VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia's trade balance recorded a surplus of US$5.16 billion in November 2022, with the value of exports reaching US$24.12 billion and imports US$18.96 billion, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported on Thursday.  

"The trade balance surplus in November 2022 is the 31st consecutive month surplus that Indonesia has achieved since May 2020," deputy for production statistics at BPS, M. Habibullah, noted here on Thursday.



This achievement was supported by a surplus in the balance of non-oil and gas commodities of US$6.83 billion, he said.



The main commodities that contributed to the surplus were mineral fuels, animal fats and vegetable oils, as well as iron and steel.



Meanwhile, the oil and gas trade balance recorded a deficit of US$1.67 billion, with the main contributors to the deficit being crude oil and oil products.



The three countries with the largest trade surplus with Indonesia were the United States (with a surplus of US$1.31 billion), India (US$1.17 billion), and the Philippines (US$1.02 billion).




The largest contributors to the surplus in trade with the United States were electrical machinery and equipment and their parts, clothing and accessories (knitted), and clothing and accessories (non-knitted).



Then, the commodities that accounted for the surplus in trade with India were vegetable animal fats and oils, mineral fuels, as well as metal ore, slag, and ash.



Meanwhile, the commodities that contributed to the trade surplus with the Philippines were mineral fuels, vehicles and their parts, as well as vegetable fats and animal oils.



In the meantime, Indonesia's trade experienced the largest deficit with three countries—Australia (with a deficit of US$519 million), Thailand (US$321 million), and Brazil (US$249 million).



The commodities that accounted for the trade deficit with Australia were mineral fuels, cereals, and precious metals and jewelry.



Meanwhile, the commodities that added to the deficit in trade with Thailand were machinery, mechanical equipment and their parts, plastics and plastic goods, as well as vehicles and their parts.



The commodities that contributed to the deficit with Brazil were sugar and confectionery, dregs and leftovers from the food industry, and cotton.



Indonesia's trade balance in the January–November 2022 period experienced a surplus of US$50.59 billion, with exports valued at US$268.18 billion and imports pegged at US$217.58 billion. (antaranews)

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is supporting the development and strengthening of cooperatives for the empowerment of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the provision of research-based policy recommendations.

"BRIN wants to offer suggestions to boost the development of cooperatives and MSMEs, which becomes a key strategy in national development, to place the foundation for the development of people's economy that is just and sustainable," deputy for development policies at BRIN, Mego Pinandito, said in a written statement received on Wednesday.

BRIN also considered the importance of the existence of cooperatives and MSMEs as a manifestation of the people's economy, he noted. Cooperatives and MSMEs are expected to become motors for accelerating national development.

"The people's economy must continue to be explored. The manifestation of the people's economy, namely the involvement and role of the community, is very significant," he said.

Pinandito affirmed that his agency, through its research results and various appropriate technologies, is making efforts to produce products that can be utilized by cooperatives and MSMEs.

"BRIN wants to seek the best policy recommendations, for example, for the central government to build collective awareness of the essential role of cooperatives and MSMEs. It is hoped that cooperatives and MSMEs will become a 'locomotive' in the acceleration of national development," he said.

Cooperatives are expected to boost MSMEs’ ability to improve by becoming the providers of business capital for MSMEs in a bid to support the people's economy.

"Cooperatives are also the pillar for the people's economy and the backbone of Indonesia's economy," he remarked.

According to data from the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, in 2020, Indonesia had 127,846 cooperatives with a total of 27.1 million members and total assets of Rp250.98 trillion. (Antaranews)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the completion of negotiations on the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (IEU CEPA) could hopefully be accelerated.

The acceleration of the IEU CEPA negotiation process requires support from all parties, especially associations and the business world, Hartarto said regarding his meeting with Vice President of the Federation of European Sporting Goods (FESI) Manuel Pauser.

"IEU CEPA is key for encouraging trade, investment cooperation, and other economic cooperation between Indonesia and European Union," he informed in an official statement released on Wednesday.

"Indonesia expressed its gratitude over FESI's support to be able to promptly complete the negotiation," he said regarding his meeting with Pauser on the sidelines of the ‘10th ASEAN-EU Business Summit’ in Brussels on Tuesday (December 13, 2022).

The negotiation process has taken longer than originally planned: it was expected to be completed in four rounds or before 2024.

"Indonesia expects that the support from entrepreneurs in the European Union so that the negotiation process can be completed quickly," Hartarto said.

Meanwhile, FESI vice president Manuel Pauser lauded the Indonesian government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Indonesian government has done a remarkable job in sustaining the economic wheel despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Factories owned by businesspersons in the sporting goods sector have been able to continue to operate and maintain their supply, he added.

FESI also lauded Indonesia's efforts at structural reformation, such as the issuance of the Job Creation Law, which will reform various sectors, including business license management.

According to FESI, the global economic challenges that entrepreneurs are currently facing are not expected to last long and the global economy is forecast to recover.

FESI also congratulated the agreement on energy transition cooperation with G7 countries and partner countries within the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) unveiled on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali in November 2022.

The issue of sustainability is important for the industry, including the sporting goods sector. Thus, FESI is encouraging the achievement of targets related to sustainability, Pauser said. (Antaranews)

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) urged residents in coastal areas to be wary of waves of one to six meters in height that may occur in the Indonesian waters on December 14-15, 2022.

Head of the BMKG Maritime Meteorology Center Eko Prasetyo explained here on Wednesday that the appearance of the high waves was triggered by wind patterns.

Prasetyo noted that the wind mostly moved from northeast to east, with speeds of eight to 30 knots in northern Indonesia, and predominantly moved from southeast to southwest, with speeds of four to 25 knots in southern Indonesia.

He said the highest wind speed was observed in the Malacca Strait, waters north of Sabang, waters west of Aceh, and the North Natuna Sea.

He remarked that such a wind pattern increases the likelihood of high waves appearing in several Indonesian waters.

Waves, as high as 1.25 to 2.5 meters, are likely to appear in the Malacca Strait, western waters of Aceh, eastern waters of Simueulue Island-Nias Islands, Bengkulu-Enggano Island waters, western waters of Lampung, southern part of Lampung Bay, and west-south of the Sunda Strait.

Other areas with the potential for waves with similar heights are the southern waters of Java Island-Sumba Island, Bali Strait, Lombok, southern Alas, southern Sape Strait, western Sumba Strait, southern waters of Sawu Island, southern part of Sawu Sea, and South Indian Ocean Banten-East Nusa Tenggara.

Meanwhile, the waters of Sangihe Islands-Talaud Islands, the waters of Bitung-Sitaro Islands, the northern part of Maluku Sea, the northern and eastern waters of Halmahera Islands, Halmahera Sea, the northern waters of West Papua-Papua, the waters of Biak Island, and the northern Pacific Ocean of Halmahera-Papua can also likely face waves of similar height.

In the meantime, waves, as high as 2.5 to four meters, are likely to occur in the northern waters of Sabang, the western waters of Simeulue Island-Mentawai Islands, the western Indian Ocean of Nias-Lampung Islands, and the waters of the Anambas Islands-Natuna Islands.

Meanwhile, the North Natuna Sea can likely face waves as high as four to six meters.

"The potential for high waves in some of these areas could pose a risk to shipping safety," Prasetyo stated.

He advised fishing boat users to be aware of winds, with speeds of over 15 knots, and waves, with a height of more than 1.25 meters, while barge operators also need to beware of winds, with speeds of more than 16 knots, and waves as high as more than 1.5 meters.

Moreover, ferry operators are urged to beware of winds, with speeds of more than 21 knots and wave heights above 2.5 meters.

Meanwhile, large ships, such as cargo and cruise ships, are also urged to watch out for winds, with speeds of over 27 knots, and waves as high as more than four meters. (Antaranews)