VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) opens a global vaccine network for the pharmacy industry in Indonesia, Health Ministry's Secretary General Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha stated here on Tuesday.

"CEPI has chosen PT Bio Farma (Persero) to participate in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine after passing the test with positive results," he noted.

CEPI is an international coalition that comprises governments, academicians, philanthropists, and private institutions, with the vision of creating a world free from the threat of epidemics and pandemics.

CEPI aims to expedite the development of vaccine and other biological response against the threat of epidemic and pandemic, so that it can be affordable to everyone in need.

Expediting vaccine development is also undertaken to produce vaccines in a quick and sustainable manner.

CEPI is one of the entities functioning to develop collaborative efforts between global health institutions, Nugraha stated.

To this end, CEPI has placed a strong network at the global level necessary to implement the pandemic response.

"To this end, we appreciate the continued support and strong commitment from CEPI to bolster access to safe and effective vaccine for everyone who need it across the world," he remarked.

Bio Farma, as Indonesian government-owned pharmaceutical company, got the opportunity to play an important role within the global vaccine network under the CEPI mechanism, he noted.

In addition, Pharmacy and Health Device Director General at the Health Ministry Rizka Andalucia was selected to be a member of CEPI's investor board for the 2022-2025 period.

According to Nugraha, Andalucia's current membership shows that Indonesia is viewed in positive light in the international world.

This is also related to Indonesia's strategic role in representing developed countries, or 85 percent of the world's population, with large market potential, and has a strong commitment to develop vaccine research.

Moreover, Andalucia became a representative for countries in the southern region within the board to respond to future global pandemic problems.

"Collaboration with CEPI will open better access for Indonesia to obtain information on the development of vaccine, latest clinical trial, and training for clinical and laboratory trial," he noted.

The ministry deemed the cooperation with CEPI as being important to achieve the target and goal of fair vaccine development.

Nugraha regards solidarity, multilateralism, and collective technological capability as important elements to break free from the health crisis due to excessive pressure to the state health system and lack of access to accurate medical actions.

"Do not only see the lives lost and bad health but also see that this is the moment to strengthen the health system," he remarked. (Antaranews)

Indonesia is hosting the 8th Annual Destination Wedding Planner at the Bali International Convention Center on September 27-29, 2022, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno stated.

Various wedding organizers from different parts of the world were brought together at the event.

“This activity is an opportunity to promote Indonesia as a beautiful and memorable wedding location for couples from various parts of the world looking to elope. Moreover, it is an opportunity to introduce Bali as a luxury wedding reception destination," he noted in a statement on The Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Moreover, Uno's administration was also said to support the 8th Annual Destination Wedding Planner (DWP) Congress that made Bali as one of the leading wedding destinations in the world.

The minister said the purpose of the congress was to increase trust on Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE) in Indonesia, to market Bali and Indonesia as destinations for luxury wedding receptions, and to seek investment opportunities.

"Bali, as a wedding destination, stimulates the local economy, (motivates) wedding organizers, music, accompanying bands, and many more that will benefit from the increase in the number of weddings," Uno remarked.

The tourism director of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions of the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, Masruroh, noted that Bali, as a choice for the congress' location was a request from members of the Destination Wedding Planners (DWP).

Masruroh expects this activity to boost the MICE industry in Indonesia, especially those related to wedding receptions.

"Now, we revive (the wedding industry) with the DWP congress in Bali, because the impact of this congress is tangible, in general, by (wedding reception vendors) in Indonesia," she stated. (Antaranews)

The number of Indonesians who have received the third vaccine dose, or booster dose, reached 62.68 million as of September 19, 2022, according to the COVID-19 Task Force.

As many as 94,159 people received booster doses in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 62,684,925, the task force's data showed on Monday.

The number accounted for 26.72 percent of the government's target of administering booster doses to a total of 234,666,020 people.

Meanwhile, the number of people receiving the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine increased by 18,526 to 170,949,252 people, or 72.85 percent of the total target.

As many as 16,066 people have received the first vaccine shots, bringing the total number to 204,339,563 people or 87.08 percent of the total target.

The government has also administered the second booster shots, or the fourth vaccine dose, to mainly healthcare workers. The authorities administered 4,676 doses in a single day on Monday, bringing the total to 554,430.

Chairperson of the COVID-19 Task Force from the Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB-IDI) Erlina Burhan said COVID-19 the vaccination is crucial to end the pandemic.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the end of the pandemic is in sight," she said.

However, the situation of the positivity rate in Indonesia currently reached 5.77 percent, exceeding the WHO standard of a maximum of 5 percent of a country's population.

To reduce the transmission rate, a minimum of 97 percent vaccination participation is required for the elderly population, people with comorbidities, and healthcare workers.

"The goal is to protect those who are vulnerable, and prevent cases of death, and severe symptoms when infected," she said. (Antaranews)

Sales mission to Australia meeting with MSME - 

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf) continues to strive to increase foreign tourist arrivals, especially Australia as one of the potential market countries. One of these efforts was carried out by facilitating 18 hotel and resort industry players to carry out sales missions to Australia on August 22-25 2023.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno in his statement, in Jakarta (19/9/2022), said the demand or demand for Australian tourists to Bali was very high. This is supported by the easing of most travel requirements, the implementation of improved health and safety standards, new tourism product offerings, and increased efforts to amplify the uniqueness of Balinese culture.

"Kemenparekraf is committed to maximizing the potential of Australian tourists to boost economic revival," said Sandiaga.

The Australian Sales Mission takes the theme #ItsTimeforBali and Explore Beyond Bali. There are several series of activities in the Australian Sales Mission including one on one business meeting, table top meeting, sales call in two cities namely Melbourne and Sydney.

In the table top meeting, Indonesian tourism industry players (sellers) have made presentations and built a network with 150 agents and retailers (buyers) from four main wholesalers in Australia, namely Flight Centre, Helloworld, Bali Tours, and Hoot Holidays.

In addition, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy takes this opportunity to network with other key industry players, namely wholesalers for middle-ups, namely Luxury Escapes and Ignite Holidays, mass customers such as Flight Centre, as well as airlines Virgin Australia and Garuda Indonesia.

This activity was carried out with the mission of increasing the Wonderful Indonesia brand to remain the top of mind for foreign tourists around the world, especially the Australian market.

"Although Bali has become the top of mind for foreign tourists, Indonesia still has many more destinations that are no less amazing than Bali. Call it the natural and cultural beauty in five super priority tourism destinations, namely Borobudur, Likupang, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Lake Toba. which is so magestic," said the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is taking advantage of this tourism revival momentum by introducing three additional destinations, or 'add-ons', in plans for the next Australian tourist vacation to Bali.

First is Labuan Bajo, a coastal city that is the gateway to Komodo National Park, which can be reached by a 90-minute flight from Denpasar. Labuan Bajo has a myriad of amazing allures with Padar Island which is the icon of Labuan Bajo, then Taka Makassar and Kanawa Island which has a very charming underwater beauty.

The second is Lombok, an alternative for those seeking tranquility and a comfortable family vacation by the beach which can be reached by 90 minutes fast boat or 40 minutes flight from Denpasar.

And finally, Borobudur, a paradise for history and culture lovers that can be combined with a day trip to Yogyakarta, the city that is the soul of Javanese culture. Borobudur is a combination of tropical vacation and anti-mainstream culture. This destination can be reached only by a 90-minute flight to Yogyakarta.

In 2019, before the pandemic hit, as many as 1.4 million foreign tourists from Australia visited Indonesia, of which 1.2 million or around 85 percent visited Bali. Of the number who visited Bali, only 16 percent traveled beyond Bali.

Since the pandemic conditions improved and international travel re-opened in March 2022, the number of Australian foreign tourists visiting Indonesia has continued to experience a significant increase, reaching 118,347 visits from January to June 2022.

"Through this sales mission, it is expected to be able to bring in 3.6 million tourists with an income equivalent to US$1.7 billion," said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga//VOI