VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy chaired the 30th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council (ASCC) Meeting that discussed various socio-cultural issues faced by countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"Today, we held a meeting in relation to (ASEAN's) socio-cultural pillars that will be adopted at the 43rd ASEAN, which is scheduled to take place in Jakarta in September," Minister Effendy remarked at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Several figures, including Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn and several ministers from ASEAN countries, participated in the meeting.

Tuesday's meeting constitutes the second ASCC meeting held under Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship this year, while the first one, or the 29th ASCC Meeting, was held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on May 8.

Meanwhile, the 43rd ASEAN Summit will be the second summit to be held this year. The previous summit took place on May 9-11 in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, following the 29th ASCC Meeting.

At the press conference, Joko Kusnanto Anggoro, the minister's special staff for international cooperation, highlighted that under Indonesia's chairmanship this year, ASEAN countries have been prolific in convening declarations and joint statements regarding efforts to address socio-cultural issues in the Southeast Asian region.

"The declarations and statements made resonate with domestic programs, particularly those linked with efforts aimed at alleviating poverty and stunting, realizing equitable development, as well as addressing issues related to gender and others," he stated.

He further noted that the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs will outline its domestic programs to ASEAN countries, with the objective of implementing the program at the ASEAN level.

Furthermore, he affirmed that the ministry will strive to push ASEAN countries to continue to pay close attention to socio-cultural issues.

"In 2023 and 2024, we aim to be more active in ASEAN to promote the urgency to address socio-cultural issues," Anggoro remarked.

He also expressed hope that the next chairs of ASEAN will follow in Indonesia's footsteps in promoting the need to invest significant efforts to solve such issues in the region. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has expressed the hope that the simplification of the requirement for receiving subsidies on electric motorbike purchases will push up their sales.

The minister has decided to reduce the number of conditions that need to be fulfilled for receiving the subsidy from four to just one: the subsidy applicant must have an identity card number (NIK).

"This simplification aims to boost public participation in increasing the number of electric motorbikes in Indonesia," he explained after attending a student orientation activity at a polytechnic in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Minister Kartasasmita outlined the simplified requirement in the Industry Minister's Regulation (Permenperin) No. 21 of 2023 on the revision of Permenperin No. 6 of 2023 regarding the guidelines for the distribution of government assistance for the purchase of two-wheeled battery-based electric vehicles (EVs).

Under the previous regulation, the government was only providing electric motorbike subsidies to micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) actors receiving smallholder business credit (KUR) assistance and productive aids (BPUM) as well as the recipients of 450VA–900VA electricity subsidies.

"We have simplified the requirements. The regulation has taken effect. One NIK for one electric motorbike, that simple," he highlighted.

The minister then expressed the hope that the new regulation will help the government distribute the subsidies to a broader population, thereby helping achieve its sales target of 200 thousand motorbikes by the end of this year.

"The value and quota of the incentive (subsidy) remain unchanged. We only made a revision to the requirements in the hopes of facilitating the public (in acquiring electric motorbikes), since our priority is to shoot up the number (of EVs)," he said.

The regulation stipulates that the subsidy will be disbursed in the form of a discount of Rp7 million (US$458) on the purchase of each electric motorbike.

Kartasasmita explained that the new regulation also aims to shift the mindset of the people regarding EVs.

To reach the sales target, he urged the manufacturers of EVs to take part in disseminating information about the advantages of the eco-friendly vehicles by highlighting the higher level of comfort and economic efficiency offered by them compared to conventional fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

"This is our common duty to encourage people to switch from conventional vehicles to EVs," he added. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The policy to develop food security is directed at mitigating the impact of climate change, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said.

"We think mitigating the impact of climate change is important since it could pose a risk of food price volatility. Therefore, increasing productivity, food sovereignty, and maintaining price stability are important," she explained.

She made the remarks during a plenary meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) on the Agenda for the Government's Response to the Faction's General View of the 2024 State Budget Bill and Financial Notes, in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Food security development will be directed at providing access and stabilizing food prices through a number of measures, namely increasing domestic production, protecting farming businesses, and accelerating the development and rehabilitation of food infrastructure, the minister added.

Efforts could also be made through the development of food estate areas and strengthening of national food reserves, she added.

Indrawati affirmed that the government is committed to maintaining food security in the future.

This commitment has been reflected in the food security budget allocation of Rp108.8 trillion in the 2024 state budget draft.

The funds will be channeled through central government spending of Rp89.6 trillion and transfers to the regions of Rp19.2 trillion, she informed.

In line with the Indonesian government's commitment, ASEAN has also committed to strengthening financial sector collaboration to boost food security at the regional and global levels.

This commitment was expressed at the Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (AFMGM) in Jakarta on August 25, 2023.

Indrawati said that collaboration will be strengthened through ASEAN financial processes and other ASEAN sectoral bodies.

Through cross-sectoral collaboration, ASEAN finance ministers and central bank governors are targeting policy improvements to reduce turmoil in food security and increase food availability and affordability to ensure more equitable healthy food access.

Increasing financial access for small and medium enterprises and small farmers, as well as increasing trade facilities to encourage food security in the region are also necessary, the minister added. (antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Minister of Manpower, Ida Fauziyah, has said that the cooperation of all parties, including the private sector, is required to support Indonesia's efforts to become a developed country.

During a working visit to Malang city, East Java, on Tuesday, she noted that Indonesia managed to recover quickly from the difficult situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic and record economic growth of above five percent.

"We could achieve this condition and could recover quickly because development in Indonesia is not only the responsibility of the government," she said.

According to the minister, Indonesia's development is the responsibility of all stakeholders, including private companies in the country.

She said that the contribution of all parties will be key to Indonesia's economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

One form of private parties' contributions to Indonesia's development is the Bentoel Bangun Bangsa Festival, she added.

"Building the nation is not only the government's duty, but also a matter of private firms. This is a form of responsibility through the four pillars of this festival," she said.

The first of the four pillars initiated at the festival was a commitment to environment, social, and governance (ESG), including managing waste and ensuring that no waste ends up in landfills.

The pillars also included using water wisely and conserving water sources, reducing carbon emissions, utilizing new and renewable energy sources, and finally, supporting the government in increasing the digital literacy of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

"Building MSMEs is not only the government's responsibility, but also a concern for private firms that have grown into large companies," Bentoel Group president director William Lumentut said.

The festival is being held in Malang city, East Java, on August 29 and 30, 2023, and aims to inspire and educate the public about environmental and social issues. (antaranews)