VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 At least 40 percent of the Indonesian population has the potential to be unproductive, Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) Hasto Wardoyo revealed in Medan on Wednesday.

"Our (proportion of) non-optimal generation is (projected to reach) almost 40 percent. The biggest (factor behind this) is stunting, so when we reduce stunting, we would have reduced the heaviest factor for the quality of our human resources," Wardoyo explained.

He emphasized that the Indonesian population faces many serious threats that can interfere with the goal of realizing a quality generation nationwide.

Based on BKKBN data, the biggest problems faced by the Indonesian population are stunting (24.4 percent), mental-emotional disorders (9.8 percent), psychotropic and narcotic substance addiction (5 percent), disability (3 percent), and autism (1 percent).

Another problem is that a number of provinces will begin to experience the transition to aging population soon, with 80 percent of them not graduating junior high school.

"The aging population will happen in 2035, in general, 80 percent of (them) would not have graduated from junior high school so they would not be productive," he said.

If all problems are not addressed properly, the country will not enjoy the demographic bonus in 2045, Wardoyo cautioned.

Meanwhile, the central government has conducted efforts in line with the issuance of Presidential Regulation No. 72 of 2021 on the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction and the National Action Plan for the Acceleration of Reducing Indonesia's Stunting Rate (RAN PASTI).

Unfortunately, the BKKBN has found that food assistance for pregnant women and complementary food for babies, such as fortified biscuits, has not yet reached families in need in some areas.

Further, the absorption of the Special Allocation Fund for Family Planning Operational Assistance (DAK BOKB) in cities and districts is still low, he said.

"We ask to accelerate fund absorption from BKKBN at Family Planning Office," he added.  (Antaranews)

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and her United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart, Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussed bilateral cooperation at a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in Bali.

During the closed meeting, they discussed various bilateral issues, especially the follow-up to the visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Abu Dhabi on July 1, 2022.

"Specifically, we discussed cooperation in the development of the new capital city (IKN), and other cooperation in the fields of health, aviation, and mangrove development," the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a written statement on Wednesday.

At the opening of the meeting, Minister Abdullah said that Indonesia was among the priority partner countries of the UAE.

Indonesia is playing an important role in the region and the world, as demonstrated by President Widodo's recent visits to Ukraine and Russia, he noted.

In addition to bilateral issues, the two foreign ministers discussed various regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the development of the situation in Ukraine and efforts to restore the food supply chain.

They also discussed issues that are currently under the attention of the United Nations Security Council (UN), considering that the UAE is currently a non-permanent member of the council.

In particular, Foreign Minister Marsudi expressed her appreciation for the UAE's support for the Indonesian presidency of the G20.

Investors and entrepreneurs from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have expressed optimism about the prospects for cooperation with Indonesia in projects, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir had informed earlier.

After President Widodo met with UAE investors at a hotel in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, last week, Thohir said, “They are very optimistic to work together on several projects that can be synergized between the two countries.”

During the dialogue, four important topics were discussed by President Widodo and UAE investors and entrepreneurs, he added.

The first was air logistics, where Indonesia and UAE can be mutually beneficial partners amid the current uncertainty in logistics and supply chains, he pointed out.

The second discussion point was the new national capital (IKN), Nusantara, where it is necessary to build a city that aligns with the rapid economic and population growth, Thohir said.

The government needs to prepare a futuristic city for residents who are currently mostly young, the SOEs Minister added.

"It is impossible that the 50 million young Indonesians to enter (to live in) old cities. Of course, with renewable technology, we must prepare a future city. The UAE itself, Abu Dhabi, is very optimistic to view this as something good because it sees other world major cities which are also the center of economic growth of each country," he said.

Third, the meeting also discussed the development of marine tourism in the context of the blue economy.

President Widodo wants blue economic development to help protect Indonesia's nature, not just exploit it, Thohir said.

UAE’s National Security Advisor, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan; G42 CEO Peng Xiao; Abu Dhabi Holding CEO, Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi; and LuLu Group executive director, Ashraf Ali, had attended the meeting.  (antaranews)

Vice President (Vice President) Ma'ruf Amin, arrived in Medina, Saudi Arabia, to undergo the 1443 Hijri pilgrimage series, Tuesday (5/7/2022).

After traveling the Jakarta-Medina route for approximately nine hours, the Garuda Indonesia Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft carrying Vice President Maruf Amin, along with his wife Wury Ma'ruf Amin, arrived at the Royal Terminal Medina at 14:20 Saudi Arabian Time.

Quoted from a press release, upon arrival at the Royal Terminal Madinah, the Vice President and his entourage were greeted by military honorary troops from the Saudi Arabian government.

"Under the plane's steps, there is a row of honor that welcomes the Vice President and Mrs. Hj. Wury Ma'ruf Amin. In this row were the Deputy Governor of Madinah Wahib Bin Muhammad Alsihli, Ambassador of the Indonesian LBBP in Riyadh Abdul Aziz Ahmad, Defense Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh Putut Witjaksono Hadi and Immigration Technical Staff Ahmad Zaini," said the official statement from the Vice President's Secretariat (Setwapres) quoted by RRI.co.id, Wednesday (06/07/2022).

"In addition, there were also ranks of military honorary troops from the Saudi Arabian government in this welcome," the statement continued.

After a brief chat at the Royal Terminal Madiah, the Vice President and his entourage continued their journey to the Hilton Medina Hotel.

"Furthermore, the Vice President and his limited entourage made preparations to perform the Maghrib Prayer, a pilgrimage to the Prophet's Grave and Raudah and Isha Prayers," the statement added.

For the next seven days or so, the Vice President and Mrs. Hj. Wury Ma'ruf Amin will carry out the entire series of worship in Medina and Mecca.

"In the midst of hot weather in the country, don't forget the Vice President and his entourage continue to maintain stamina and apply strict health protocols, in accordance with the rules from the Saudi Arabian government," concluded the statement from the Indonesian Setwapres.

As previously reported, the Vice President left for Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, to perform the hajj pilgrimage at the invitation of the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

"Today the Vice President together with Mrs. Wury Ma'ruf Amin paid a visit to Saudi Arabia. In this case, the Vice President received an invitation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to carry out the Hajj procession. This year, Hajj Akbar is exact, so it's Friday in Arafah. And God willing, the Vice President and his entourage will carry out the hajj procession, "said Masduki.

Masduki said that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud's invitation for Vice President was conveyed through the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Esam A. Abid Althagafi.

"This invitation was delivered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on June 9 at which time the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia came to the residence of the Vice President," he explained. (RRI)

President Joko Widodo inspects the project to improve the structure of the Laehuwa-Ombolata-Tumula-Faekhuna'a road in North Nias Regency, North Sumatra, Wednesday (6/7/2022). The road infrastructure development is intended for inter-regional connectivity on Nias Island.

President Jokowi said the government is targeting the construction of national road infrastructure in Nias to be completed next year.

"For this national road, the circumference is only 16 kilometers, God willing, next year everything will be completed because this really has to be made a new road," said the President, when giving a statement after conducting the review.

In addition to national roads, the President is also paying attention to the construction of provincial and district/city road axis.

For provincial and district/city road construction projects, the President said, the regional government together with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) will handle it directly.

“Then the provincial road should be handled by the Governor immediately. Then the district, which I asked the Regent earlier, because the ability of the APBD is not possible, so the Ministry of Public Works will take care of it later," he continued.

The President hopes that improving the road structure can increase economic growth on Nias Island, so that regional commodities such as coconut and fish can compete in the market.

In addition, according to the President, road construction is also expected to have an impact on tourism on Nias Island.

"This includes tourism, because surfing here is very good and very attractive," said the President.

The work to improve the structure of the Laehuwa-Ombulata-Tumula-Faekhuna'a road in 2022 is carried out with a budget of Rp. 32.36 billion.

This section is a fin road that connects the West Ring and East Ring of Nias, from North Nias to Gunung Sitoli City on Nias Island.

Also accompanying the President in the review were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Governor of North Sumatra Edy Rahmayadi, and Regent of North Nias Amizaro Waruwu. (RRI)