VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (PDTT) Minister Abdul Halim Iskandar has affirmed that reliable road infrastructure in rural regions would enable tourists to visit villages and stimulate economic growth in the regions.

"Good roads will make villages more accessible, thereby facilitating tourists to visit them and providing villagers with more business opportunities," the minister said in Jakarta on Monday.

Minister Iskandar made the statement while receiving a visit from Agas Andreas, the head of East Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara Province.

He emphasized that roads are essential for stimulating economic growth, both at the regional and national levels.

He said good and reliable roads constitute vital infrastructure that can connect various kinds of economic and social activities, adding that such connectors can help farmers and villagers transport their merchandise more efficiently and provide more people with access to educational and health services.

The minister then asked Andreas to map which regions in his district require assistance from the central government in constructing roads.

"Please, you can simply map them (the regions) out in detail. We will coordinate (the mapping result) with the PUPR (Public Works and Public Housing) Ministry," he told the East Manggarai district leader.

He then reiterated that the central government is striving to realize equitable development in villages scattered in Indonesia's eastern regions in the hopes of narrowing economic and social gaps.

The efforts align with the 2020–2024 National Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), he explained.

Iskandar said the central government has formulated specific micro-development strategies to help the regions while conforming with their respective characters and cultures, as well as the challenges they are facing.

"It should be noted that eastern Indonesia has become the government's main priority. We can say that our eyes are glued to the development there," he added. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Indonesian Government is currently exploring cooperation to import rice from several countries, such as Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, and China, to stabilize prices and ensure sufficient rice supply for domestic consumption.

According to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), talks regarding rice imports had been held with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Indian PM Narendra Modi, Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

"(These imports) are to ensure that we have a stock reserve strategy to prevent (price) rises because rice production will definitely decrease due to the El Nino phenomenon," Jokowi stated while visiting the Dramaga Bulog Warehouse in Bogor, West Java, on Monday.

Despite initial discussions having started, Jokowi said that the government had yet to finalize any rice import contracts with certain countries, as they still have to negotiate about prices.

“The price remains an important issue in negotiations to decide on whether to seal the deal," he remarked.

Earlier, reports said that during a bilateral meeting with Cambodian PM Hun Manet on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, last week, Jokowi expressed Indonesia's keenness to import around 250 thousand tons of rice per year from Cambodia.

The import from Cambodia will bolster additional rice stocks from several countries, which in total are estimated to reach 400 thousand tons.

The amount will boost rice reserves in the state logistics agency Bulog warehouses, which currently stock 1.6 million tons, he remarked. The president stated that the quantity is already above normal conditions, reaching 1.2 million tons.

However, to anticipate the impact of El Nino this year as well as to secure rice supply until next year, President Jokowi said he believed the country still needs to import rice from several countries.

"We already have a lot of stock, but we are still looking to where we can buy (rice) not only for now but also to anticipate (needs) next year," President Jokowi remarked. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Papuan female entrepreneurs will collaborate with the Government of Biak Numfor District, Papua Province, to make the Sail Teluk Cenderawasih (STC) national event, scheduled on November 1-7, a success.

"Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that are members of the Indonesian Businesswomen’s Association (IWAPI) will take part in supporting the government to ensure the successful holding of the STC in Biak," Chairperson of Papua Province's IWAPI Alinda Megawati stated in Biak Numfor, Papua, on Monday.

Megawati described the 2023 STC that will be held in Biak Numfor as a national-level tourism agenda. Hence, she expected female entrepreneurs in Papua to genuinely take on an active role in supporting the holding of the STC.

She then noted that in addition to officials from local districts, participants from regions across Indonesia, officials from ministries, and international tourists will visit the district to attend the national event.

"IWAPI, with its members' varied business activities, is consistently supporting the Biak Numfor Government to make the 2023 STC a success," she stated.

Earlier, Chairman of the STC Organizing Committee and Head of Biak Numfor's Tourism Office, Onny Dangeubun, stated that about 300 hotel rooms have been booked in connection with the event.

He said that rooms at several hotels have been reserved for officials from the Investment Ministry, Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, and Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment.

"Moreover, special security personnel from Jakarta have also booked a hotel," he noted.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated earlier in February this year that the STC would serve as an event that focuses on three aspects.

"The three main focuses of this event are fishery exports, investment, and regional potential development," he remarked.

He also expressed optimism that the event would help the Papua region express the spirit of unity and togetherness in regional development through collaboration between numerous stakeholders.

The 2023 STC is scheduled to feature a series of agendas, including fishery exports' promotional activities, an exhibition for MSMEs, entertainment sessions, local cultural arts attractions, and a yacht parade. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana arrived in Indonesia after visiting India to partake in a series of activities of the G20 Summit on September 9-10.

According to a statement received in Jakarta on early Monday, the head of state and his entourage, after boarding the Garuda Indonesia-1 aircraft, landed at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Sunday, at about 11:00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (4:00 p.m. GMT).

On arrival, President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana were personally welcomed by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Head of the Indonesian Defense Forces' General Staff Lieutenant General Bambang Ismawan, Deputy Chief of the National Police Commissioner General Agus Adrianto, and Acting Banten Governor Al Muktabar.

At the summit, which was held under India's G20 presidency, President Jokowi voiced Indonesia's stance regarding several issues, including those related to climate change and Earth preservation.

At the summit's first session that carried "One Earth" as its theme of discussion on Saturday (September 9), Jokowi pushed the G20 leaders to start translating plans into real actions to protect the planet, saying, "We all must walk the talk because we only have one Earth."

The president then highlighted concrete steps taken by Indonesia to save Earth, such as by significantly reducing carbon emissions, suppressing deforestation, rehabilitating tens of thousands of hectares of forests, and planting mangroves on a massive scale.

Moreover, during the summit's another session themed "One Family" held on Sunday (September 10), President Jokowi underscored the G20 leaders' need to maintain stability, solidarity, and equality in order to lead the world toward progress and development.

On that occasion, he urged the leaders to uphold their commitment to providing the global community with a peaceful, stable, and prosperous world.

He also made the most of his Indian visit to conduct bilateral meetings with several state leaders, such as President of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

After concluding their activities in India, the president and his entourage took off from the Palam Air Force Station, New Delhi, at 3:00 p.m. local time.

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, State Secretary Minister Pratikno, and Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan joined President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana in the flight. (Antaranews)