VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government is pushing private companies and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to issue more bonds this year, to finance infrastructure projects in a bid to reduce the use of state budget (APBN). SOE Minister Rini Soemarno predicts that more bonds will be issued this year. Aside from bonds, the government also expects continued effort to finance the projects through securities and loan syndications. She recently said in Jakarta, as for projects that are commercially available, SOEs and private companies will seek fund from loan syndication and bond issue. At the end of 2017, state-owned PT Hutama Karya secured Rp8.06 trillion loans from seven banks and PT Kereta Api Indonesia received Rp19.2 trillion loans. In view of PT Jasa Marga’s successful issue of global bond Komodo Bond, Rini said that she is now readying other SOEs to follow suit. However, she could yet specify project the value of bond issue//Tempo 

The number of visits by Japanese and British tourists to Bali have increased significantly in the first 10 months of the year. The number of visits by Japanese tourists rose 12.27 percent and visits by holiday makers from Britain increased 15.39 percent, head of the provincial office of the Central Bureau of Statistics I Gede Nyoman Subadri said in Denpasar on Saturday.  There were almost  225,000 Japanese spending their holidays in Bali during the January-October period in 2017. The number was 12.27 percent larger than  in the same period last year.  Japanese tourists were the third largest in number of visits to Bali after China and Australia.  I Gede Nyoman Subadri said further, the number of visits by British holiday makers to Bali rose 15.39 percent in the first 10 months of 2017 compared from the same period last year.  British tourists were the 5th largest in number of visits to Bali after China, Australia, Japan and India. Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has invited 33 foreign consulate generals to a meeting to convince them that the high volcano is too far in the regency of Karangasem to cause any concern for visitors to tourist objects on the island.   In addition, the governor said precautionary measures have been taken in the event of big eruption////Antara

Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan inaugurated the five traditional markets of Pasar Senen`s Block III, Pasar Sinar, Pasar Bidadari, Pasar Cawang Lot, and Karet Belakang recently. Governor Anis Baswedan said to cater to the offer and demand for basic necessities in the market, Jakarta`s markets should be efficient and offer necessities at an economical price. Hence, the costs borne by sellers and buyers as well as the overall expenses will reduce. Improvements in the markets are now underway, he explained. The governor expressed hope that the commercial sector would work in favor of the citizens of Jakarta to ensure proper interaction. Pasar Senen`s Block III market sits on an area of 17,086 square meters, and its building area covers 13,582 square meters. The building has seven floors including a semi-basement floor with 385 business units; semi-basement kiosks with the number of business units; ground floor; first floor; second floor; and third floor. On the fifth and sixth floors are facilities for worship and also a Mechanical Engineering room////Antara

The Malang-based Brawijaya University in East Java Province has provided Rp2 billion worth scholarship for Palestinian civil servants, an official said.The scholarship will be given for the postgraduate level, both master (S2) and doctoral (S3), according to Prof Muhammad Bisri, rector of the Brawijaya University, in Malang on Friday (Dec. 29). The rector  further said that the assistance offered by Indonesia including the Brawijaya University  is the concept of peace. Therefore, University will provide Peace Scholarship for the civil servants (PNS) of Palestine for further studies of S2 and S3 Graduate program in the university.  Civil servants are chosen for the scholarship program, so that they can immediately practice the science and skills when they return to their country and make real contribution. In addition, Brawijaya University also provides several training skills for the Palestinian people. Rector Muhammad Bisri added most ready skill training is regarding the livestock in accordance with the condition of Palestinian nature as a savanna. The condition is suitable for goat and sheep farming//Antara