VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government decides to temporarily suspend elevated infrastructure projects. This temporary suspension is the impact of several accidents that have occurred in recent times. Director General of Railways at the Ministry of Transportation Zulfikri said that in railway, the temporary suspension is done in 5 cities. In Merdeka Barat 9 Discussion Forum held on Thursday (22/2) in Jakarta, Zulfikri said the suspension was made to give understanding to consultants and contractors on the work safety. He believes that the temporary suspension of the elevated infrastructure projects will not affect the project's targets, one of which is Light Rapid Transit-LRT in South Sumatra for Asian Games transportation.

“So now we are still focused on the completion because it has already ben completed 86 percent and the overpass structure is almost 100 percent. So now we focus on creating tracks over the overpass. It is for the South Sumatera LRT so we hope it can be completed and utilized for our great event, the Asian Games. Hopefully it can be operational in June,” Zulfikri said.

Zulfikri further explained, the LRT trials will be conducted next March on the tracks ready for the trials such as in zone 5. He hopes the LRT development in Jakarta namely Kelapa Gading - Velodrome line can be used as the operational line for the Asian Games. He said the temporary suspension on the infrastructure development will not last long. (VOI/SEKAR/AHM)

Indonesian Minister of Trade, Enggartiasto Lukita held a meeting with E-Commerce entrepreneurs in Indonesia on Thursday (February 22, 2018). After the Meeting, Minister Enggartiasto explained to the media that the meeting was held in efforts of both parties to encourage the economic growth and domestic industry for Small and Medium Enterprises-SMEs. He views that some of these E-Commerce entrepreneurs have provided coaching and education to SMEs sporadically. He expects that the SMEs products can be increased by sales through marketplaces. There are several steps that will be done to create a database for accredited SMEs and create a special platform for SMEs.

“…We will make our own platform in this Ministry, to be neutral. So each of these marketplaces can access the products of SMEs that have been accredited, and the number will gradually increase,” Enggartiasto Lukita said.

Minister Enggartiasto further explained, some of the SME entrepreneurs are not ready from technological progress. Thus, the Ministry of Trade will cooperate with the Ministry of Communications and Informatics to help SME entrepreneurs in Internet access and marketplaces. Minister Enggartiasto added that there will be a big launch of the platform and promotion for SME’s products. (VOI/SEKAR/RHM)

In commemorating 45 years of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia held a Seminar on Cultural Heritage Digital Archive at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Thursday, Februaru 22^nd. This seminar was hosted by Prof. Dr. Ari Ide from Kyoto University and opened by ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for Community and Corporate Affairs, Dr. AKP Mochtan. In his speech Mochtan expressed the idea of ​​this seminar is to protect and promote all cultural heritage of ASEAN countries by digitizing the inheritence.

"Some of the heritages however are precarious and they maybe endangered by rapid urbanization, illicit trafficking or human induced or natural disaster. Should this happen, digital archives may possibly be the only remains that will survive the hard and uncompromising test of time and progress. In some digitizing cultural heritages is a forward looking endeavor, ensuring the record will last for generations to come," said Dr. AKP. Mochtan.

Dr. Mochtar added, the digitalization of cultural assets using digital technology is very significant in helping research and studies to be better. (VOI/Egi/ahm)

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi is scheduled to perform and enliven the biggest Jazz music festival in Asia, Java Jazz Festival 2018. On the occasion the Foreign Minister will collaborate with The Diplomats Band, which consists of Indonesian diplomats at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Spokesman of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Arrmanatha Nasir, said in Jakarta on Thursday, February 22^nd, the Foreign Minister and The Diplomats Band are scheduled to perform on the third day of Java Jazz Festival 2018 on March 4 at the Jakarta International Expo (JIEXPO). Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister is planned to be involved in the performance. He added that the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs sometimes participates in regular exercises of The Diplomats Band. In addition, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs also performs with The Diplomats at several events. When asked  what songs will be presented by the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister and The Diplomats, Arrmanatha still keeps it a secret. But, he just mentioned, not just from the jazz genre, the  The Diplomats Band also sings also songs from various genres of music. (VOI 23.02.2018 Rezha/ahm)