VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received a visit from Eswatini King, King Mswati III, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday, to discuss efforts to increase economic cooperation in the health, tourism, infrastructure, and energy sectors.

"This visit is actually a combination of (the king's) holiday visit, but it is also used by the King of Eswatini to hold a meeting with the president to discuss efforts in increasing cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic sector," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, who was present at the meeting, explained.

Marsudi said that since the last meeting of the two heads of state in 2019, an Indonesian company engaged in the wellness spa health sub-sector has been developing in Eswatini.

She added that the existence of an Indonesian wellness company in Estawini initiated other forms of cooperation.

"At the meeting, The King of Eswatini said that the wellness spa company in Eswatini plans to import Indonesian cosmetic products," she stated.

In addition, President Jokowi discussed how the private sector and state-owned enterprises of the two countries can establish closer partnership.

According to the plan, Marsudi said, the two countries will sign a cooperation agreement to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the economic field.

"Two foreign ministers (of Indonesia and Estawini) are tasked with preparing the document (for strengthening economic cooperation)," she said.

"Although the talks were brief, they focused on efforts to increase economic cooperation, including in the fields of infrastructure, energy, tourism, and also health," the foreign minister added.

King Mswati III's visit to Indonesia this year was not his first one, as he had visited Indonesia in 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2015, and 2019.

At the meeting, Jokowi was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, while King Mswati III was accompanied by Eswatini Foreign Minister Thulisile Dladla.  (Antaranews)

All parties are urged to strengthen collaboration and cooperation to address climate change and its adverse impacts, an official stated.

“We must strengthen collaboration and cooperation among participants, with a view to addressing our common challenges. The South China Sea region is definitely not immune to climate change and its adverse impacts, such as the rising sea levels and impacts on coastal communities,” Head of the Foreign Policy Strategy Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yayan G.H. Mulyana stated during the opening of the 31st Workshop on Managing Potential Conflict in the South China Sea here, Wednesday.

Several coastal Asian cities are at risk from sea level rise and extreme sea levels. During the 1989-2014 period, extreme sea level disasters caused losses amounting to US$11.7 billion, resulted in 156 deaths, and affected 13.4 million people.

"To properly address the issue, we need to understand that we are in the same boat and must work together to change for a better future," Mulyana affirmed.

Climate change and the pandemic have been disrupting the global supply chain that also slows down the global economy.

"As one-third of the global trade occurs through South China Sea, we need to tackle these challenges. We must work together for maximizing the use of science, data, technology, and innovation," he said.

"It is within this context, the 17th Working Group Meeting on the Study of Tides and Sea Level Change and Their Impacts on Coastal Environment in the South China Sea and the 31st Workshop on Managing Potential Conflict in the South China Sea provide an important platform for the sharing of experiences and project proposals on the study of tides and sea level change and its impact on the coastal environment in the South China Sea," he remarked.

It is also within this context, the Organizing Committee is keen to invite all participants to visit the “Mangrove Nature Park" in North Jakarta to offer a broader understanding on how the private sector and the Government of Jakarta actively join hands in addressing the effects of land subsidence and sea level rise by protecting the coastal areas from aggressive abrasion, Mulyana affirmed.

In addition, all parties must continue to nurture a habit of conversation, dialog, and collaborations to pave the way for the future generation.

"With rapid changes in the social and political landscapes, the best way to prevent potential conflicts is by conducting constant and continuous dialogue and communication, through which we are able to create viable and joint solutions," he stated. (Antaranews)

More than 22 million micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) have connected to the digital ecosystem through the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS), Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Perry Warjiyo stated.

"QRIS is used in all places across the country, including in Islamic boarding schools. It is mostly used by MSMEs," Warjiyo remarked at the 6th Annual Islamic Finance Conference monitored online here on Wednesday.

According to the central bank governor, the number of QRIS users would continue to increase.

QRIS is a standardization of payments using the QR Code method from BI, so that the transaction process with QR Code becomes easier, faster, and safer.

Warjiyo said QRIS expansion should be conducted as part of digitization of the payment system by the central bank.

In addition to QRIS, BI has developed BI-FAST, a retail payment system needed by MSMEs to increase cash flow through BI's real time payment, with efficient services offered round the clock.

Customers will be able to make interbank money transfers of up to Rp250 million per transaction (some US$17,000), with a charge of only Rp2,500 (some US$0.17) per transaction.

"With this fast payment, MSMEs' cash flow will move faster, and the waiting time to get buyers' money is far shorter," he elaborated.

BI also offers other forms of digitization in the payment system through digital banking, financial technology (fintech), e-commerce, electronification of social program, and other forms of digitization, Warjiyo stated.  (Antaranews)

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has emphasized that Indonesia must remain vigilant against further challenges in the future despite having proven its capability to address past and ongoing crises properly.

"Our nation needs to be thankful for the achievements we have had despite various challenges, such as positive economic growth, manageable inflation rate, and trade balance surplus. Nevertheless, we must remain vigilant to more challenges ahead," he said in his remarks, which were delivered online, at the XXII Plenary Session and National Seminar of the Indonesian Bachelor of Economics Association (ISEI) here on Wednesday.

He highlighted the inflation rate in European countries and the United States, which has crossed eight percent, as one of the ongoing global challenges that Indonesia will need to face.

At the same time, Indonesia will also need to address the decline in the industry sector’s contribution to the national gross domestic product (GDP) since the start of the 2000s, he said.

He suggested optimizing the development of economic sectors that can increase product value to address domestic economic challenges.

"Hence, the intensification of the value-added economy will be our homework in the future. Reindustrialization is inevitable," Amin remarked.

He also highlighted the need for enhancing food and energy self-sufficiency, which will become the national backbone in ensuring wealth distribution throughout Indonesia.

In the pursuit of economic growth, equal distribution of development through the provision of economy, education, healthcare, and technological infrastructures is also essential to ensure that economic growth can be enjoyed by all residents, the Vice President said.

Indonesia's capability to address past challenges must be a valuable lesson to face future challenges, he added.

"History taught us that Indonesia can escape the 2008 crisis well and the economy also gradually recovering. I believe that social and economic issues we are facing right now can be addressed properly with our experience and knowledge," Amin remarked.  (Antaranews)