VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (voinews): The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs reminded all stakeholders, especially in the regional government, to remain cautious and prepared for hydrometeorological disasters.

"Even though at this time, we are at the end of the rainy season, we must remain cautious of the risk of hydrometeorological disasters, considering the increased intensity of rains a while ago," the Assistant Deputy of Disaster Mitigation and Social Conflicts at the coordinating ministry, Andre Notohamijoyo, stated on Saturday.

He said the floods that struck some places in the country in February 2023 served as a warning for all stakeholders to keep their guards up in facing possible disasters that could occur abruptly.

Notohamijoyo stated that the governments of regions prone to such disasters should step up vigilance and formulate mitigation measures to address disaster risks.

"Measures that need to be taken are firstly, to improve readiness by optimizing the capacity of drainage and water management as well as the absorbency system and water collection to optimally prevent flood and landslides," he elaborated.

The second is to improve the capacity and reliability of water bodies, such as ponds, and man-made water collection system.

"It needs to be ensured that everything can operate well for containing and utilizing clean water as well as to control the risk of floods," he explained.

The third step was to raise the alert status if data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency pointed at an increase in rainfall intensity that posed a risk of floods and landslides.

The fourth step is to tap into the potential and functions of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency, as the coordinator of disaster mitigation efforts.

"The fifth (measure) is to establish posts for flood disaster alert," he noted.

He also cautioned that the increased rainfall intensity could raise the risk of floods, landslides, and tornadoes.

"Thus, it needs to be anticipated at the earliest through disaster mitigation efforts," Notohamijoyo emphasized. (antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): The trophy tour of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup will not only be conducted at the six host cities but also at four non-host cities, including Jayapura City, Papua Province.

“If I am not mistaken (the trophy tour will also be held) in Pekanbaru (Riau Province), Balikpapan (East Kalimantan Province), Makassar (South Sulawesi Province), and Jayapura (Papua Province),” Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali stated during a media briefing here on Friday.

Meanwhile, the designated six host cities comprise Jakarta, Bandung in West Java Province, Solo in Central Java Province, Surabaya in East Java Province, Gianyar in Bali Province, and Palembang in South Sumatra Province.

The minister noted that FIFA had appointed Bali to conduct the draw for the group stage of the cup at the end of March 2023.

He noted that the draw will be conducted at the end of March after the completion of all regional qualifying championships, including the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations held in Egypt as well as AFC U-20 Asian Cup held in Uzbekistan.

"The (U-20) Asian Cup is just about to start, so apart from Indonesia, we do not know (who will qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup from the Asia zone) yet,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the qualifying championships in the other confederations, namely in the Europe (UEFA); North America, Central America, and Caribbean (CONCACAF); South America (CONMEBOL); as well as Oceania (OFC), had been completed.

"Thus, we do not know who will be our opponent (in the group stage) yet,” Amali remarked

However, he noted that all participating countries -- New Zealand, Fiji, Guatemala, and Indonesia -- in the 2023 U-20 Mini Tournament organized by the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) had managed to secure a spot in the World Cup.

The mini tournament was held at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, on February 17-21, 2023, as part of the Indonesian national team’s preparations for the cup.

Meanwhile, in addition to the four countries, other representatives that qualified to play in the FIFA U-20 World Cup are the Dominican Republic, Honduras, the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, England, France, Israel, Italy, and Slovakia.

Furthermore, the minister spoke of having met with Chairperson of PSSI Erick Thohir to discuss about promoting the implementation of the cup in the six hosting cities.

The attempt will be made by the Indonesia FIFA U-20 World Cup Organizing Committee (INAFOC) and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of each host city.

"Yesterday, I had a meeting with Mr. Erick (Thohir) to clarify the division of tasks between INAFOC and LOC (regarding the promotion of the event)," Amali said. (antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): The Ministry of Trade is encouraging micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) players to develop their businesses and target exports to non-traditional countries.

"We have to target non-traditional countries. This is very suitable for MSMEs," Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan stated at the Legendary Brand Festival event here on Saturday.

Hasan explained that exports in American and European countries are currently slowing down due to the geopolitical conditions and the threat of global recession.

Nevertheless, non-traditional countries, such as those in the South Asian region, like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, have huge trade potential for business players in Indonesia.

The minister explained that Indonesia had recorded a surplus in trade transactions with Bangladesh of US$2 billion, a US$3-billion surplus with Pakistan, and a US$9-billion surplus with India.

Apart from South Asian countries, African and Middle Eastern countries also have the potential to become trade partners.

Hasan remarked that the total population of those non-traditional countries reached almost 3.5 billion, thereby opening up vast opportunities for Indonesia's local products.

"The purchasing power there is high. It is quite a big loss if business players from Indonesia do not make the most of it," he emphasized.

He further noted that in general, those non-traditional countries do not apply tough conditions to be fulfilled in terms of trade agreements, akin to what is usually followed by countries in the US or Europe.

For instance, countries in South Asia do not demand to conduct goods export transactions to Indonesia despite their countries importing goods from Indonesia.

Hasan noted that his ministry also supports opening export access to those countries to keep the logistics costs low.

The effort is made through trade cooperation with several countries that serve as hubs for export goods that will then be forwarded to destination countries.

"(For export) to the Middle East, it can be carried out via the United Arab Emirates and then possibly to South Asia or Africa," he remarked.  (antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): Indonesia's humanitarian diplomacy for Turkey and Syria will continue and would be a reference for subsequent national humanitarian missions, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy affirmed.

"We will promptly follow up on all aspects we found during our humanitarian diplomacy. All teams have met some officials in Turkey that will serve as a reference for our next agenda," Effendy noted, as per the statement here, Friday (February 24).

Indonesia will also continue to provide optimal support for brothers and sisters in Turkey to recover from the effects of the February 6 earthquake to reciprocate Turkish generosity in helping Indonesia recover from past disasters, he noted.

"Hence, Indonesia is helping Turkey as it should. It is (to reciprocate) for what the Turkish authority has done to help us promptly when Indonesia was affected by difficulties," the coordinating minister stated.

Effendy explained that the next humanitarian mission for the two countries would include assistance in post-earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction works as well as medical assistance, including vaccines and tetanus serum, for locals.

He remarked that Indonesia's humanitarian assistance team to help earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria had returned back safely to Indonesia on Friday.

"Praise be to God, the team that conducted the humanitarian mission to Turkey and Syria has returned safely to Indonesia after performing their assignments excellently. Likewise, our humanitarian diplomacy to Turkey and Syria has also performed well," Effendy emphasized.

According to the coordinating ministry's information, the Indonesian Search and Rescue (INASAR) Team from the National SAR Agency (Basarnas), comprised 50 personnel, who assisted the rescue mission in Antakya, Hatay Province, joined Indonesia's humanitarian assistance team to return to Indonesia.

Meanwhile, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Head Suharyanto stated that the delivery of 80-ton humanitarian assistance for Turkey and 78 tons for Syria proceeded well.

The agency head noted that the 50 INASAR personnel returned to Indonesia after the Turkish authority decided to stop the search and rescue mission for the earthquake victims. He affirmed that health personnel from Indonesia currently remain in Turkey. (antaranews)