VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - The Ministry of Communication and Informatics is preparing ethical guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to protect personal data.

Communication and Information Deputy Minister Nezar Patria said that as one of the hottest issues currently, AI's ability to form data patterns, supported by the availability of data that can be accessed by the public via the internet, needs to comply with applicable regulations.

"Scraping, crawling, and similar technologies, even though they facilitate the collection of data to then be used to train AI, they must still comply with applicable regulations," he stressed at the "2023 Personal Data Protection (PDP) National Forum" in Badung, Bali, on Wednesday, according to a press release issued the same day.

Patria said that there are limitations that must be upheld in the use of data, from copyright restrictions to respect for personal data.

Provisions regarding data processing, including the opening of data and utilization of personal data, need to be further regulated by derivative regulations of the Personal Data Protection Law (PDP Law), he added.

According to him, several countries have forged joint agreements regarding the practices of automatic and massive data collection that could potentially violate personal data protection conditions.

He said that he recently read a joint statement signed by 12 personal data protection authorities from the United Kingdom, Australia, Morocco, and Argentina.

Those 12 authorities, he added, reminded service providers, such as social media platforms, to protect users' personal information on their platforms from unlawful scraping activities.

To this end, he noted that his ministry will formulate a Circular on Artificial Intelligence Ethical Guidelines. The circular will seek to encourage AI use that is ethical and respects the existing regulations.

He emphasized the importance of respecting the fundamental rights of individuals so that AI can continue to benefit society.

"It is our responsibility to present a future that is full of innovation. I believe that through today's PDP National Forum, we can create this future together," he said. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia's investment target of Rp1,400 trillion (around US$92 billion) for 2023 is achievable despite a political year that is synonymous with a wait-and-see approach, according to Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. 

"Even though we are entering a political year, despite the wait-and-see approach, the investment climate in Indonesia is getting better," he stated at the groundbreaking of a US-based snack food factory in Cikarang, West Java, Wednesday.

He noted that this is based on the achievement of investment realization during the first half of 2023, which has reached Rp678.7 trillion, which is 48.5 percent of the target.

"I am confident that our investment target will grow, especially in 2023," he emphasized.

Despite the uncertain global economic conditions, the minister remarked that Indonesia's economy still grew by 5.17 percent in the second quarter of 2023 with controlled inflation.

According to Lahadalia, this achievement has resulted in Indonesia being ranked among the countries with the best economic growth in the world, beating the US, Europe, South Korea, and Japan. Furthermore, Indonesia's economic growth is at par with that of India and China.

"Therefore, it will be such a loss for the industry that refuses to build their manufacturing in Indonesia," he remarked.

He emphasized that investment in Indonesia was not solely dominated by investors from certain countries.

He remarked that the US had entered the top five countries with a high investment value in Indonesia along with Singapore, China, and Hong Kong.

"In terms of investment, the United States is now in the top five. It is not true that foreign investment in Indonesia is only dominated by certain countries," he stated.

Lahadalia noted that earlier, investment realization in Indonesia during the first semester of 2023 had reached Rp678.7 trillion, a 16.1-percent increase as compared to the achievements in the previous period, and was able to absorb 849,181 workers.

During the Jan-June 2023 period, Lahadalia noted that the realization of foreign investment had reached Rp363.3 trillion and the realization of domestic investment had reached Rp315.4 trillion.

In addition, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States are listed as the top five countries with high investment value in Indonesia during the first semester of 2023.

"I am grateful that, despite the political year, we continue to earn the trust of foreign investors and domestic entrepreneurs for our country's development," he stated. (Antaranews)

VOInews, Jakarta: The Indonesian Embassy Bangkok held a Diplomatic Reception in celebration of the 78th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia at the Grand Centara Hotel Bangkok, Tuesday (29/8/2023). The reception was attended by the President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, Y.M. Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor Matha as the guest of honor.

"The Indonesian Diplomatic Reception this time is the first diplomatic reception attended by Y.M. Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor Matha," the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok wrote in an official statement received by Indonesia Window here on Wednesday (30/8/2023).

The event, which was attended by 800 guests, was also attended by a number of important officials of the UN agencies and the Royal Thai Government such as the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Y.M. Mrs. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Chairman of the Election Commission of Thailand, Y.M. Mr. Ittiporn Bonpracong, Chairman of the Ombudsman of Thailand, Y.M. Mr. Somsak Suwansujarit, as well as Ambassadors of friendly countries, members of the diplomatic corps, business people, academics, journalists, and other invited guests.

"Another thing that makes this diplomatic reception special is the aspect of cultural exchange between the young generation of Indonesia and Thailand where the Royal Thai Anthem was sung by the Choir from Pathumwan Demonstration School and the Indonesia Raya song was sung by the Bangkok Indonesian School Choir. Both songs were accompanied by Angklung and Kolintang music played by students of the Indonesian School Bangkok," the Indonesian Embassy wrote.

Ambassador Rachmat Budiman warmly welcomed and appreciated the invited guests who had taken the time to attend the Diplomatic Reception. In his remarks, he mentioned that good relations between Indonesia and Thailand have been going on since the royal era before Indonesia's independence, including three visits by King Rama V of Thailand to Java in the 19th and 20th centuries, and followed by visits by King Rama VII, King Rama IX and King Rama X when they were still crown prince.

"These visits were also followed by visits by high-ranking Thai officials to Indonesia, visits by several Indonesian Presidents and high-ranking Indonesian officials to Thailand are clear evidence of the good relations between the two countries," he said.

He added that the good relations between the two countries continue to develop in all fields and all walks of life. Ambassador Rachmat also said that Thailand and Indonesia as the largest economies in ASEAN and fellow founders of regional organizations such as ASEAN and APEC continue to partner and support each other not only bilaterally, but also in regional and multilateral forums.

"The year 2023 will be special for Indonesia and Thailand as Indonesia becomes the chair of ASEAN and Thailand holds general elections to elect members of parliament," he said.

Ambassador Rachmat also explained the theme of Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023, namely ASEAN Matters: Epicenter of Growth and some of Indonesia's main priorities during its chairmanship of ASEAN under the ASEAN Matters pillar, Epicenter of growth and implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

He also congratulated Thailand's new Prime Minister Y.M. Srettha Thavisin, before toasting to the health, prosperity and peace of King Vajilalongkorn and the entire royal family and people of Thailand.

Meanwhile, the guest of honor, Y.M. Mr. Wan Muhammad Noor Matha said that Indonesia and Thailand need to increase the great potential in the ASEAN region such as in the fields of industry, fisheries, culture, public health, and digital economy.

He also said that his brief visit to attend the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Jakarta recently was utilized to meet with President Joko Widodo in an effort to strengthen good relations between the two countries that will benefit the people of Indonesia and Thailand.

"The speech ended with a toast to President Joko Widodo's health and prosperity and peace for all the people and country of Indonesia," the Indonesian Embassy wrote.

On the occasion, the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok also promoted various interesting tourist attractions in Indonesia through the installation of banners and the screening of various wonderful Indonesia promotional videos.

"Guests were also spoiled for choice with a variety of Indonesian culinary specialties such as Soto Ayam, Padang Rice, Rendang Meat, Chicken Satay, Maranggi Satay, Balado Shrimp, Egg Fried Rice, Bika Ambon, Chicken Pastel, Bakwan Jagung, Lumpia, Vegetable Croquettes, and various other Indonesian snacks," the Embassy said.

The invited guests also enjoyed the music of Gamelan Ayodya Swara assisted by the Indonesian Embassy which was played live since the guests began to enter the venue and when the guests began to enjoy the meal.

"The Ratoh Jaroe Dance from Nangroe Aceh Darussalam Province was named the main performer at the diplomatic reception which received special attention from all visitors," wrote the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok. (VOI/Andy)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry, through the Public Works and Public Housing Infrastructure Financing (DJPI) Directorate General, is targeting to launch the Indonesia Green Affordable Housing Program (IGAHP) for low-income people in 2024.

"We hope we can launch the IGAHP in 2024," director general of public works and public housing infrastructure financing at the ministry, Herry Trisaputra Zuna, informed in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He said that the directorate general has initiated the IGAHP to transform the housing ecosystem and achieve the net-zero emission and climate change targets.

According to Zuna, IGAHP is a platform created by the Ministry of PUPR, which focuses on providing green and affordable housing to low-income people (MBR).

"This can also show that affordable housing can adopt environmentally friendly and green housing. We hope medium and luxury housing can follow the trend of environmentally friendly housing," he added.

IGAHP is a transitional step toward green housing that seeks to provide affordable housing either through the construction of new homes or home renovations by applying green building principles, Zuna informed.

IGAHP covers adaptation, mitigation, certification, as well as green housing financing that can help Indonesia achieve its target of net-zero emissions in the housing sector by 2050. He said that the program is being carried out with stakeholders in the housing finance sector.

The program also aims to increase the quality and quantity of affordable housing for MBR by adopting low-carbon and sustainable technologies in the development of the housing sector with the help of environmentally friendly design and construction, he added.

It is hoped that the IGAHP program can save at least 20 percent of water, save at least 20 percent of energy, and reduce the greenhouse effect by 29 percent, he said. (Antaranews)