in the Shanghai Expo to fulfill the trade target with China.

“As much as possible yes so it means that if I’m not mistaken, we have a target worth $45 billion dollars but we have deficit with China for about $15 billion dollars. So, we have to do great effort. Actually, there are many countries that have good potency to do trade with us, but we haven’t tried to do it,” Arlinda said.

Arlinda added that the Trade Ministry targets Africa as one of the regions that has high potency to establish trade cooperation. Food commodity is one of the potencies to trade with African regions, such Kenya and Ethiopia, including Turkey. (VOI/NK/RHM)

Indonesia is ready to host Asian Games 2018 that will be held on August 18^th to September 2^nd 2018 in Jakarta and Palembang. This means that the number of foreign tourists who come to Indonesia will increase. During the Halal Bi Halal at the post of Eid ul Fitr festivity at Soesilo Sudarman Building at Tourism Ministry Office in Jakarta on Thursday (June 21^st 2018), Minister of Tourism, Arif Yahya disclosed the target of foreign tourist who will witness Asian Games 2018 and his Ministry is ready to make the event successful.

“We have prepared more than one this for tourism; we have seven destinations that we promote. Of course, they are close to Jakarta and Palembang and we have 60 tourism packages to sell mostly Jakarta. So yes, we are ready. For exact number of domestic tourists, we predict between 100 thousand to 200 thousand that will come and watch the event but finally we decided about 150 thousand is the safe number. Well  who will come mostly? Naturally, China is proportional but it depends on soccer especially who will be on the soccer final,” Arief yahya said.

On the same occasion, Director of the Great China Promotion, Vincent Jemadu said that the number of tourists from China is expected as the biggest foreign tourists who will come during the Asian Games 2018.

“Well on the 29^th the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia cooperating with Indonesian Tourism Ministry will open a counter in Soekarno-Hatta Airport Terminal 3. The Chinese Embassy has already prepared some tips to anticipate the increasing numbers of delegation from China because it is predicted that at the Asian Games 2018, the highest number of delegation will be from China. That’s why, they will be one special hospitality desk at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, that will be officially opened on June 29^th by the Chinese Embassy and Indonesian Tourism Ministry,” Vincent Jemadu said.

Special Hospitality desk is also prepared for Chinese tourists who cannot speak English at all. Vincent added besides Jakarta and Palembang, the Tourism Ministry also prepares Bali and Yogyakarta as the main tourism destinations for foreign tourist who will come to Indonesia during the Asian Games 2018. (VOI/NK/RHM)