VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held the 3rd Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting with Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Justin Wayne Tkatchenko at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Tuesday (21/3). During the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi mentioned a number of spaces that could be utilized by the two countries to develop bilateral cooperation in the trade sector.

"Including through simplifying and streamlining the customs process, facilitating a stronger logistics network, and encouraging the formation of the Indonesia - Papua New Guinea Joint Business Council," he said in a statement delivered online after attending the JMC.

She also appreciated the positive trend that has continued in bilateral trade between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea in the last five years.

"The reopening of the post-pandemic Wutung - Skouw border has also contributed to the increase in the number of visits by Papua New Guineans to Skouw Market," she said.

In addition, she said, overall, the two countries agreed to take concrete steps to start negotiating the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

"Indonesia is committed to speeding up the process by preparing a joint feasibility study that will combine the views of our two countries," said Foreign Minister Retno.

Meanwhile in the investment sector, Retno Marsudi said the two countries also discussed the possibility of cooperation in involving Indonesian BUMNs to invest in Papua New Guinea, including in the energy sector, communication services and the pharmaceutical industry.

"We agreed to explore concrete economic results in the future," she said. (VOI/Andy)

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met with Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Wayne Tkatchenko in the context of the 3rd Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The two countries held the same meeting in 2010.

"For both of us this is the second meeting in 4 months after our last meeting on the sidelines of the IPFD, AIS and BDF meetings in Bali last December," said Retno in a joint statement after the meeting, at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office, Jakarta, monitored online, Tuesday (21/3).

Retno Marsudi said that at the JMC meeting, the two countries exchanged views on the progress of the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea bilateral relationship. According to him, Indonesia welcomed Papua New Guinea's ratification of two bilateral agreements with Indonesia.

"Agreement on Implementation of Visa Exemption for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders and the Basic Agreement on Border Arrangements," said Retno.

Meanwhile in the defense sector, according to Retno Marsudi, Indonesia hopes that Papua New Guinea can support the acceleration of the ongoing ratification process.

In addition, according to Retno, the two countries are also committed to ensuring the protection of citizens abroad.

"In relation to this, we agreed to assign our officials to draw up a Compulsory Consular Notification Agreement," she said.

Papua New Guinea is a country close to Indonesia. According to Retno, the two countries share a long land border, and are strategic partners for Indonesia in establishing deeper partnerships with Pacific countries.

Indonesia, according to Retno, also highly appreciates Papua New Guinea's strong and consistent support for Indonesia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. (VOI/Andy)

Jakarta (voinews): The Financial Services Authority (OJK), as the chair of the 2023 ASEAN Capital Market Forum (ACMF), is optimistic that ASEAN can script fast, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.

OJK's Chief Executive for Capital Markets, Financial Derivatives, and Carbon Exchange Supervision Inarno Djajadi delivered the remarks at the 38th ACMF Chairs’ Meeting, which was held in a hybrid (offline and online) format in Yogyakarta on Monday.

"Approaching 2030, we must be able to realize the national commitment of NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and towards the goal of net zero emissions," Djajadi stressed here on Tuesday.

He said he is optimistic that the ACMF, as a regional capital market regulatory group, can contribute to ASEAN countries' economic transition toward a low-carbon economy, especially in the six sectors prioritized in the ASEAN Taxonomy Version 1.

ACMF will also develop a transition guideline so that companies can carry out the transition process in a transparent and credible manner, he informed.

The meeting also discussed the development and the transition of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) guideline, focusing on the aspects of disclosure.

"Regarding these two important topics, guidelines of VCM and its transition, we ask for support from all members to ensure that the determined targets can be achieved," Djajadi said.

ACMF will continue to strengthen collaboration with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) on encouraging corporate sustainability disclosure, building awareness, increasing green economy technical competence, and bolstering knowledge transfer.

This year, ACMF is looking forward to launching the Sustainable Finance Knowledge Hub, the ASEAN Green Lane, and the publication of the revised ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS).

The revised ACGS combines sustainability elements so they are in parallel with the revised Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles.

Furthermore, based on data from the ASEAN Green, Social, and Sustainability Bond Standards introduced in 2017 and 2018, ASEAN-labelled green, social, or sustainable bonds worth about US$38.06 billion have been issued as of March 15, 2023.  (Antaranews)

Jakarta (voinws): The Industry Ministry has issued the Industry Minister’s Regulation Number 6 of 2023 as a guideline for the provision of government assistance for the purchase of electric motorbikes.

"To expedite the establishment of the electric vehicle ecosystem, the government has made a policy to give assistance on the purchase of two-wheeled electric vehicles (EVs), which has taken effect since March 20, 2023," Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said in a statement released on Tuesday.

The assistance will be disbursed as a Rp7-million (US$455.21) discount on the purchase of each two-wheeled battery-based EV, he informed.

The implementation of the program will be supported by an independent verification agency since the discount will only be given to certain beneficiaries, he said.

To be eligible for the assistance, people will need to be registered as beneficiaries of people's business credit (KUR), productive assistance for micro-enterprises, wage subsidy assistance, and electricity subsidies for households with up to 900 volt-ampere (VA) connections.

"The assistance program will be provided for a maximum of 200 thousand units for the 2023 fiscal year and a maximum of 600 thousand units for the 2024 fiscal year," the minister informed.

Director general of metal, machinery, transportation equipment, and electronics (ILMATE) at the ministry, Taufiek Bawazier, said that the aid will be provided only for the variants of vehicles registered on the Information System for Assistance in Purchasing Two-Wheeled Electric Vehicles (SISAPIRa).

The vehicles, which will be registered on the system, will need to meet the minimum domestic component level (TKDN) of 40 percent, in accordance with the ministry’s requirements.

The director general informed that the system can be accessed by EV industry players on sisapira.id starting March 20, 2023.

“The participation (of the EV industry players) in this assistance program is valid until the 2024 fiscal year," he added.

According to the Industry Minister Regulation Number 6 of 2023, EV industry players registered as participants of the program will not be allowed to increase their sale prices.

They will also not be allowed to change the components of their products if that results in a decrease in the TKDN value to less than the required level.

"The companies that violate these rules will be given administrative sanctions, namely the revocation of their participation in this assistance program," Bawazier added.  (Antaranews)