VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia is firmly committed to developing its chemical and energy industries, President Joko Widodo said during a meeting with Chinese business leaders in Chengdu, China, on Friday.

"Indonesia is committed to developing the chemical and energy industry in the country, particularly in North Kalimantan," he said.

Widodo stressed the importance of government regulations in the national industry policy to support the targeted green economy.

"(The regulations) contains target, utilization, provision, and distribution of oil, gas, and coal-based chemical," he said.

He further said that the business leaders who attended the meeting would hopefully play a role in the development of the chemical industry in Indonesia.

"Indonesia is targeting to become the largest petrochemical producer in Asia," he added.

He also expressed his appreciation to business leaders whose companies invest in the development of several industrial areas in Indonesia,including the construction of a petrochemical refinery in Kalimantan.

During the meeting, President Widodo was accompanied by several ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy; Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan; and Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi.

Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia, and Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun also joined the meeting.  (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - In an effort to provide easy access to transactions and financial services for Indonesians abroad, Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN) Global collaborated with PT Mandiri Tbk. by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday (27/7) at Plaza Mandiri, Jakarta.

The signing process was carried out by IDN President Kartini Sarsilaningsih and Senior Vice President of Transaction banking Retail Sales of Bank Mandiri Thomas Wahyudi and witnessed by IDN Global Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dino Patti Djalal, Deputy President Director of Bank Mandiri Alexandra Askandar, and Director of Network & Retail Banking of Bank Mandiri Aquarius Rudianto.

In his remarks, Dino Patti Djalal said that previously, Indonesians have experienced obstacles when sending money to their relatives in the country, namely by transferring funds through an institution with considerable administrative costs. So with the presence of Livin Mandiri, Indonesian people abroad, especially Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), can be facilitated to transact only through a hand.

Meanwhile, IDN Global President Kartini Sarsilaningsih said that through this collaboration, Livin Mandiri is expected to encourage the economic development of the Diaspora. is expected to encourage the economic development of the Indonesian Diaspora.

At the same time, become a forum for expanding the acceptance and acquisition of Bank Mandiri banking services through a variety of financial education and socialization for the Indonesian Diaspora. various financial education and socialization for the diaspora.

"Including the market potential for Indonesian products in the countries where the members of IDN Global reside. IDN Global members in order to continue to make a positive contribution to the development of the economy in Indonesia," he explained. economy in Indonesia," he explained.

In her welcoming speech, Deputy President Director of Bank Mandiri Alexandra Askandar said the number of Indonesian Diaspora abroad, which is estimated to reach more than 8 million people are considered potential enough to become Livin Mandiri users.

She added, in the future the Livin application registration process will be made easier, which will collaborate with the Director General of Immigration to make it easier for Indonesians abroad to register using their passports. abroad to register using their passport.

The signing of the MoU with Bank Mandiri is also an activity from the series of activities towards the Congress of Indonesian Diaspora 7 (CID-7) which is planned to be held on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at The Hall, Senayan City 8th Floor Jakarta with the theme "Empowering Indonesian Diaspora in the Strategy for Nation Branding towards Indonesia 2045."

This theme was taken considering the characteristics of Diaspora Indonesia is living abroad and has access to communicate with the international community. international community. So that the Indonesian Diaspora is the human capital as well as the social capital of the nation, which has an important role in carrying capital of the nation that has an important role in bringing a positive image of the nation (Nation Branding) of Indonesia in the eyes of the world. Branding) of Indonesia in the eyes of the world.

VOINews, Jakarta - Bank Indonesia (BI) has reiterated its staunch commitment to working toward strengthening its policies as part of efforts to support the development of Indonesian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

"Specifically, in order to support MSME development, Bank Indonesia is committed to implementing the three pillars of policy," the central bank's Deputy Governor, Aida S. Budiman, said in an official statement received in Jakarta on Friday.

The first pillar concerns efforts to improve the quality of corporation management to create an integrated ecosystem, she said.

The second pillar is related to the need to further build the capacity of MSME human resources and boost their capability to develop their businesses, including by undertaking digitalization measures with the objective of enhancing productivity.

The final pillar pertains to the urgent need to focus on helping MSME players gain access to financing schemes, which could help them become more competitive, she said.

BI has taken concrete measures to support MSME development, which have included organizing the 2023 Indonesia Creative Works (KKI) event from July 27–30, 2023, which has drawn direct and virtual participation from more than a thousand government-assisted MSMEs.

Through the KKI event, the central bank is helping 280 MSME players connect with 21 financial institutions. It has also organized 89 export business-matching activities with five aggregators.

During the opening of a talk show on the sidelines of the 2023 KKI on Friday, BI facilitated Indonesian MSMEs and foreign buyers to sign a memorandum of understanding that is expected to motivate MSME actors to penetrate global markets.

The talk show discussed several matters, particularly export opportunities and targeted countries. The speakers at the talk show also reviewed success stories and concrete efforts made by MSMEs to penetrate export markets and bolster their competitiveness at the global level.

The talk show also served as a forum to disseminate the government's policies that aim to help MSMEs expand their businesses to markets abroad.

Bank Indonesia held the talk show with the goal of building optimism among MSME players to continue to invest efforts to produce high-quality products with high added value.  (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Ministry of Manpower and Japan's Miyagi prefectural government have signed a cooperation agreement on accelerating the placement of Indonesian technical interns, specified skilled workers (SSW), and technicians in Japan.

The agreement was marked by the signing of a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) by secretary general of the Manpower Ministry, Anwar Sanusi, and the Governor of Miyagi prefecture, Yoshihiro Murai, here on Friday. The MoC signing was witnessed by Indonesian Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah.

"Hopefully, the implementation of this MoC will run effectively and efficiently," Fauziyah said.

The minister also instructed the ministry's officials to quickly implement the MoC.

Fauziyah said she met Japan's Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Katsunobu Kato, during India's G20 Presidency meeting, where the two agreed to strengthen relations between the countries.

"I think the MoC signing is part of our efforts to strengthen relations between Indonesia and Japan," she said.

Earlier, Minister Fauziyah invited Indonesians who are looking to work in Japan to take advantage of the private-to-private (p-to-p) placement scheme.

Under the scheme, qualified Indonesians can work as specified skill workers (SSW) in Japan.

She said the placement scheme has been implemented since March 2023.

The Manpower Ministry has said that it will continue to promote the placement of SSW for Indonesian migrant workers to all stakeholders.

According to Fauziyah, matters related to the placement cost have been regulated through the Decree of the head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI).

The Indonesian migrant worker placement cooperation will involve the Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Company (P3MI) and the Japanese Employment Placement Service Provider (JEPSP), she explained.

The p-to-p scheme aims to fulfill the needs of Japanese employers and the demand of the Japanese Accepting Organization (JAO).

"Opportunity to work in Japan is a very good opportunity for Indonesian workers, given that regulations concerning foreign workers in Japan are good in protecting foreign workers," Fauziyah said. (Antaranews)