VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews,Jakarta: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta on Thursday, at around 04:15 WIB, after making a state visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Under the plane's stairs, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto and National Police Chief General Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo were seen welcoming President Jokowi's arrival, according to a written statement from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia.

Previously, President Jokowi departed from Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi at around 14:55 local time.

Appearing to see off the President's departure to Indonesia were, among others, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei, Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE Husin Bagis, and UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia Abdullah Salem Al Dhaheri.

On the flight to Jakarta, President Jokowi was accompanied by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir.

Also attending were the Director General of Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Head of State Protocol Andy Rachmianto, the President's Military Secretary Major General TNI Rudy Saladin, the Commander of the Paspampres Major General TNI Achiruddin, and the Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat M Yusuf Permana.

During his visit to Abu Dhabi, President Joko Widodo held a bilateral meeting with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) to enhance cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic sector.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in her statement in Abu Dhabi explained that the UAE is one of Indonesia's important partners in the Middle East.

"In the past 10 years, relations between the two countries have developed rapidly. In terms of trade, for example, there has been a significant increase. Trade figures from 2015 to 2023 increased by 52 percent, and in 2023 reached 3.282 billion (US dollars)," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In terms of investment, a significant increase was also recorded. Foreign Minister Retno said that the achievements of relations in the past decade received attention from President Jokowi in bilateral meetings.

"This strong relationship will be capital for the future government to continue to strengthen cooperation between the two countries," said Retno.

In addition to holding plenary meetings, the two leaders also met tete-a-tete. Foreign Minister Retno explained that the discussion in the meeting focused on investment cooperation.

Some of the things that became the focus of the discussion included the plan for cooperation in developing a financial center in the Indonesian Capital City (IKN). This cooperation plan is accommodated in an MoU signed by the Minister of PUPR with the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).

The second issue discussed in the tete-a-tete was cooperation in developing the nickel raw material industry. As is known, Indonesia has a very large stock of nickel.

Indonesia has also developed a nickel downstream ecosystem, especially batteries and electric vehicles ( EV ).

"In this regard, President Jokowi invited the UAE to invest in the EV sector from upstream to downstream," said Foreign Minister Retno.

Source: Antaranews

VOInews, Jakarta: The Indonesian Capital City Authority (OIKN) invites micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to fill commercial areas in the new capital city of Indonesia which is being built in Penajam Paser Utara Regency and Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan Province.

"We invite MSMEs to fill business opportunities in the commercial area of ​​Indonesia's new capital city," explained Deputy for Facilities and Infrastructure of OIKN Silvia Halim in Penajam, Thursday.

The commercial areas include the Office of the Coordinating Ministry (Kemenko) for Defense and Security (Hankam), as well as the state civil apparatus (ASN) flats.

In the initial stage, OIKN held a market gathering to introduce business opportunities in the development of public and social facilities in Nusantara City, the new capital city of Indonesia, to MSMEs.

The activity also invites the involvement of potential MSME candidates, according to him, who have quality and service standards in line with the vision of Indonesia's new capital city as a world city for all.

The process of selecting MSMEs to meet the basic needs of ASN and Defense and Security personnel who are the first residents in the core area of ​​the government center (KIPP) of Nusantara City which will be operational in September 2024, is carried out openly and fairly.

"After the completion process, it will be continued with mentoring and empowerment of selected MSMEs," he said.

"So that existing MSMEs can develop and grow together with the Archipelago City," added Silvia Halim.

The development of Indonesia's new capital city, Director of Building, Area and Urban Management OIKN Desiderius Viby Indrayana added, is currently entering the stage of filling the infrastructure that has been built.

Thus, the ecosystem of the Archipelago City must be brought to life by providing clinics, food and beverages, and others. OIKN's task is to help the government create a residential ecosystem in the new capital city of Indonesia.

The Head of UMKM Penajam Paser Utara Regency, Rizal Ramadhan Sinaga, hopes that UMKM around the Nusantara City can be involved, and the presence of the new capital city of Indonesia can increase UMKM income.

Source: Antaranews

VOInews, Jakarta:  Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn considered the views and recommendations of the Federation of Japan Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA) important to improve industry in Southeast Asia.

Japan's recommendations are important because the Japan Chambers of Commerce and Industry operate throughout the ASEAN region and experience ASEAN business operations firsthand, Kao said at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/7).

"It is important for us to listen to the issues and concerns that have been raised and formulate them into policy recommendations," Kao said.

The ASEAN Secretary-General continued that the recommendations would be shared with ASEAN member countries and would continue to ensure that the organization would address existing problems at a practical level.

Kao argued that Southeast Asia has so far been the main investment destination for various parties, for that ASEAN needs to ensure that the region remains attractive to foreign investors.

"Japan is one of our main partners who wants to see investment continue," he said.

In addition, Kao argued that Japan has a great interest in the digital economy.

He added that Japan and ASEAN need to focus on training because someone needs to have digital skills to improve the skills of the ASEAN community.

Kao emphasized that the energy transition and circular economy are also top priorities for ASEAN in addition to the digital economy, green economy and blue economy.

"We hope that Japan will continue to make ASEAN a priority for the entry of PMA (Foreign Direct Investment)," said Kao.

Source: Antaranews

VOInews, Jakarta: The Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Department of National Education agreed to strengthen educational cooperation in a bilateral meeting. It is said in a release by the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in Jakarta on Tuesday (16/7/2024).