VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Economic transformation is necessary to help Indonesia level up and become a high-income country, according to deputy of economy at the Ministry of National Development Planning, Amelia Adininggar Widyasanti.

"This transformation is being carried out through industrialization," she said at a seminar on "Resisting the Deindustrialization Curse: Towards Green Industry Mainstreaming," which was followed online on Tuesday.

She said that industrialization was an effective means of enhancing productivity, which would have an impact on economic growth in the long term.

Widyasanti underlined that to achieve the goals of the 2025–2045 National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN), industrialization must be made inclusive and sustainable. Inclusivity involves adhering to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) throughout the production chain.

She said that in preparing the RPJPN, her ministry determined priority industries so that they could provide industry focuses in the future.

"In the RPJPN, we have shown that one of the priority industries is natural resources downstreaming, not only mineral resources but also sustainable (resources), for example, industries that are based on oil palm plantations and the downstreaming of seaweed, cocoa, and others," she explained.

She said that basic industries will also receive attention so that they become supporting sectors for other industries. The chemical industry, for instance, stands as a fundamental sector catering to the raw material requirements of various other industries. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Puan Maharani, has emphasized that the youth, constituting nearly 34 percent of the ASEAN population, possess significant potential to be agents of positive change in solving challenges.

"Your fresh perspectives, innovative approaches for decision-making, and unwavering commitment to solving regional challenges are important assets for collective progress," she remarked while opening the Young Parliaments of AIPA (YPA) Meeting here on Tuesday.

The meeting was held as part of the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly.

According to Maharani, the issues raised at the YPA meeting were relevant and matched the theme of the 44th AIPA General Assembly, namely a "Responsive Parliament for a Stable and Prosperous ASEAN".

She praised the dedication of ASEAN's young parliament members in shaping a better future for the region, including by discussing solutions to diverse global challenges, as was done at the meeting.

"This meeting highlighted several crucial issues that need our attention. First, we must increase the role of parliament in encouraging the initiatives of youth empowerment in digital entrepreneurship and leadership," she said.

She noted that the empowerment of youth in entrepreneurship and digital leadership includes providing support through policies and regulations.

Maharani underlined that ASEAN's digital economy hold significant potential, projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030.

Harnessing the power of technology and innovation can be open new avenues of opportunity for youngsters in Southeast Asia, she added.

The second issue highlighted at the meeting, she said, was related to the economic problems faced by the youth.

Maharani noted that while economic growth in most parts of Southeast Asia has been robust during the post-pandemic recovery phase, the unemployment rate among young adults has remains elevated.

In addition, many youngsters are engaged in vulnerable jobs with low salaries, she added.

She then invited young members of parliament under AIPA to jointly seek solutions to those problems, such as by enhancing education, vocational training, and skill development programs.

She said that AIPA must play an important role in advocating those steps and fostering collaboration between members of the parliament in ASEAN to formulate policies that bolster youth employment.

Maharani also shared that the topics planned for discussion in the meeting encompass ensuring youth participation in promoting and safeguarding democracy.

She said that youngsters must be encouraged to uphold the values of democracy, the supremacy of law, and respect for human rights.

The YPA meeting was chaired by deputy chairperson of the DPR's Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP), Gilang Dhielafararez, and was co-chaired by DPR member Dyah Roro Esti. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Puan Maharani, and Chair of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste, Maria Fernanda Lay, discussed Timor-Leste's ASEAN membership during a bilateral meeting on Tuesday.

At the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly in Jakarta, Maharani expressed hopes that Timor-Leste would meet the criteria for full membership ahead of the ASEAN Summit in September 2023.

Indonesia has continued to encourage ASEAN countries to support Timor-Leste's full membership of the organization, she emphasized.

She said that she is looking forward to more intensive cooperation once Timor-Leste becomes an official ASEAN member.

She also highlighted the importance of Indonesia and Timor-Leste realizing the Bilateral Investment Treaty, following the increase in cooperation in various fields such as the economy, trade, and investment.

Maharani said that the implementation of the treaty would create a more favorable investment climate, encouraging more investment from Indonesia to Timor-Leste.

She also expressed hope that the parliaments of the two countries would encourage their respective governments to immediately hold discussions on the Indonesia-Timor-Leste border negotiation.

It is hoped that cooperation in the development of the Border Economic Zone, which will benefit the two countries, could be improved if the border issue is resolved, she said.

She also called for the opening of cooperation opportunities with the parliament of Timor-Leste through inter-parliamentary visits or other forums, as part of the diplomatic role of parliament.

On the same occasion, deputy head of Commission IX of the DPR, Charles Honoris, said that the Timor-Leste delegation sought the DPR's support regarding the country's ASEAN membership.

He informed that Timor-Leste currently has become the 11th member of ASEAN, but its membership is not yet full, so the country still cannot vote in ASEAN forums, including in AIPA, in which it only plays the role of an observer country.

Therefore, it is hoped that Timor-Leste will officially be declared as a full member at the upcoming ASEAN Summit, allowing its parliament to participate in AIPA, he added. (Antaranews)

Indonesia has delayed until next month a free trial launch of its $7.3 billion high-speed rail line, the consortium behind it said on Tuesday, the latest in a series of setbacks for the flagship, China-funded project.

PT KCIC, a consortium of Indonesian and Chinese state companies behind the 142-kilometre (88-mile) railway connecting the Indonesian capital Jakarta and Bandung city, said more time was needed to ensure passengers' safety and comfort.

The project, which is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, was originally set to be completed by 2019 but has been beset by problems, including a $1.2 billion cost overrun and delays on its commercial operation.

A free, limited trial run for passengers, initially set for Aug. 18, has been postponed to early September, but no delay is expected to the full operational launch on Oct. 1, KCIC said on Tuesday.

Safety checks were ongoing as of last Friday, according to transport ministry official Mohamad Risal Wasal.

KCIC said internal trials had gone smoothly but the company was still working with the transport ministry on necessary operational certificates.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Joko Widodo during the Indonesian leader's trip to China last month that both countries must ensure the project adheres to high standards as it nears completion. (Reuters)