VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf held a meeting with the World Bank representatives in Jakarta on Thursday (Dec 12, 2024). (ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Social Affairs) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf held a meeting with the World Bank Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste Carolyn Turk to discuss collaborative strategies that can be carried out to alleviate poverty.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs invites the World Bank to be involved in our priority work, for instance, in increasing the capacity of social assistants and empowering Beneficiary Families through care economic schemes," Yusuf noted in a statement on Thursday (Dec 12).

During the meeting, Director Carolyn Turk lauded the Indonesian government’s efforts in poverty alleviation, including establishing a single poverty alleviation data.

Carolyn emphasized the importance of an integrated data system to ensure the accuracy of assistance.

"Without having a strong integrated data system, we do not know how many types of assistance a family receives. One, two, three assistance, or even none at all?" she remarked.

She highlighted that the World Bank strongly supports the integration of various data currently being processed by Statistics Indonesia (BPS).

Carolyn deems it necessary to conduct data integration despite the possibility of encountering technical and political difficulties.

Hence, she also lauded the works between related ministries and institutions in poverty alleviation efforts.

Carolyn stated that the World Bank supports the empowerment program that the Ministry of Social Affairs currently promotes.

Regarding the empowerment efforts, the World Bank Regional Director for Human Development Alberto Rodriguez highlighted the importance of the government's role in supporting the creation of a productive environment.

"First, we want to ensure that beneficiaries can graduate and be productive. A productive environment must also be created to support productivity," Alberto stated.

During the meeting, the Indonesian government and representatives of the World Bank also discussed the lifelong protection scheme pursued by the Ministry of Social Affairs—on how the ministry provides social protection for unborn babies in the form of maternity care to the elderly//VOI-Antara

Marubeni Corporation (“Marubeni”) has signed MOU with Impack Pratama Group through its subsidiary named PT Sirkular Karya Indonesia (“SKI”) on 6th December 2024 - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Marubeni Corporation (“Marubeni”) has signed MOU with Impack Pratama Group through its subsidiary named PT Sirkular Karya Indonesia (“SKI”) on 6th December 2024.

SKI has been carved out as the "green initiative" operating unit of Impack Group that will focus on upcycling plastic waste into useful building products, that in turn will be sold through Impack’s extensive, nationwide distribution network.

The role of Marubeni shall be to assist in securing and procuring plastic waste from industry users and collectors for SKI, exporting the finished products through Marubeni’s global network, and conducting research and development of plastic credits and carbon credits within this recycling ecosystem.

Both Impack Pratama and Marubeni have committed to growing this unique ecosystem and making SKI the most successful operating business model of its kind in Indonesia.

“SKI is currently using recycled PET bottles as its raw material component for its roofing product under the brand ECOLITE, upcycled HDPE/LDPE disposable bags into its ACP panels under the brand DECOBOND/ALCOTUFF, and will soon introduce its first roofing product using 100% recycled plastic waste of various kinds under the brand ALDURO.” Sugiarto Romeli, Director of Sustainability and Product Development stated. 

All processing technology and know-how are being cultivated in-house through Impack Research and Innovation Center (IRIC)//VOI-Antara

A group photo of Japanese Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Katsuro Nagai with representatives of Indonesian pesantren leaders during the welcoming ceremony for participants of the Pesantren Leaders Visit Program to Japan, Jakarta, Wednesday (12/11/2024). (Photo: RRI Voice of Indonesia/Ofra)

President Prabowo Subianto delivering a speech at the inauguration of the Tunnel of Friendship connecting Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral in Central Jakarta on Thursday (December 12, 2024). (ANTARA/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the Silaturahim Tunnel in Jakarta on Thursday (12/12)  which connects the Istiqlal Mosque with the Cathedral Church.As quoted by Antara, Prabowo in his remarks admitted that he was very happy to attend this inauguration because this tunnel is considered a symbol of inter-religious harmony.

According to him, the Indonesian nation has a very unique and proud characteristic which is to remain in harmony in the midst of full of differences.

"A nation with different religions, ethnic groups,  races, regional languages,  customs, but can unite and get along because it has the same ideals  to achieve a future that can provide happiness for all Indonesian people", President said. 

Prabowo added that the Indonesian nation should be proud of its unique and remarkable success in fostering harmony and peace amidst high cultural and religious diversity.

He then drew attention to the message of harmony conveyed by the presence of Istiqlal, which stands opposite Jakarta Cathedral, as Southeast Asia's largest mosque, adding that the mosque was designed by a Christian architect.

Moreover, President Prabowo conveyed differences should not be a divider and a source of division of the Indonesian nation, but rather a wealth and provide energy for Indonesia. According to him, in the days of the independence struggle,  all groups paid their share for the country with blood,  sweat,  and tears.

The Istiqlal-Cathedral Silaturahim Tunnel is 28, 3 meters long,  3 meters high and 4.1 meters wide and is designed to facilitate visitors from the Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral Church. The construction of this tunnel was actually completed on September 20, 2021, but access for the public has not been opened because there is still additional work that needs to be completed.

Though its construction concluded on September 20, 2021, the tunnel was not opened to the public until Thursday due to the installation of wall ornaments designed to convey the deeper meaning behind the tunnel. The Tunnel of Friendship is accessible via the yards of Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral//VOI