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National airlines will increase flights from Jakarta to Belitung to support the G20 Development Working Group (DWG) meeting in Belitung Island, Bangka Belitung Islands, on September 7-9, 2022, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) stated.

"The flight frequency on the Jakarta-Belitung route will be increased during the period from September 5 to September 11, 2022," Bappenas' Deputy for Development Funding Scenaider Clasein Hasudungan Siahaan stated here on Monday.

The national airlines that will increase the frequency of flights are Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia, Citilink Indonesia, and Sriwijaya Air.

"The H.A.S Hanandjoeddin Airport in Tanjung Pandan, Belitung, is ready to assist in ensuring success of the G20 event in Belitung Island," he affirmed.

The G20 is an international forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union that work together to handle major issues. Indonesia is holding the G20 Presidency this year.

Deputy Head of Belitung District Isyak Meirobie said the increase in flights is aimed at supporting the implementation of G20 event in the district.

"Currently, we only have four domestic flights per day from and to Belitung," he remarked.

According to Meirobie, the additional flights are expected to increase tourist visits to the region.

"During the G20 event, we organize many side events in Belitung to attract tourists and support the local economy. If we only have limited flights, then it is possible that the number of visitors will decline," he stated.

Earlier, on Sunday (August 21), Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Head of Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa remarked that 22 countries had, so far, confirmed to have both registered and informally notified of their attendance at the G20 DWG in Belitung.

Several countries will also attend the meeting by considering aspects, such as flights, security, and accommodation.

"Some countries want direct flights from Singapore. Hence, we have communicated with the minister of transportation, so that flights from Singapore to Belitung can be reopened," he stated.  (Antaranews)

 Implementation of the 3rd Health Working Group (HWG) in Bali brought up several issues in an effort to build a more equal global health system, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated.

"We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and fabricate the global health system to become more equal," the minister remarked in Bali, Monday.

The 3rd HWG is part of the G20's Sherpa Track that is focused on global health architecture. The 3rd HWG meeting will be held on August 22–24, 2022, in Bali, with discussions mainly centering on efforts to increase vaccine production and research networks and manufacturers.

Sadikin noted that the pandemic prompted several countries to strengthen their pharmaceutical research and manufacturing capabilities in a sustainable manner.

Although various scientific findings during the pandemic were relatively fast, he believes that access to vaccines and other medical measures in various countries was not equal.

"With a single vaccination rate averaging 80 percent in high-income countries versus 20 percent in low-income countries," he added.

Sadikin believes that the G20 has an important role to play in overcoming this inequality, including through the 3rd HWG diplomacy meeting in Bali.

At the event, which will be attended by a delegation comprising deputy officials at the G20 Ministry of Health level as well as several health experts, the minister will raise three main issues.

The first issue to be brought up pertains to Indonesia's diplomacy in seeking G20 support for the establishment of manufacturing networks and research hubs for all low- and middle-income countries to address the global capacity gap.

"Second, we will discuss mechanisms that can be made by G20 members to facilitate capacity building for knowledge sharing and technology transfer to low- and middle-income countries," he stated.

Third, Indonesia will explore cooperation in multicenter clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries, he said.  (Antaranews)

Indonesia's most valuable asset is its human resources, according to Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Bintang Puspayoga.

"For a country, its most valuable resources are not gas, oil, or mining products but the most valuable resource is human resources," Puspayoga stated here Sunday.

The minister believes that as no country can develop itself without quality human resources, positive activities for young adults, such as marriage and pregnancy planning, must be promoted.

She highlighted that Generation Planning Ambassadors designated by the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) must collaborate with the ministry's Children's Forum to promote the dangers of child marriage, free sex, and drug abuse.

"The presence of Generation Planning Ambassadors, aged between 10 to 24 years old, that have spread to the village level is effective because they could promote (generation planning) to their peers and ensure the information is received by the younger generation," the minister noted.

Puspayoga, who was designated as the Mother of National Generation Planning, expects that generation planning efforts and the Children's Forum can expedite efforts to achieve a child-friendly Indonesia by 2030 and Golden Indonesia Vision by 2045.

She also expressed hope that Generation Planning Ambassadors can persevere with their oath to fervently promote reproductive health from a younger age in their community.

"They are complementing each other to move and synergize together to achieve advanced and competitive human resources," she remarked while referring to generation planning ambassadors.

Meanwhile, BKKBN Chairperson Hasto Wardoyo remarked that Puspayoga was appointed as the Mother of National Generation Planning based on her personality and firm commitment to supporting teenagers to grow as physically and mentally advanced people.

"Minister Puspayoga is consistent (in her efforts) to encourage teenagers to be mindful of the child marriage issue," he stated. (Antaranews)

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the government is formulating a price adjustment scheme to reduce the burden of fuel subsidies and compensation in the state budget.

Pandjaitan said in a statement here on Sunday that the high price of world crude oil had pushed up the gap between the economic price and the selling price of Pertalite and diesel fuel and had an impact on increasing subsidies and energy compensation.

To date, the state budget has covered energy subsidies and compensation of Rp502 trillion. Without any policy adjustments, this figure could increase to more than Rp550 trillion by the end of the year.

"The government is still calculating several scenarios for adjusting subsidies and energy compensation by taking into account the impact on the community," he said .

However, he emphasized that the price of fuel in Indonesia is relatively cheaper than the majority of countries in the world.

Pandjaitan said that the government is also conducting scenario simulation of volume limitation.

"The government will continue to encourage the use of the MyPertamina application to obtain accurate data before the restriction is implemented," he said.

However, he ensured that the government would consider this plan very carefully.

Changes in policies of energy subsidy and compensation will later need to take into account several factors such as the inflation rate, fiscal conditions, as well as economic recovery.

This is very important to maintain the stability of the country in the midst of global uncertainty.

"The budget for energy subsidies and compensation can later be diverted to other sectors that are more in need and people who are less able to receive compensation programs," he said

The government will also take other steps such as accelerating B40 and adopting electric vehicles In an effort to reduce subsidies and energy compensation.

"What needs to be remembered is that the final decision remains with the President. However, the first step that needs to be taken is to ensure that Pertamina's supply of Pertalite and Solar continues to be distributed smoothly," Pandjaitan said. (Antaranews)