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Herbert Siagian, Expert Staff for Productivity and Competitiveness to the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (ANTARA/HO-Kemenkop UKM)

VOINews, Jakarta: The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (Kemenkop UKM) has emphasized the crucial role that universities play in enhancing the quality and quantity of entrepreneurs in the country by incorporating entrepreneurship into their academic curricula.

"Universities can also contribute by establishing entrepreneurial incubators, organizing entrepreneurship events for students, and forming partnerships with private and governmental sectors," stated Herbert Siagian, Expert Staff for Productivity and Competitiveness to the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

As reported by AntaraHe noted that universities in Indonesia need to take an active role in fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem, which will positively impact the development of the national economy.

In addition to increasing the entrepreneurial ratio, Siagian believes that by implementing these academic programs, a conducive business climate and optimal business ecosystem can be cultivated, with a target to achieve a 12 percent entrepreneurial ratio by 2045.

To optimize the increase in the domestic entrepreneurial ratio, Kemenkop UKM also provides incentives, strengthens stakeholder synergy, and fosters an entrepreneurial ecosystem that leverages the demographic bonus.

"This is where entrepreneurship based on creativity, innovation, and digital technology becomes essential. The government is therefore pushing to create 1 million new entrepreneurs among the youth to increase the entrepreneurial ratio to 3.23 percent by 2024," he added.

Meanwhile, Member of the House of Representatives Commission VI Siti Mukaromah encouraged the implementation of curricula that foster an entrepreneurial spirit, thereby accelerating entrepreneurial capabilities and driving Indonesia's economic growth.

"We need to collaborate and support MSMEs in terms of digitalization, formal legality, and enhancing production both in quantity and quality," Siti stated.

Previously, the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki, reported the ministry's performance for 2023, including the creation of 821,556 new entrepreneurs.

Teten noted that these 821,556 new entrepreneurs were created through 320 activities conducted by 27 ministries/agencies. By 2024, the target is to create 1 million new entrepreneurs./Antara/VOI

VOI News, Jakarta:  The Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights  conveyed that the Immigration added 100 personnel at the immigration checkpoint (TPI) at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta) to handle crossing system-related problems. This was pointed out by  Director General of Immigration, Silmy  Karim in a written statement from his office on Friday (21/6).

"The crossing system at airports and ports has not been able to operate normally. We added personnel at immigration checkpoints to overcome this situation," Silmy Karim.

On the same day, Karim also directly checked the queues and crossing service systems at Terminal 3 of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Some 100 personnel were added to address the issue of long queues due to problems with immigration services that were affected by disruptions to the National Data Center (PDN) of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics.

"The immigration counters at all international arrival terminals had been handled by officers. Shortly, we will add additional counters as well," he explained.

Until Friday evening, the queue at the TPI at Soekarno-Hatta Airport was more controlled as compared to Thursday, the first day of the PDN disruption. Karim stated that a special line for Hajj pilgrims in the arrival area was also opened to reduce queues.

Meanwhile, immigration checks were still conducted manually. He explained that the officer stamps the passport by writing down the date, time, flight number, and officer's initials, along with documentation.

For foreign nationals, visa numbers and the length of stay are also recorded. Apart from that, Karim ensured that the banned passenger system could operate.

"To anticipate the passage of passengers who are on the banned list, the passenger analysis unit system has been operating to verify each passenger using cameras at every immigration counter," he highlighted. (Antara)

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia's economy continues to grow amid the global economic slowdown. Recorded in the first quarter of 2024, national economic growth reached 5.11% (yoy). A number of strategies have also been pursued by the Government, including using a flexible, responsive, and accommodative fiscal and monetary policy mix, encouraging consumption and investment, not least through improving business relations between Indonesia and the European Union through the European Chamber of Commerce or EuroCham.

"In line with our efforts to improve the investment climate, Indonesia has taken steps to increase tax incentives to attract foreign and domestic investment to the country," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said at the European Business Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) in Indonesia 20th Anniversary Night Gala Dinner in Jakarta, Wednesday (19/06).

It is known that EuroCham is celebrating its 20th anniversary as well as commemorating EuroCham's long-term contribution in improving business relations between Indonesia and the EU which has contributed to the development of Indonesia's national economy. The European Union (EU) and its member states are among the parties that play an important role in Indonesia's foreign trade and investment. In 2023, total trade was recorded at USD30.8 billion and EU investment in Indonesia over the past five years (2019-2023) reached USD12.1 billion.

To optimise and enhance the potential for higher economic cooperation, Indonesia's CEPA negotiations with the EU are also being accelerated and substantially completed. Once the agreement is finalised, the partnership between Indonesia and the EU is expected to be at a new level with the ability to facilitate and create new market access, increase trade between the EU and Indonesia, and expand direct investment. "All of these negotiations are very important for both parties, and President Joko Widodo has also directed that this agreement be reached quickly, so that it can increase investment, and provide greater welfare to the community," Airlangga explained.

The Gala Dinner was held by EuroCham to celebrate the cooperation that has been established so far between Indonesia and the European Union. "The theme of tonight's Gala Dinner is 'Igniting Two Decades of Excellence' which is also in line with Indonesia's transformative journey to achieve momentum towards the Golden Indonesia 2045. We hope that the EU, especially EuroCham, can be Indonesia's partner in achieving this vision by providing access to new markets, technology, and investment opportunities through strong collaboration," said Airlangga.

In addition, Indonesia became the first ASEAN member to start the OECD accession process, and potentially the third OECD member in Asia after Japan and Korea. The OECD accession process is expected to catalyse the formulation or improvement of superior policies and regulations. "Thailand will also follow, and our entry from Southeast Asia will make the OECD stronger, because the OECD needs global south partners like us. For that, concrete steps must be taken and I expect the European business world to work together in the future, so that EuroCham's contribution to Indonesia is expected to remain loud and clear," Airlangga concluded.

Source: Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs