VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 16 - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin accentuated the need for successfully administering the COVID-19 vaccine to some 181.5 million Indonesians to attain herd immunity in order to free the nation from the clutches of this lethal pandemic.

"This is the largest and most determining vaccination program. It must be successful. We must not fail," Amin stated while addressing attendees of an event held to commend and acknowledge the National Police's public services here, Tuesday.

In order to achieve herd immunity in Indonesia, Vice President Amin reiterated that 70 percent of the country's total population, or some 181.5 million Indonesians, must receive the COVID-19 vaccine jabs.

"I again want to emphasize the importance of not failing in implementing the compulsory vaccination program because it is the most effective way to reduce the COVID-19 infection rate and prevent transmission of the coronavirus," he remarked.

Furthermore, the people, at large, remain obliged to continue to practice strict health protocols, he remarked while reminding that the vaccination program is compulsory, as stipulated in Presidential Regulation No. 14 of 2021.

"In this regard, I appeal to the National Police to secure and support the implementation of the government's national vaccination program," he stated.

On Monday, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had also instructed the country's military and police institutions to extend all-out support to the government's policies on COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

The two institutions are also necessitated to actively help apply stringent health protocols in communities.

The public health crisis, caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that struck Indonesia since March 2020, has yet to end, Jokowi noted in his directives at a meeting with top military and police brass early this week.

Firstly, President Jokowi has instructed all elements within the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) and National Police to ensure that the 3M and 3T health protocols are consistently implemented in communities.

3M stands for wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining physical distance, while 3T stands for COVID-19 swab testing, contact tracing, and treating COVID-19 patients.

The Indonesian government has been grappling to win the battle against the global pandemic of COVID-19 since it announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.

The government has not only enforced restrictions on public activity in the islands of Java and Bali since January 11, 2021, but is also conducting a nationwide vaccination program that commenced on January 13, 2021.

Since January 26, 2021, Indonesia's COVID-19 infection rate has exceeded one million cases.  (Antaranews)

Feb. 16 - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati highlighted the interest of several global investment and fund managers to work with the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) or Indonesian Investment Management Institution (LPI) even before the institution officially operates.

During a press conference at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, the minister noted that several investment managers had also sent an official letter to her and State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, who had expressed interest in working together, with specific investment offers to INA.

"This illustrates that the potential is very large. Now, we are following up with this board of directors. Of course, we hope that Ridha (INA's president director), and all directors will follow up on these interests,” Indrawati, concurrently chairman of the INA Supervisory Board, noted.

President Joko Widodo, on Tuesday, announced the members of the INA Board of Directors, led by President Director Ridha Wirakusumah.

INA has received the government funding of Rp15 trillion in the 2020 State Budget and an additional Rp15 trillion this year. The INA also received Rp45 trillion in the form of share transfer this year.

The initial capital of Rp75 trillion by the end of this year will be utilized by the INA to initiate cooperation in gathering investment and finding partners. The INA seeks cooperation and investment with partners for development in Indonesia and not seeking loan funds.

"They (investors) invest together with us. This is a way for us to be less dependent on leverage or loans. Hence, since we are together investing, it definitely requires a very detailed process," she stated.

The minister was reluctant to reveal which investor entities are already interested in INA. The chairman of the INA Supervisory Board then revealed that INA's key focus at this time was to follow up on the investment cooperation offer while building a professional INA institution with integrity.

"Our focus now is to build a complete house but also prepare transactions and speak about detailed techniques with funds have expressed their very serious interest. That is our job today," the former World Bank managing director stated. (Antaranews)

Feb. 16 - Board of Directors' Chairman of the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) Ridha Wirakusumah expressed keenness to create a comfortable investment climate for investors.

"First, what I want to emphasize is that we want to create a climate for investment, so that investors enter Indonesia more comfortably and with confidence," Wirakusumah noted in a press statement here on Tuesday.

Wirakusumah is optimistic that investors would jointly participate in the development of Indonesia that has an extraordinary future, in terms of its demographics, size, and business potential.

"What we are looking for is capital funds and not loan funds. Funds that can add value, if possible, and of course, also from good, clean governance sources," he expounded.

Wirakusumah also expressed hope that all the funds invested would continue to bring prosperity to the next generations.

"The steps we will take are creating a true home and high professionalism and strong governance guided by our supervisory board and the policies that we will set as well," he expounded.

According to Ridha, his party will invite a professional accounting agency to ensure good governance. In addition, it will look at assets for cooperation with investors to immediately support infrastructure development.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) earlier expressed belief that the INA would be able to catch up with similar institutions in other countries and garner national as well as international trust.

"I believe the INA is capable of catching up and gaining national as well as international trust," the head of state noted while introducing the INA Supervisory Board and Board of Directors at the Merdeka Palace, here on Tuesday, as witnessed in the YouTube broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat.

The head of state remarked that the INA held a strategic position in accelerating sustainable development, increasing and optimizing the value of state assets in the long term, and offering alternative financing for sustainable national development.

"Through the existence of the INA, we will reduce the gap between the domestic funding capacity and development financing requirements," the president noted.

He believes that the INA would become a strategic partner for investors, both from within and outside the country, in order to offer sufficient financing for development programs, especially the national infrastructure financing program.  (Antaranews)

Feb. 16 - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is buoyant about the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) gaining the trust of domestic and foreign investors to speed up national development.

"With a strong legal foundation and political support, the remarkable board of directors and advisory council, and a strong international network, I believe that the INA will gain national and international trust. This will make the INA a world-class Sovereign Wealth Fund," Jokowi stated at the Merdeka Palace while introducing the INA's directors on Tuesday.

The head of state appealed to other state institutions to support INA's movement.

"It must be innovative and dare to take out-of-the-box decisions with good management. Indonesia must have adequate funding alternatives to speed up development toward an advanced Indonesia," Jokowi remarked.

The head of state noted that the INA was established in accordance with the law on job creation and its implementation is regulated by Government Regulation No. 74 of 2020 on the INA issued on December 14, 2020.

"The INA is a professional institution protected under the law, and it heeds to professional considerations in taking the moves," the president stated.

The INA is expected to fill the gap between domestic funding capability and the demand for development, Jokowi noted.

The institution will become a strategic partner for domestic and international investors to provide funding for national development, specifically for infrastructure development.

On January 27, 2021, Jokowi had installed five members of the INA Advisory Council: Sri Mulyani, concurrently the finance minister; Erick Thohir, the state enterprises minister; Haryanto Sahari as member for the 2021-2024 period; Yosua Makes for the 2021-2025 term; and Darwin Cyril Noerhadi for the 2021-2026 period.

The INA's Board of Directors are CEO Ridha Wirakusumah, Deputy CEO Arif Budiman, Chief Investment Officer Stefanus Ade Hadidjaja, Chief Risk Officer Marita Alisjahbana, and Chief Financial Officer Eddy Porwanto.

Jokowi affirmed that the five directors are experienced in the investment, banking, financial services, and risk management sectors.  (Antaranews)