VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) facilitates potential partnerships, with a contract value of Rp1.5 trillion, for 56 large businesses and 196 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

At the signing of the Cooperation in the Foreign Investment Partnership (PMA) and Domestic Investment (PMDN) with MSMEs in Jakarta, Monday, BKPM Head Bahlil Lahadalia stated that this potential is yet in its nascent stages.

"This is the first step. This Rp1.5 trillion is the first step. In future, we will do it every month," Lahadalia noted in his report to President Joko Widodo at the virtual event.

The BKPM head admitted that BKPM's steps to marry large businesses and MSMEs were replete with challenges. He also sought the understanding of big entrepreneurs to involve MSMEs and regional entrepreneurs.

"This is honest. There are those horrified by this policy because we will serve entrepreneurs. However, the entrepreneurs must also understand that they have to involve local enterprises," he explained.

With a background as an entrepreneur, Bahlil revealed that the obligation to encourage partnerships between large businesses and MSMEs should be fulfilled firmly to encourage equity in order to realize social justice.

The partnership program collaborates with 56 large businesses, comprising 29 foreign investment (PMA) companies and 27 domestic investment (PMDN) companies, with 196 MSMEs spread across Indonesia.

The program also aligns with President Joko Widodo's directive to ensure that any investment that enters must be married with national entrepreneurs or local MSMEs.

Hence, hopes ride high over investment in Indonesia having a positive impact on the national economy, especially at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues unabated.

The partnership between large businesses and MSMEs is expected to have a twofold impact on local communities, with the influx of investments into their regions.

For MSMEs, the benefits felt will boost product quality and open up opportunities for MSMEs to rise up the level. (antaranews)

Ruby ship's five Indonesian crew were released from prison in Minab, Hormozgan, Iran, on Jan 6, and repatriated to Indonesia on Jan 18, Indonesian Embassy in Tehran’s written statement, released and received here, Monday, stated.

Earlier, the five crew members -- Agung Setiyawan, Amir, Adi Wiranata, Jessy Putra Agung Lahopang, and Juni Rinald -- were detained by Iranian authorities in March 2020 on charges of involvement in oil smuggling by the Ruby ship.

"After a nine-month-long legal process on December 14, 2020, the judge of the Jask Court in Hormozgan Province finally acquitted them of the oil smuggling charges," the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran noted in the statement.

"We continue to monitor developments in the case and offer legal assistance in the handling of the case of the five Indonesian crew members until their release," the Indonesian Embassy noted in the statement.

A week after leaving detention, on January 12, the five Indonesian crew members arrived in the capital city of Tehran and were offered accommodation in line with the implementation of health protocols to prevent the coronavirus disease infection, including two swab tests.

"They are in good health and condition before finally returning home to Indonesia on January 18, 2021," the Indonesian Embassy noted in its statement. (antaranews)

The United Kingdom is vaccinating 140 people per minute against COVID-19 on average, Vaccine Deployment Minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Monday.

The United Kingdom, which has the world’s fifth worst official COVID-19 death toll, is racing to be among the first major countries to vaccinate its population - seen as the best way to exit the pandemic and get the economy going again.

Latest figures show the United Kingdom has vaccinated 3,857,266 people with a first dose and 449,736 with a second dose.

“It is going well, we’re vaccinating on average 140 people, that’s first jab, literally a minute. That’s the average so some areas are doing better,” Zahawi told Sky.

“You’ll see that improve as we open more of the large vaccination centres, 17 in total by this week and 50 by the end of the month.”

“Today, in some areas where they’ve done the majority of their over 80s, letters are going out to the over 70s and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable,” he said.

He said the 24-hour vaccine offering would begin to be piloted in London by the end of the month.
Key workers such as teachers, the police and shopworkers could move to the top of the list for a vaccine once all those over 50 have been offered a shot, Zahawi said.

“Teachers, police officers, shop workers, those who through no fault of their own other than the work that they do may come into contact with the virus in much greater volume, should be top of the list,” Zahawi told Times Radio.

Britain is currently rolling out the vaccine to the most vulnerable first, starting with those who are in care homes or over 80 years of age.

Zahawi said he would work with the Joint Committee on Vaccination to establish who gets the shot next in phase two of the roll out. (reuters)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has encouraged large-scale and small-scale enterprises to bolster the value of partnership and expand the business sector involved in the cooperation.

On Monday, the head of state witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between foreign and domestic firms and micro-, small-, and medium-scale enterprises (MSME) from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java.

Jokowi expressed belief that the cooperation between large firms and MSME could be increased exponentially in future and is expected to boost the development of MSME.

"The cooperation between MSME and large companies must be sustainable, not only once but continuously. The value and coverage should also be increased. Now, it may only be valued at Rp1 billion, but next year, it can reach Rp5 billion, and then Rp10 billion, and thereafter Rp100 billion," the president remarked during the cooperation agreement inking ceremony involving foreign and domestic firms and MSME.

During the ceremony, 56 foreign and domestic large firms inked cooperation agreements with 196 MSMEs, with investment totaling Rp1.5 trillion.

Jokowi noted that the business sector involved in the cooperation should also be expanded, so that more MSMEs can penetrate the global market.

Under the partnership, MSMEs can learn about improving the quality of products, business management, and market penetration.

"They must have better product quality, design, and management, in addition to being more bankable. This is because they can take a cue from big companies, both domestic and foreign firms, toward an inclusive economic growth that is fair and equal," the president stated. (antaranews)