VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi is optimistic that trade between Indonesia and Australia would make progress again under the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IA-CEPA).

The minister noted that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade value in 2020 had recorded a drop of 8.8-percent, or equal to US$7.1 billion.

"There was an 8.8-percent drop. However, trade value between the two countries during the period from January to June 2021 had increased by 65 percent as compared to that during the corresponding period last year, which means it had increased significantly," the minister stated during a press conference with Australian Minister of Trade, Tourism, and Investment Dan Tehan here on Wednesday.

Minister Lutfi noted that the figures were good signs for both countries, which indicated that Indonesia-Australia trade will rebound.

"This is a good sign, and we want to do more to improve it and make history together," he affirmed.

Lutfi also acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic posed a major obstacle in intensifying trade between Indonesia and Australia, as the IA-CEPA negotiations were held.

However, Lutfi affirmed that Indonesia and Australia will be able to overcome the obstacles together and recover the trade after the two countries' borders reopen later.

Meanwhile, Minister Dan Tehan is also looking forward to immediately increasing economic cooperation to be more comprehensive, especially in the investment sector.

"I think what we want to see is real growth in investment relations, which is the Australian investment in Indonesia," Tehan remarked.

Tehan sees huge potential for investment in Indonesia's sectors, including education, renewable energy, minerals, and rare earth metals.

The minister also believes that Australia can contribute to the development of electric cars in Indonesia.

"We are very confident of being a supplier of some key materials that will help Indonesia develop electric vehicles, so those are some matters I think we need to work on," he added. (Antaranews)

The World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, and developed countries have praised Indonesia for its success in curbing COVID-19 cases, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung has said.

The COVID-19 curve in Indonesia is currently flattening, he noted while inaugurating and swearing-in 85 administrators and supervisory officials of the Cabinet Secretariat.

“Right now, our daily cases are quite low, but I ask you to keep following the health protocols,” he said at the ceremony, which was broadcast on the official website of the Cabinet Secretariat and accessed from Jakarta on Tuesday.

Indonesia added 2,057 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the total tally to 4,211,460 since the country reported its first confirmed cases in March 2020, according to the COVID-19 Response Task Force.

Meanwhile, 124 people died of the infection on Tuesday, bringing the total death toll to 141,709, it reported.

With 3,511 patients recovering from the infection, the number of recoveries rose to 4,031,099, it said.

During the ceremony on Tuesday, Pramono asked his rank and file to stay disciplined in following the health protocols, including wearing face masks, keeping physical distance, and washing hands.

He also asked newly-inaugurated officials to perform their duties properly.

“You are surely aware that you work in the center of state power. Therefore, you must work seriously and take this responsibility as well as possible,” he remarked.

"The Cabinet Secretariat rank and file must give their best services to the Indonesian President and Vice President to run the Cabinet," he added.  (Antaranews)

The World Bank has lowered its forecast for Indonesia's economic growth for this year to 3.7 percent from April's prediction of 4.4 percent citing the recent increase in COVID-19 Delta variant cases.

"The government's capacity to implement intelligent strategies is important. The 3T method can tackle the Delta variant that is very contagious," World Bank's chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific region, Aaditya Mattoo, said during a briefing here on Tuesday.

According to Mattoo, the vaccination program is key to restoring the economy not only in Indonesia but also in other countries in East Asia and the Pacific region.

In the next few months, vaccination coverage will reach 60 percent of the population in many countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, which are predicted to reach their target by the first half of 2022, he added.

"Hopefully, Indonesia and the Philippines can reach the target by the middle of next year," he remarked.

Furthermore, Mattoo explained that achieving the vaccination target would signal that community mobility is ready to restart so that the economy can be normalized and recovered.

However, he warned that vaccination alone will not be enough because there are countries that have a high number of vaccinated people, but their economy is still heavily impacted.

Therefore, he suggested that testing, tracing, and isolation (3T) continue to be carried out by the government and asked the public to keep complying with the health protocols.

The World Bank has also predicted a growth of 5.2 percent for the Indonesian economy in 2022, he informed. Meanwhile, by 2023, it can reach 5.1 percent, he added.

"That growth can increase by about 4.5-5 percent in the next few years, supported by macroeconomic policies," he explained.

In addition to vaccination, Mattoo said, economic growth can also be achieved through other endeavors, which are supportive macroeconomic policies, reforms, and new laws.

"The new law is also the reason why we are optimistic," he remarked. (Antaranews)

The People's Republic of China's Consul-General in Denpasar, Bali, Zhu Xinglong, on Tuesday expressed the hope for continued Chinese-Indonesia friendship after decades of productive cooperation between the two countries.

"We hope China and Indonesia would consolidate their friendship and continue their cooperation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," Zhu said at the virtual commemoration of the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, held in Denpasar on Tuesday.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected countries in the world equally and has also had an impact on global health and economy, he noted.

China has urged the international community, including Indonesia, to join hands and collaborate to defeat the common enemy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and restore the global economy, Zhu said.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the Bali Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), Nyoman Adi Wiryatama, congratulated the Consulate-General on the 72nd anniversary of the People's Republic of China and expressed hope for continued friendship and mutual support amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

"International relations is essential for any country in the world, as it is the medium to fulfill national goals to bring prosperity to the people and to achieve world peace," he said.

The current amicable relations with China would be beneficial for Indonesia, as China is one of Indonesia's major partners in the global community, Wiryatama pointed out.

Indonesia holds a strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region and the Malacca Strait, and the country also has rich natural and mineral resources that could be beneficial for Indonesia-China relations, he added.

"With a total population of more than 243 million, Indonesia is a potential market for industrial countries, particularly China. Our amicable relations with China have been shown by our mutual support on infrastructure development and COVID-19 vaccine procurement," the regional assembly speaker said. (Antaranews)