VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) will continue to focus on health research and innovation activities for the handling and mitigation of COVID-19, BRIN Head Laksana Tri Handoko has said.

"At this time, BRIN still centers its focus on health research related to handling COVID-19, because, as we know, this pandemic is not over yet, although we all certainly hope this will end soon," he remarked at a virtual event entitled 'Health and Food Research and Innovation 2021' originating from here on Tuesday.

Specifically, the focus of BRIN's research on overcoming COVID-19 lies in three things: the independent development of the COVID-19 vaccine, development of non-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection tools, and COVID-19 case surveillance tool, Handoko informed.

Hence, he said he hopes that BRIN researchers can soon produce vaccine seeds that can be handed over to pharmaceutical industries for mass production in 2022.

"There are still many challenges, but, of course, all the researchers at BRIN and other teams are working hard on the Merah Putih vaccine," he added.

According to Handoko, the development of a variety of non-PCR detection tools is necessary because COVID-19 detection is one of the most strategic instruments for preventing large-scale virus transmission.

Meanwhile, he said, surveillance is being carried out based on whole-genome sequencing. It has actually been done by BRIN researchers, especially those from Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology and Cibinong Science Center, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

"Until next year, these are still our main research goals. Thus, we hope our researchers will be able to develop vaccine seeds that are categorized as CPOB or the method of producing a good drug," Handoko added.  (Antaranews)

A vaccine certificate and a negative COVID-19 test result will be compulsory for domestic travel during the Christmas and New Year holidays, Head of Health Handling at the COVID-19 Task Force Alexander Ginting said.

"COVID-19 Task Force Circular Number 24 of 2021 regulates activities for the Christmas and New Year periods for domestic travel across city/district administrative border using private or public transportation," he informed on Tuesday.

The PCR test should be taken 3x24 hours and the rapid antigen test 1x24 hours prior to departure, he said.

"Persons on long-distance personal trips from Java to Bali can use PCR or antigen test, and they must have received a vaccination," he added.

All domestic travelers using private or public transportation will need to show a certificate showing they have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Ginting said.

The provisions are contained in the circular letter of the COVID-19 Task Force, which has been derived from the implementation of the Instruction of Home Affairs Minister (Inmendagri)  No. 63 of 2021 concerning the Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities Level 3, Level 2, and Level 1 in the Java and Bali regions, he added.

As per the regulation, all districts/cities in Indonesia are required to form a COVID-19 Handling Task Force to maximize the surveillance of travelers during the year-end holidays, he said.

"The task force will not only (conduct surveillance) in public spaces, markets, and tourist attractions but also in urban villages, sub-districts, and districts," Ginting informed.

Meanwhile, the regulation for odd-even vehicle plates will be implemented in agglomeration areas, provincial capitals, and tourist areas, according to the regulation from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In addition, the government will cap vehicle capacity at 50 percent for land, air, and sea transportation, Ginting noted.

However, different provisions will apply to drivers of logistics vehicles transporting essential and daily needs, he said.

"They are required to bring a complete dose of vaccine certificate and show a negative result of rapid antigen test, valid for 1x24 hours from the time the sample is taken," he informed.

Logistics drivers transporting essential and daily needs, such as raw food materials, construction equipment, and fuel oil, and who have not been vaccinated will be obliged to show a negative antigen test result taken 1x24 hours prior to departure, Ginting added.  (Antaranews)

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said that her ministry has been expediting efforts to increase the market share and role of the sharia economy in the national economy.

"So far, the Finance Ministry has taken steps to increase the share and role of the Islamic economy in the Indonesian economy," she informed at a press conference here on Tuesday.

Indrawati said the first step taken by the Finance Ministry was to support the state Islamic securities instruments so that Indonesia became the main issuer of sharia-compliant bonds (Sukuk) in the global market.

Moreover, the development of sharia securities in retail is improving as the number of investors, most of whom are millennials, is also increasing, she noted.

In addition, the Finance Ministry has issued the Finance Ministerial Regulation Number 57 of 2021 for small and medium enterprises developing halal products so that they are not troubled with tariffs in obtaining halal certification, she added.

She also said that budget-wise, the state budget is also supporting the Halal Product Guarantee Agency in guiding MSME players with regards to halal products.

"So, aside from setting the zero-rupiah (tariff) for small and medium businesses, we are also providing state budget support so that the certification can be provided in a consistent and credible manner," she elaborated.

The ministry has also been providing support to MSMEs through existing tools, such as ultra-micro financing, which currently has a special market share for halal products, Indrawati said.

"So that in this case, we will also include financial inclusion at the smallest level, which is, of course, the (aim of the) micro-credit program, (implemented in collaboration) with Mister Coordinating Minister, Airlangga. We will develop for the sharia share," the minister remarked.  (Antaranews)

The Communication and Informatics Ministry held discussions with players of the digital healthcare industry to optimize public health services through digital spaces and the potential of digital economy in Indonesia.

“The discussion aims to accommodate the inputs from industrial actors. Thus, the future policies issued by the government can support development of the industry, including the digital healthcare one," Communication and Informatics Minister, Johnny G. Plate, stated here on Tuesday.

The discussion was held through the Digital Economy Forum implemented for the third time.

The forum was initiated by the Directorate of Digital Economy of Directorate General of Informatics Applications at the ministry as an official communication platform between the government and digital industry players to discuss, collaborate, and prepare anticipatory steps for development of the digital economy ecosystem.

In addition, developing the digital economy is one of the ministry’s attempts to make the most of the digital infrastructure built in Indonesia in accordance with the directives of President Joko Widodo.

Furthermore, the minister has noted that in 2021, Indonesia's digital economy is estimated to grow to reach $70 billion, or equivalent to Rp1,000 trillion.

On account of the huge potential of the country's digital ecosystem, Indonesia is projected to earn US$146 billion, or equivalent to Rp2,090 trillion, in 2025.

The huge figure will be obtained from various digital services that are currently developing.

“In addition to building extensive telecommunication infrastructure and optimizing THE digital space, we must advance development of the downstream sectors, such as the digital healthcare, to be utilized widely," Plate stated.

The discussion was attended by 45 start-up companies that were developers in the digital healthcare industry.

In-depth discussions regarding the benefits of digital healthcare development on the economic and social aspects can offer insights to Indonesian people of the positive impacts of using health services in the digital space.  (Antaranews)