VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 5 -  Indonesia's economy that shrank 2.19 percent year-on-year (yoy) in the fourth quarter of 2020 has indicated slowing contraction and signs of recovery, the presidential expert staff in economic affairs Arif Budimanta stated.

"Indonesia’s economy contracted 2.19 percent (yoy) as expected in the fourth quarter of 2020, and it showed signs of recovery as compared to (the growth) in the third quarter (yoy), at -3.49 percent, and second quarter, at -5.32 percent," Budimanta noted in a statement here on Friday.

The contraction in economic growth was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that battered the domestic economy, both in terms of consumption and investment.

The pandemic has shaken the global economy that resulted in a decline in international trade.

"The impact of the pandemic was also felt in the fourth quarter of 2020 when the annual agenda of the Christmas and New Year's Eve could not move the economy like before," he pointed out.

However, Budimanta claimed that Indonesia's economic growth was relatively better than its trade partners during the corresponding period, such as Singapore, recording a growth of -5.8 percent; the US, -3.5 percent; and the European Union, -6.4 percent.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) stated that Indonesia’s economy had contracted 2.07 percent (yoy), but the government expenditure for consumption had grown 1.94 percent.

Budimanta opined that Indonesia can regain its positive growth if it manages to step up discipline in applying health protocols and boost public consumption.

"Hence, the labor intensive program and other programs that will create jobs are important to increase the people's purchasing power in addition to the government's social protection program," he stated.

The law on job creation is expected to boost investment and create jobs, thereby accelerating the nation’s economic recovery, according to Budimanta.

In 2021, the government has planned to allocate Rp619.83 trillion of the budget for COVID-19 handling or some 3.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

"It means the government had continued to boost our economy to recover in terms of the supply and demand," he remarked. (Antaranews)

Feb. 5 - The information and communication technology (ICT) sector as well as health services and social activities were the pillars of Indonesia’s economy that continued to experience contraction in 2020, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

At a press conference in Jakarta, Friday, BPS Head Suhariyanto highlighted high growth clocked by the ICT sector, at 10.58 percent, in 2020 in line with the increase in demand from the public.

"This sector is growing higher because of consumer demand due to WFH (Work From Home). The 10.58-percent growth is stronger than the 9.42-percent recorded in 2019," he stated.

Meanwhile, Suhariyanto noted that the health services and social activities sector had also recorded a growth of 11.6 percent in 2020 as compared to 8.69 percent in 2019 due to the disbursement of COVID-19 payments for health workers.

"In addition, this growth is supported by increased revenues from hospitals, clinics, and health laboratories for COVID-19 services," Suhariyanto stated.

Other business sectors that also recorded positive growth during 2020 and helped the economy were agriculture, forestry and fisheries that grew 1.75 percent; financial services and insurance, 3.25 percent; education services, 2.63 percent; real estate, 2.32 percent; and water supply, 4.94 percent.

"The agricultural sector grew 1.75 percent, driven by the production of higher secondary crops, with 1.72 percent for cassava and 5.45 percent for green beans. Moreover, horticultural production rose, with 8.38 percent for bananas, 2.86 percent for mangoes, and 12.33 percent for bird's eye chili," he noted.

Even so, the business fields that contributed the largest to GDP were still experiencing contraction and negative growth in 2020, specifically the processing industry, at minus 2.93 percent; trade, minus 3.72 percent; construction, minus 3.26 percent; and mining and quarrying, minus 1.95 percent.

"The processing industry is still impacted by a decline in LNG production, at minus 6.63 percent; cars, minus 46.37 percent; motorcycles, minus 40.21 percent; and cement, minus 9.26 percent. Trade is also affected by a decline in car sales by minus 48.35 percent; motorcycles, minus 43.57 percent; spare parts, minus 23 percent; and retail, minus 12.03 percent," Suhariyanto remarked.

During this period, business fields that recorded the deepest contraction were the transportation and trade sector that grew negatively by 15.04 percent and accommodation and food and beverage, at minus 10.22 percent.

Suhariyanto attributed the high contraction in the accommodation and food and beverage sectors to the hotel occupancy rate that declined by 39.75 percent, the number of foreign tourist visits that dropped by 75.03 percent, and the closure of hotels and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BPS had earlier noted that Indonesia's economy was experiencing a cumulative slowdown and contraction by 2.07 percent (yoy) in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that hit almost the entire world.

Despite continued contraction and negative growth, the economy has shown signs of improvement after contracting by 5.32 percent and 3.49 percent respectively in the second and third quarters of 2020.

This "upward" trend is the result of the government's efforts to constantly provide a spending stimulus and remind the public to follow health protocols and about the discovery of vaccines. (Antaranews)

Feb. 5 - The Embassy of Pakistan held a webinar on the topic “Peace, Development & Security in South Asia-Kashmir: a Case Study” on Friday. The event is part of a series to commemorate the Kashmir Solidarity Day, which is observed on 05 February every year.

The webinar was organized in collaboration with the reputed universities, organizations, and think tanks from various parts of Indonesia. 

The speakers were including Pakistan Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN, and Timor Leste Muhammad Hassan; Dr.Ali Maksum, Ph.D. a Muhammadiyah University professor; Drs. Nur Munir, the Head of Islamic and Middle Eastern Research Centre at the University of Indonesia; Dr. Zahir Khan, a former Indonesian Diplomat and Chairman Kashmir Solidarity Forum; and Khairunnisa Simbolon, a scholar and academic, associated with the Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta.

Ambassador Muhammad Hassan delivered a detailed speech highlighting the importance and history of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the significance of the Kashmir Solidarity Day.

He explained the ongoing wave of intolerance and state-sponsored repression against minorities (especially Muslims) in India with special reference to the plight of the Muslims of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

Quoting the recent illegal attempts aimed towards changing the demography of IIOJK by the Indian Government, the ambassador conveyed Pakistan’s strong rejection of these illegal acts and expressed the resolve of Pakistan to support the cause of Jammu and Kashmir at all forums.

He also spoke about the targeted hatred and discrimination against Muslims in India by the Modi Government such as the Babri Mosque verdict, the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the controversial National Register of Citizens (NRC), and lynching of Muslims by the cow vigilantes.

He also talked about India’s hegemonic posture in the South Asian region with reference to the recent problems between India and its neighbors, including Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Hassan’s speech also covered the Jammu & Kashmir dispute including gross Human Rights Violations, sexual abuse, and violence against women and Children, Hindutva ideology of the RSS inspired Modi Government, the non-implementation of the UNSC resolutions by India, and Pakistan’s desire to resolve all issues with India, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, through dialogue, in accordance with the UNSC resolutions.

Later on, Dr. Nur Munir, Dr. Ali Maksum, Dr. Zahir Khan, and Khairunnisa Simbolon also presented their views on the topic.

The webinar was attended by more than 130 academics, scholars, intellectuals, researchers, members of political and religious organizations, and students. (VOI)

Feb. 5 - U.S. President Joe Biden will issue an executive order to build up the country’s capacity to accept refugees, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during a White House briefing on Thursday, but the timing of the action remains unclear.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said later in the briefing that she did not expect Biden to issue the order on Thursday, but that Biden is “committed to looking for ways to ensure more refugees are welcomed into the United States.”

Biden has pledged to restore the United States’ historic role as a country that welcomes refugees from around the world after four years of cuts to admissions under former U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates there are 1.4 million refugees worldwide in urgent need of resettlement.

During his presidency, Trump portrayed refugees as a security threat and a drain on U.S. communities as he took a series of measures to restrict legal immigration. The Biden administration is confronting a refugee program hobbled by Trump’s hardline policies, which led to the closure of resettlement offices and disrupted the pipeline of refugees to the United States, a situation exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden was expected to issue the refugee order in conjunction with a speech on Thursday at the U.S. State Department that aims to reinvigorate the workforce there, but the order was delayed, according to one person familiar with the plan. The reason for the delay was not clear.

Biden vowed on the campaign trail to raise the annual refugee ceiling to 125,000, up from a record-low 15,000 set by Trump for this fiscal year.

Biden eventually plans to raise refugee levels this year, but the target will be lower than his goal of 125,000, according to two people familiar with the matter. (Reuters)