VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The government made a breakthrough to gain investment and increase exports as much as possible. One of the breakthroughs that was made was to immediately undertake massive tax cuts in several business sectors. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had requested that the Ministry of Finance provide more facilities but not just instruments, but more importantly whether it could work in the field.

"So if there are decreases such as tax holidays and tax allowances or even our plans to make changes to the PPH (Income Tax) law so that the tariffs are lower, that is now how fast it is being exercised, and it must really be calculated. The rate drops to 20 percent, how fast and how much fiscal risk can be borne and how it is implemented, "said Sri Mulyani, answering reporters after attending the Limited Meeting to discuss the issue of Breakthrough Investment, Exports and Taxation, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (6/19) ) afternoon.

Then regarding the super deduction tax, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati hopes that the Government Regulation (PP) will come out soon. She pointed out examples such as those for motorized vehicles that are expected to have finished harmonizing, and can be released this week or early next week. "Because it's finished so we can expect it to come out soon," he said.

Minister of Finance detailed, there was also the exemption of VAT (Value Added Tax) for leasing aircraft from abroad which had been imposed to reduce the burden on airlines.

In addition there is also a decrease in PPH rates for bond interest for infrastructure, where the government will reduce from 15% to 5%.

Regarding the property sector, according to Minister of Finance, after increasing the price limit of houses / apartments by Rp30 billion which was subject to PPnBM 20 percent from the previous Rp20 billion and Rp10 billion, the government will also increase the VAT (Value Added Tax) limit for simple houses according to their respective regions -one.

Furthermore, the rate of luxury housing article 22 income tax also fell from 5% to 1%, and the validation of PPH land sales will also be simplified.

"That is all so that the property sector will stretch better," explained the Minister of Finance. (setkab) 

“Indonesia is UK's best friend", stated British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt at the bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister in London (18/6). 

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi affirmed that the commemoration of 70th year of Indonesia and UK's diplomatic relationship should become a momentum for improving their partnership, especially in trade and investment.

This meeting also discussed cooperation in a number of other sectors, including education. “Within the next five years, Indonesia will focus on human resource development," Minister Marsudi stated. In that account, Indonesia will continue to expand its partnership with the UK.

After the Brexit, the UK also gives more commitment to improving its relationship with Indonesia, including that in economic sector.

Both foreign ministers expressed their commitments in establishing strategic cooperation as part of the solution to address a number of international issues, especially during Indonesia's membership period in UNSC.

Indonesia expected the UK's support for its candidacy at the Human Rights Council for the 2020/22 period.

Minister Hunt also expressed his eagerness to visit Indonesia. (kemenlu) 

Indonesia will draw attention to global economic and financial issues at the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit to be held on June 28-29 in Osaka, Japan.

"At the G20 Summit in Japan, we will continue to bring up the same issues. The first issue pertains to the global economy and finance, particularly trade and investment," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) remarked while opening a limited meeting at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The meeting covered discussions on preparations for the president's working visits to Bangkok, Thailand, to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and to Osaka, Japan, to attend the G20 Summit.

At a time when technological developments are taking place at a swift pace, Indonesia will also discuss innovative steps for benefiting from developments in digital economy and artificial
​​​​​intelligence, he remarked.

Furthermore, the head of state highlighted the importance of deliberating on efforts to address disparities in the quality of infrastructure, manpower, and women's empowerment.

The G20 Summit will bring together leaders of G20 member states: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The summit will highlight several issues encompassing the global economy, investment, trade, innovations, environment and energy, job opportunities, women's empowerment, development, and health.

The other topics of discussion at the summit will be the US-China trade war and reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO). (ant) 

President Joko Widodo received an envoy from a number of micro, small and medium business associations on Tuesday afternoon at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. There are 4 (four) associations of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs visiting the Presidential Palace. In the meeting, the President said that he was optimistic that micro, small and medium enterprises in Indonesia had wide opportunities to continue to be developed. Until now, there are around 62.9 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) business units in Indonesia. According to Jokowi, the existing business opportunities can continue to be developed, especially in the service and industry sectors. On the occasion, the President also asked for input from entrepreneurs to be able to design proportional policies for the development of MSMEs in the country.

"I want to get input in order to design policies, especially micro, small and medium enterprises, which we know the latest data that I received was 62.9 million small, micro and medium enterprises in Indonesia. I think we have a very, very wide opportunity in our country to develop the existing businesses and the opportunities that we have used as good as possible both the small and medium industry trade service business that I have experienced," said President Joko Widodo.

Furthermore, President Joko Widodo also reminded Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) entrepreneurs that the government could facilitate national MSME businesses through policy aspects. But the President reminded that excessive facilities can actually weaken the micro, small and medium industries, especially weakening the character of entrepreneurship in the community. (VOI / Ndy / AHM)