VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has called for the advancement of agricultural and marine innovation based on 4.0 technology development.

"The adoption of agricultural and marine 4.0 innovation by integrating the digital world, internet, and production is (meant) to keep improving Indonesia's agricultural and marine industries in the future," he said in a video to mark the 58th anniversary of the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) here on Wednesday.

Speaking from his official residence, Amin affirmed that the use of online systems for agricultural and marine innovations is important because today, information technology is growing rapidly.

"We understand that the implementation of information technology becomes very massive in overcoming the limitations of workspaces. Thus, it builds this nation," he remarked.

Therefore, he urged universities in Indonesia, especially IPB, to increase quality research in boosting production in the agriculture and marine sectors.

"I also urge IPB to provide support for higher education institutions in regions to bring forward the potential and production of agriculture and marine (sectors) for the welfare of the community," he emphasized.

"IPB is expected to enhance cooperation and collaboration with various industries, thus it can create graduates who are ready to face the business world," he added.

The vice president requested all members of the academic community at Bogor Agricultural Institute to take advantage of opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis to push economic growth in Indonesia.

"Currently, we are still facing the COVID-19 pandemic where there are many challenges, but on the contrary, there are also wide-open innovation opportunities to overcome the problems," he observed.

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo had said that the agricultural sector, considering its enormous potential, will become Indonesia's strength in the future.

“If we wish to develop this nation, agriculture is the most prepared sector. We already have the resources. However, we have to quickly catch up in every aspect," he remarked while giving a public lecture at the Agricultural Development Polytechnic, Bogor, West Java, according to a statement received here.

The digital era has significantly bolstered the acceleration of Indonesia's agricultural development, he noted.

He also urged millennials to leave the old mindset of farming. “The past paradigm is not relevant anymore. If we do not change, we will be left behind and lose," the minister remarked. (Antaranews)

The oil and natural gas sector will play a strategic role in Indonesia's energy transition program, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Arifin Tasrif, said in a statement released here on Wednesday.

"The world's energy policy is heading toward clean and renewable energy, at the moment, which will gradually replace fossil energy. To this end, a measured conversion process is required in this transitional period, so oil and natural gas (sector) still has a strategic role," Tasrif remarked.

Currently, the government is finishing designing the National Energy Grand Strategy by placing two important concurrent agendas, namely increased production of oil and natural gas and reduction of carbon emissions, he informed.

The oil and natural gas industry can still be the mover of the national economy and trigger other economic activities, the minister said.

As of July 2021, oil and natural gas has proven to be one of the most resilient industries despite the pandemic: it contributed around Rp47.58 trillion in Non-Tax State  Revenue (PNBP) to the nation's economy, Tasrif noted.

The minister urged all oil and natural gas Collaboration Contract Contractors (KKKS) to improve the exploration of oil and natural gas in order to reach the oil production target of 1 million BOPD and 12 BSCFD of gas by 2030.

The government is arranging the regulation in order to assist in the refinement of oil and natural gas management with the hope of attracting scores of investors to Indonesia, he said.

"By publishing the Job Creation Law and forming the Investment Ministry, the government is making an effort to improve the attractiveness of Indonesia's investment so that more foreign direct investment can flow into Indonesia," Tasrif added. (Antaranews)

The House of Representatives (DPR) is committed to supporting the government's COVID-19 handling policies for keeping people safe amid the pandemic, DPR Speaker Puan Maharani has emphasized.

"The DPR is highly committed to supporting various efforts, policies, and programs of the state government in saving the people in facing the pandemic and its effects," she remarked while delivering a speech at the DPR Plenary Session during the first sitting period of 2021-2022 at the Senayan Building here on Tuesday.

She said the efforts and policies of the state government for protecting people must get support from all parties. People's safety is the highest priority for the state government in dealing with the crisis, she added.

Maharani emphasized that the State cannot surrender to the COVID-19 pandemic situation and its broad impact. Thus, the State must make the best efforts so that it can continue to carry out state goals, public services, and national development, she said.

"The Indonesian House of Representatives appreciates and supports the government's efforts in overcoming the pandemic and its impact on the health, social, economic and cultural fields," she remarked.

She said she hopes the government will continue to improve its performance in handling the pandemic. This can be demonstrated through more solid policy coordination, synergized implementation of pandemic handling, and more effective handling of affairs of people affected by the pandemic, she expounded.

Despite restrictions on the physical presence of members in meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DPR would continue to work optimally, she said. She assured that the restrictions would not prevent the DPR from providing the best service to the people.

Furthermore, DPR has been carrying out supervision to ensure the policies and work of state officials run optimally, including the formation of several Supervisory Teams and Monitoring Teams, she added.  (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) appealed to all parties to use the momentum unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic to expedite transformation of the national economy.

At the XXI ISEI Congress and the 2021 National Seminar, held virtually here on Tuesday, President Jokowi noted that Indonesia should be able to change its economic dependence from consumption-based to production-based.

He cited an example of transformation in the industrial sector being conducted by processing nickel commodities into value-added commodities, such as lithium batteries.

"We encourage all existing commodities for downstreaming, for industrialization, for instance nickel. In three to four years it will be processed into finished goods, such as lithium, electric, and electric car batteries," he remarked.

Apart from nickel, the president also encouraged the processing of mining commodities, such as bauxite, and plantation commodities, including palm oil, into value-added products.

In addition, he encouraged the acceleration of transformation in the agricultural sector as a whole, from upstream to downstream.

According to the president, the production of agricultural commodities should be diversified. Institutional farmers with a cluster model should also be strengthened. In addition, farmer-owned enterprises, cooperatives, and village-owned enterprises must also continue to be developed.

"The added value of post-harvest agricultural commodities must be increased. Moreover, marketing should be expanded by establishing partnerships with the industrial sector," according to the president.

President Jokowi emphasized that synergy among all parties was the key to achieving national economic transformation. Synergy between various parties is deemed necessary in the wake of complex challenges in pursuing economic transformation.

"I hope this congress would produce ideas that will enable our nation to get through these difficult times,” President Jokowi stated.   (Antaranews)