VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government is drafting regulations to lay the legal basis for supporting investment and businesses and issuing business permits in the new Indonesian capital of Nusantara (IKN).

"The draft government regulations are expected to be completed in the near future so that they can help the IKN Authority, which will start working at the end of this year," coordinator of the IKN information and communication team, Sidik Pramono, said in a press statement released in Samarinda on Thursday.

As a project which has strategic value for the national economy, IKN will offer interesting facilities to investors. Therefore, they are expected to be drawn to invest in the new capital.

"We hope that a number of regulation schemes that we have prepared will give advantages to investors at the regional level so that we can overtake neighboring countries," he said.

The IKN authority will go ahead with its plan for market sounding. President Joko Widodo is expected to lead the market sounding to promote a variety of investment projects in IKN and listen to the aspirations of investors, Pramono informed.

The government intends to invite domestic and foreign business players to get involved in IKN development so that as little state budget funds as possible are used for the purpose, he said.

"Looking ahead, IKN will open wide business opportunities in the fields of maritime affairs and fisheries, agriculture, energy, trade, health, education, culture, and tourism, and other sectors, as contained in the IKN masterplan," he added.

The IKN master plan covers the government's commitment to provide equitable access to the entire territory of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia and encourage the development of the eastern part of Indonesia. (Antaranews)

The "Magical Sound of Sasando for the World,” a music concert involving one thousand sasandos (traditional stringed instruments) in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, has received an award from the Indonesian World Record Museum (MURI).

"There are one thousand people (who played the sasandos). The rehearsal was more than two months in Kupang," music director Izhu Nisnoni informed after the concert in Labuan Bajo's Waterfront city on Wednesday evening.

The sasando players were students from East Nusa Tenggara. In a neat formation, they played one thousand sasandos, accompanied by dancers from the Sanggar Latasga Helong Community and a fashion show by the province's youths.

The sasando is a traditional stringed instrument originating from Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara. Over time, two types of sasandos have come into use: traditional and electric.

Local lore associated with the instrument involves one Sangguana, who was stranded on Ndana Island and fell in love with the king's daughter. To accept his love, the king put a condition: Sangguana needed to make a unique musical instrument. It is this instrument that came to be called sasando.

The sasando performance on Wednesday was attended by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and members of the Onward Indonesian Cabinet Era Solidarity Action Organization (OASE KIM).

The sasandos were played with 10–12 medley songs that deeply matched the atmosphere of Labuan Bajo's tropical evening.

The 1,000 Sasando Festival made a MURI record, and the award was presented by Jaya Suprana, the founder of MURI, to the head of the East Nusa Tenggara Crafts Council, Julie Sutrisno Laiskodat.

In addition, an award was also handed over to Rote Ndao district head Paulina Haning-Bullu.

In response to a foreign country's claim on the sasando as its traditional musical instrument some time ago, Nisnoni said that it is necessary for the younger generation to preserve the local cultural heritage.

The concert on Wednesday closed with a fireworks party and local music. (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) highlighted that Indonesia recorded the highest economic growth among countries and regions of the G20 forum members, thereby indicative of the nation's continued recovery.

"If I was asked to estimate, the second quarter could grow 5.44 percent (year on year/yoy). Go try looking for other G20 countries that grew above five percent. We are the highest among the G20," Jokowi stated while attending the 2023 economic presentation here, Thursday.

With this achievement, the head of state invited all parties to be optimistic about the promising trend of Indonesia's economic recovery. Despite the country facing uneasy global challenges, he insisted that there would be a way to overcome every problem.

"What we are facing is not easy, but we must remain optimistic," Jokowi affirmed.

He affirmed that currently, the global economic conditions were difficult. Developed countries also face economic challenges, such as food security problems, energy crises, and financial turmoil.

However, Indonesia is still able to maintain its ongoing economic recovery. The recovery trend in Indonesia is still relatively strong, he said.

He highlighted several indicators of Indonesia's economic recovery in the form of state revenue that had grown by 49 percent, or Rp1.764 trillion, and tax revenue that had increased to 58 percent, or Rp1.171 trillion.

"Customs and excise revenues also grew to 30.5 percent, or Rp206 trillion, followed by the realization of Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) amounting to Rp386 trillion, or grew 38.9 percent," he remarked.

In addition, consumer optimism is also high, as the Consumer Confidence Index (IKK) was recorded at 124.7. Bank credit has also grown to 10.7 percent, with Indonesia's trade balance having posted a surplus for 28 consecutive months, amounting to US$5.7 billion.

"This is a very big number, this is a surplus. Our manufacturing Prompt Manufacturing Index (PMI) is 51.7 above global," he pointed out. (antaranews)

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan inaugurated a command center at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) to prevent potential fishing violations in real time.

"Today's soft launch of the Command Center also adds to the festivities of the 58th National Maritime Day commemoration," Pandjaitan noted in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The KKP Command Center uses the Integrated Maritime Intelligent Platform and satellite-based surveillance to maintain and detect fishing vessel activities and thematic spatial data.

Pandjaitan expounded that Indonesia's advantage, with a maritime area spanning 6.4 million square kilometers, is a favorable geostrategic position. However, this wealth should be balanced with knowledge to manage it properly.

"From an economic perspective, if we manage marine and fishery resources properly, then they can contribute more than six to seven percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), with four million job opportunities and contribute 50 percent to marine protein intake for food security," he emphasized.

Hence, overfishing, IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, and marine pollution should become a common concern, the minister stressed.

Such factors not only threatened marine resources and ecosystems but also posed a threat to food security, the state economy, and the people's income in the marine and fisheries business environment, he remarked.

Economically, these illegal activities also reduce the trust level in the global fisheries market and interest in marine fisheries investment. In addition, it will affect the achievement of the blue economy and the government's target in realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The minister welcomed the KKP's plan related to a measured fishing policy. He hoped the regulation and its derivatives would be able to increase national fishery productivity, protect national investment, increase fishermen's welfare, and accelerate Indonesia's target to become a global fishery player, as included in the top five world export countries.

Pandjaitan also emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between measured fisheries and the quality of Indonesia's Marine Protected Areas, including with the support of innovative financing, such as Blue Halo S.

"I invite all of us to continue to work hard and fight for the Indonesian sea, optimize capabilities, and build cooperation and collaboration between ministries and institutions. Only with strong cooperation can we achieve the target," he added. (Antaranews)