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PLN Gradually Recovers Electricity Supply (0)
State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has recovered electric power to Balaraja Extra High Voltage substation in Banten Province, and furthermore it will be channeled to Suralaya steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) to gradually recover its operation to reach its capacity of 2800 MW of electricity.
In addition, power supply from Gandul Extra High Voltage substations in Depok, West Java Province, will be channeled to Muara Karang gas and steam power plant (PLTGU) to supply electricity to the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta.
Acting President Director of PLN Sripeni Inten Cahyani said here on Sunday that the power supply to Jakarta was expected to recover within three hours.
"We apologize for the inconvenience today, and currently all efforts have been made to recover the Java-Bali power system, especially in the area of West Java, Banten, and Jakarta," Cahyani said.
The company has focused on power supply to PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Priok to recover the system in the capital city.
Previously, PLN has recovered the operation of hydro-generated power plant (PLTA) Saguling and PLTA Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer, and, at the same time, supply the electricity to PLTU Suralaya through Cibinong, Depok, Gandul, Lengkok, Balaraja and Suralaya extra high voltage substations.
PLTU Suralaya is expected to return to its normal operation within six hours to normalize power system in West Java and Banten.
Blackout that affected thousands of homes and public facilities in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten was caused by several troubles in the extra high voltage 500 kV transmission of Ungaran - Pemalang.
"PLN has taken its best efforts and will have evaluation to prevent recurrence of today's incident," Cahyani said.
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December
Indonesia Most Complex Country To Do Business With, Luhut Says
Written by Nur YasminThe Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan admitted that Indonesia is the most complex country to do business, and this led the government to make a breakthrough through Job Creation Law.
Luhut quoted a report from the consultancy and research institute, TMF Group, about the Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI) which placed Indonesia as the most complex country for doing business out of 77 other countries.
"If you look at the survey, Indonesia is a very complicated country to do business. We are honest about this. This is also the reason behind the Omnibus Law," he said when delivering a speech at the Tri Hita Karana Forum Dialogue Cloud Event "Indonesia Omnibus Law For a Better Business Better World "virtually in Jakarta, Monday.
Luhut explained that although over time Indonesia's Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) ranking had increased, the number of business procedures still showed a stagnant value and was more complicated than other ASEAN countries.
Therefore, the Job Creation Law is a breakthrough for the government to overcome complicated regulations and permits.
"Currently, business licensing will be carried out on a risk-based basis. With the Omnibus Law, the government aims to create a better business in Indonesia, so business establishment becomes easier, and in the end, it will open up jobs," he said.
Even though the Omnibus Law had brought controversy and rejection from the community, Luhut argued that now the community is calmer and more receptive after the law material could be seen directly.
"Currently, the Omnibus Law is in the finalization stage and will be implemented in February 2021. Through the Omnibus Law, the government can improve the investment climate in Indonesia, simplify investment requirements, carry out tax reforms, and encourage international trade," Luhut said.
Tri Hita Karana Forum Partners Dialogue: Indonesia New Omnibus Law for Better Business Better World was attended by representatives from various member companies of the International Chamber of Commerce.
Apart from Luhut, Deputy Chairman of the MPR Lestari Moerdijat; Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar; and Minister of ATR / BPN Sofyan Djalil also attended the event.
Meanwhile, the foreign representatives attended were IG Patel Professor and Chair, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and Environment, London School of Economics / NCE Lord Nicholas Stern; Director, DCD OECD Jorge Moreira da Silva; Country Director Indonesia and Timor Leste World Bank Satu Kahkonen; Secretary-General, International Chamber of Commerce John Denton; and Senior Vice President Asia, Conservation International Richard Jeo. (Antaranews)
December
Finance Minister stresses continued vigilance in COVID-19 handling
Written by Nur YasminFinance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has emphasized that Indonesia must continue to be careful in dealing with COVID-19, which is currently experiencing a significant spurt, as it will have a huge impact on the economy.
"Indonesia continues to be careful so that we can still handle COVID-19 because it has a tremendous social, economic, and financial impact," Sri Mulyani said during an online discussion in Jakarta on Monday.
Sri Mulyani said that currently there are more than 60 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with the death toll recorded at 1.42 million. There has been a massive increase in infections in the US, Europe, Japan, and Korea, she added.
As of November 29, 2020, Indonesia has registered 534 thousand cases and 16,815 deaths, with more than 5,000 people per day testing positive for the virus in the past week.
Sri Mulyani emphasized that the 3T steps, namely tracing, tracking, and treatment, as well as the implementation of 3Ms, namely wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining distancing, must be continued in order to reduce positive cases.
"The compliance of all business actors and the community is important for all of us to protect [people from the virus]. We are taking many steps, but society also determines whether we succeed or not," Sri Mulyani said.
She said that the high number of COVID-19 cases have affected the national economy, with growth contracting by 5.34 percent in the second quarter, though there have been improvements in the third quarter.
However, Sri Mulyani said, the reports of an improvement in the third quarter are still very early, so the figure would be easily affected by an increase in COVID-19 cases.
"In the third quarter, we have seen economic recovery, but this is still very early. The economy is still growing negatively, although it is much lower than in the second quarter, ” Sri Mulyani explained.
Therefore, the government will continue to maintain the momentum for improvement through the use of the state budget, which is an important instrument in managing the economy, especially when facing a pandemic, she added.
State spending this year has reached Rp2,739.2 trillion, with Rp695.2 trillion allocated for the National Economic Recovery Program (PEN) covering the health sector (Rp97.26 trillion) and social protection (Rp234.33 trillion).
A total of Rp65.97 trillion has been set aside as support for ministry/institutions and local governments, Rp114.81 trillion for MSME encouragement, Rp62.22 trillion for corporate financing, and Rp120.6 trillion for business incentives.
“It's not enough if you don't participate in preventing COVID-19 from spreading. Health protocol discipline is a must for all, indiscriminately. We all have to participate in trying to overcome the spread of COVID-19," Sri Mulyani said. (Antaranews)
December
Government's import duty waiver applicable on COVID-19 vaccines
Written by Nur YasminThe import of vaccines, raw materials, and equipment for the production of vaccines will be entitled to a duty exemption in line with the Indonesian government’s plan to expedite inoculation against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Finance Minister’s Regulation No. 188/PMK.04/2020 stipulates that the goods are exempt from import duty and/or excise, value-added tax, or Luxury Sales Tax Law and article 22 of Income Tax Law, Director of International Customs and Inter Institutions of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Finance Ministry Syarif Hidayat stated here on Monday.
The facilities are granted to the central government, regional governments, legal entities, or non-legal entity corporations assigned and appointed by the Health Ministry to import the goods, he remarked.
Furthermore, the government will ease procedures for the release of goods with rush handling services through filing an application replete with the customs document and collateral.
The collateral will not be required when the finance minister has issued a decree on exemptions, and accordingly, the goods will not be subject to physical inspection, he expounded.
The facilities can also be granted through bonded logistics centers or issued through bonded zones or bonded warehouses, special economic zone, and the free zone.
Applications for the facilities should be addressed to the finance minister via the chief of the Customs Office through which the goods are imported. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Andika Perkasa received French Army Attache Colonel Sven Meic at his office here recently to discuss military cooperation between the two countries.
Under the cooperation, the Indonesian Army will send its troops to take a joint exercise with the French Army next year, General Andika said in a written statement released on Saturday.
"When I was promoted from the first lieutenant to captain I took a joint exercise with several armies. The exercise gave me deep knowledge and experience," he said.
He said the joint exercise with the French Army will be useful for Indonesian Army soldiers to improve their knowledge.
"I think the younger generations in the Army also need such experience," he said.
Therefore, he warmly welcomes the planned joint exercise.
He said he will support any activity aimed at improving the Indonesian Army soldiers' experience and outlook in the military field.
Colonel Sven Meic said the joint exercise will offer good opportunities for the two countries' soldiers to get experience. (Antaranews)
November
President dissolves 10 non-ministerial state institutions
Written by Nur YasminPresident Joko Widodo (Jokowi) issued Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 12 of 2020 on the dissolution of 10 non-ministerial state institutions.
The 10 institutions are the National Research Council, the Food Security Council, the Surabaya-Madura Regional Development Agency, the National Sports Accreditation and Standardization Agency, the Indonesian Hajj Supervisory Commission, the National Economy and Industry Committee, Telecommunications Advisory Council, National Commission for the Elderly, Indonesian Professional Sports Agency and the Indonesian Telecommunications Regulator.
After their dissolution, the functions of the 10 institutions will be transferred to the relevant ministries, according to a copy of the document published in the official website of the State Secretary.
First, the National Research Council, established in 2005, would be transferred to the Ministry of Research and Technology/National Agency for Research and Innovation.
Second, the Food Security Council set up in 2006 would be transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Third, the Surabaya-Madura Regional Development Agency, established in 2008, would be transferred to the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing and the Ministry of Transport in accordance with their respective attributions and functions.
Fourth, the National Sports Standardization and Accreditation Body, established in 2014, was transferred to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Fifth, the Indonesian Hajj Supervisory Commission, established in 2014, would be transferred to Religious Affairs Ministry.
The National Economy and Industry Committee, established in 2016, would be transferred to the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, and the Telecommunications Advisory Council (1989) to Communication and Informatics Ministry.
Furthermore, the National Commission for the Elderly (2004) would be transferred to the Social Affairs Ministry and the Indonesian Professional Sports Agency (2015) to the Youth and Sports Ministry.
The Indonesian Telecommunications Regulator established in 2018 would be transferred to the Communication and Informatics Ministry.
"The transfer as stipulated in the subsection 1 would be completed within one year since the issuance of the Presidential Regulation," it said.
The transfer of the institutions' functions would be conducted in coordination with the Ministry of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform, that will also involve the Finance Ministry, State Apparatus Agency, Finance and Development Supervisory Agency, National Archive of the Republic of Indonesia, and other related ministries.
The regulation was signed by President Jokowi on November 26 and come into effect upon its issuance. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia closed over COVID-19
Written by Nur YasminThe Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur will be closed from Nov 30 to Dec 4, 2020 after several of its employees have contracted the COVID-19.
All services at the embassy will be temporarily closed while the building is sprayed with disinfectants to avert the spread of COVID-19, the embassy said in a circular released on Saturday.
However, the embassy will continue to serve applications for travel documents in lieu of passport (SPLP) that have been processed by following health protocols.
The embassy called on Indonesian citizens to comply with the health protocols by using masks, washing hands, and keeping physical distance.
Coordinator for Information, Social and Cultural Function of the Embassy Yoshi Iskandar confirmed that several employees of the embassy have contracted the COVID-19.
"It is true there are staffers testing positive (for the COVID-19). The embassy has taken steps to conduct swab tests on all its staffers and imposed a work-from-home policy for the embassy's staff," he said. (Antaranews)
November
Ministry urges steel producers to cut imports of raw materials
Written by Nur YasminThe Industry Ministry has urged national steel producers to continue to innovate and increase production capacity to reduce their dependence on imported raw materials.
“If we look at the structure of our imports, metal imports account for more than 35 percent of total imports, or US$125 billion per year. Therefore, we hope steel producers to make more progress,” secretary general of the Industry Ministry, Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono, said in a written statement released here on Thursday.
On its part, the government is also making efforts to protect national steel products from the onslaught of imported steel and make national steel products "primadonna" in the domestic market, he added.
The efforts include safeguards and anti-dumping policies, Dwiwahjono said, adding that another instrument is improving product certification institutes to issue Indonesian National Standard (SNI) compulsory SNI application.
The next step is adjusting steel import procedures through the National Steel Information System (Sibanas), incorporated to the National Industrial Information System (SIINAS), he noted.
"The efforts serve as the government's guarantee that national products will dominate the domestic market. Hence, industries need not worry about (the market for their products),” he said.
To increase demand for national products in the domestic market, the government has also launched a Domestic Product Improvement Program (P3DN), he added. (Antaranews)
November
Bappenas urges collective effort to realize SDG16
Written by Nur YasminThe Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has urged collective efforts for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically target number 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions.
During a discussion themed ‘Solidarity and Harmony between People as the Embodiment of SDG16 Indonesia to Rise from COVID-19’, held virtually on Thursday, head of Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, who is also Minister of National Development Planning, underlined the promotion of peace, justice, and inclusivity as the essence of SDG16.
"These are the main aims of SDG16," he stressed.
In order to meet the goal, he urged all components of the nation to take collective steps, one of which is establishing a peaceful community and preventing and ending violence among people.
He said promoting an inclusive society is one of the most important components in implementing the main principles of the agenda, besides creating a just society by solving the problems of justice that have been raised, especially during the pandemic.
“These [problems] include stigma and discrimination," he pointed out.
He further said that there needs to be collaboration between the government and non-governmental parties for conducting the efforts. Therefore, various joint steps can be taken to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic under the collective action agenda to support the achievement of the SDGs, he observed.
In the future, he continued, such cooperation needs to be more inclusive and expand beyond the focus on health aspects and post-pandemic economic recovery to various fields of sustainable development.
He then praised initiatives and innovations carried out in the spirit of solidarity between the people as part of efforts to tackle COVID-19.
Monoarfa cited as an example the efforts made by community organizations, including religious organizations, in providing assistance to the community in the form of free masks, basic necessities, and in educating the public about the importance of health protocols for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The spirit of philanthropy and mutual cooperation of the Indonesian population during the pandemic was evident in the donations collected via online fundraising campaigns that collected as much as Rp25 billion in April, 2020, which was then used to provide personal protective equipment to health workers as well as basic food assistance to people affected by COVID-19, he said. (Antaranews)
November
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand to sign customs cooperation pact
Written by Nur YasminIndonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand have finished discussing the frame of cooperation (FoC) in the customs, immigration, and quarantine fields amid the COVID-19 pandemic and plan to endorse and adopt the partnership next year.
Director of the Center for Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (CIMT), Firdaus Dahlan, made the remarks after attending the 26th meeting of IMT-GT ministers, held virtually on Thursday.
The discussion on the partnership had come to a standstill since 2014. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sub-regional partnership managed to conclude the discussion on FoC in the customs, immigration, and quarantine fields, he said in a written statement.
He reiterated the three countries hope to endorse and adopt the cooperation document in 2021.
Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, which share land and sea borders, established economic and trade cooperation called the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) in 1993 with the aim of improving welfare and economic growth in the three countries, with a total population of about 84 million. (Antaranews)
November
House Speaker supports strengthening Indonesia-South Korea ties
Written by Nur Yasmin Indonesia’s House Speaker Puan Maharani has expressed her support for the strengthening of bilateral relations between Indonesia and South Korea, including cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries.
"I hope this visit can further strengthen the relationship between the two countries, hence there will be more concrete benefits for the people of the two countries," Puan Maharani said in a statement, following her meeting with Kim Sang-Hee, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea, at the DPR RI building here on Wednesday.
The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) and South Korea's Parliament could work together more closely in encouraging women's empowerment in decision-making, Maharani remarked.
DPR has formed bilateral friendship groups with 102 parliaments from various countries, including South Korea.
“I hope that the close cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries can help achieve various development goals through the exchange of information regarding the roles and functions of parliaments in the two countries,” Maharani said.
She also lauded bilateral cooperation in COVID-19 handling and thanked South Korea for providing assistance to Indonesia.
The two countries should establish cooperation in joint research and vaccine development, she suggested.
"I invite various parties in Korea to establish cooperation with Indonesian partners in the field of medical device innovation," she added.
The PDI-P politician said that in relation to economic cooperation, Indonesia is always keen to improve its investment climate, adding she hoped that the Korean parliament will help encourage Korean companies to invest in Indonesia.
During their meeting, she and her South Korean guest also discussed issues on protection for more than 33 thousand Indonesian migrant workers in the Republic of Korea.
"I hope for the support of the Korean parliament to continue to improve protection for Indonesian migrant workers in Korea," she said. (Antaranews)
