VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Businessmen of some 50 Indian companies were scheduled to visit Jakarta at the end of October to explore trade opportunities with Indonesian partners, an official said in Kolkata on Saturday.

"At the end of October we are going to visit Indonesia," Additional Director of Indian Chamber of Commerce Bodhisattwa Mukherjee said during a briefing with a group of ASEAN journalists in Kolkata, Saturday.

The businessmen of the Indian companies that will attend a business forum in Jakarta would be mainly form textile sector, specifically in furnishing, home decor, machinery, and finished products.

Indonesia is also a potential market for Indian construction companies, Mukherjee added.

Besides Indonesia, the delegation of Indian companies will also tour to several Southeast Asian countries.

It would be one of India’s efforts in achieving balanced and fast-paced growth of its Northeastern region as Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated in the Act East Policy.

The Act East Policy requires increased people to people contact, trade ties and other relations with countries on India`s east, particularly ASEAN countries.

"The idea is not only to exhibit products, but also to interact with other countries as well," Mukherjee said.

Indonesia holds significance for the Indian economy, as it is the biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. India has become an export destination country for Indonesian palm oil and the second-largest coal importer for India.

With regard to investment, India is also important for Indonesia. India`s investments rose significantly in 2017, more than five folds from $55 million a year earlier to $286.6 million.

Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2017, the Indonesia-India trade balance increased 28.7 percent, with total exports of $14.08 billion and imports at $4.05 billion. (ANTARA)

Kenyan runners David Kibet and Peninah Kigen won the men’s and women’s 10 K categories respectively at the MILO Jakarta International championship in the Rasuna Epicentrum area in Jakarta on Sunday. 

David Kibet emerged as the best after entering the fastest finish in 29 minutes 51 seconds, while Peninah recorded a time of 35 minutes 11 seconds.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian men’s runner, Ridwan finished in 31 minutes 37 seconds and the women`s runner, Odekta Elvina Naibaho in 37 minutes 03 seconds.

"The result here is in accordance with my target of finishing in 29 minutes. It took three months to reach this result because in last year`s championship I only finished sixth, Hopefully next year I would be able to win again here (Jakarta)," David Kibet said in a statement.

According to Odekta Elvina Naibaho what she achieved was the result of hard work.

"I dedicate this victory to the 491th anniversary of Jakarta city. Hopefully this activity will further encourage the citizens to keep moving actively through running sport," Odekta said.

In addition to the 10K, the MILO Jakarta International championship, also contested 5K students and family category. The total participants of this annual championship reached 16,000 people.

Apart from that, Vice Governor of Jakarta, Sandiaga Uno on the sidelines of the opening of the championship believed the implementation of the sport activity moved better. He also expressed appreciation to the sponsors who have supported the international championship.

The following are winners of the MILO Jakarta International 10K  2018.

Men’s 10K of Open International category:

1. David Kibet (Kenya) 29.51

2. Tariku Abera (Ethiopia) 29.57

3. Gilbert Ngenoh (Kenya) 29.59

Women’s 10K of Open International category:

1. Peninah Kigen (Kenya) 35.11

2. Rosemary Mumo (Kenya) 35.11

3. Monica Watetu Ndiritu (Kenya) 35.13


10K of Indonesian men’s category:

1. Ridwan 31.37

2. Nurshodiq 32.05

3. Wiryawan Jaya S 32.19

4. Jauhari Johan 32.32

5. Reza Pradipta 33.04


10K of Indonesian women’s category:

1. Odekta Elvina Naibaho 37.03

2. Afriana Paijo 37.34

3. Yulianingsih 38.19

4. Meri Paijo 38.33

5. Irma Handayani 38.50


10K of Indonesian men’s students category:

1. Rezcan Mass 34.14

2. Yusman Sandhy 35.47

3. Agung Januar 36.22

4. Junipai 36.49

5. Pajar Hambali 37.01

6. Khansa Abhista 38.38

7. Adam Putra V 39.10

8. Finto Adiq Junianto 39.18

9. Sugian Maulana 39.20

10. Taji Ahmad Dani


10K of Indonesian women’s students category:

1. Rieke Febrianti 41.24

2. Nani Dwi Purwati 42.46

3. Melly Milenia Halfsari 43.22

4. Veronica Aileen 44.14

5. Theresia Nabunome 45.06

6. Yvonne Hillery Beti 48.14

7. Nurul Fitriani 48.14

8. Judith Anastasya 49.10

9. Reka Aprilianti 49.57

10. Gabriela Melina Widiasih 53.02



5K men’s category:

1. Febtri Putrazega 17.06

2. Sugeng Sutresno 17.18

3. Sobari Herdiana 19.11

4. Wahyu Satoto 19.26

5. Amran Sitinjak 19.43



5K women’s category:

1. Anjasari Dewi 20.05

2. Vera Febrianti 20.35

3. Carla Felany 24.08

4. Sulastri 27.18

5. Cathrine Susilowati Prajitno 27.32.  (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said that he wants local products to dominate businesses in rest areas along toll roads across the country.

The toll roads` rest areas must not be filled only by foreign brands, he said Boyolali, Central Java, Sunday, while inaugurating the Ngemplak toll gate.

He wanted to see more local food such as soto (soups), salted eggs, grilled tofu, tengkleng, wedang ronde and gudeg in rest areas, to demonstrate that the nation is in favor of local brands.

In addition to food and beverages, other local products must also be offered in the rest areas.

The government will provide subsidies to pay the rent for the stalls.

The President also said that construction of toll roads connecting Jakarta located in western Java , with Banyuwangi in the eastern most part of Java, is a must.

"Development must be implemented in order to face global competition and strengthen our competitiveness. If not, we will be left behind," he said.

At present, Indonesia is trying to catch up with neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam who have been advanced in their infrastructure development.

"I don`t want Indonesia to be left behind by Laos, Cambodia because we are slow in building fundamental infrastructure," he said.

President Jokowi was flanked by State Enterprise Minister Rini M Soemarno and Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basoeki Hadimoeljono on the occasion. (ANTARA)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo again reminded the importance of maintaining unity among the Indonesian people. The President also warned of the high social costs to be taken if the Indonesian people were divided by simply because of political differences in a democratic party. It was delivered by the President while attending Khataman (Finishing) al-Quran and the Birthday (Haul) of Pesantren An Najah Islamic Boarding School, in Gondang, Sragen regency, Central Java, Saturday, July 14. On the occasion the President said that Indonesia has bigger challenges that need to get attention to such as trade war and radicalism.

“With unity we are not necessarily able to face big challenges, let alone without unity. What’s our big challenge? There are so many trade wars, radicalism, industrial revolution among countries today,. We are united not necessarily winning the competition. Therefore I invite all of us to keep our ukhuwah islamiyah (brotherhood as Muslims), to keep our ukhuwah wathaniyah (brotherhood as a Nation),” said President Joko Widodo.

In the Khataman Al-Quran and Haul of An Najah Islamic Boarding School, the President, who was accompanied by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, also reminded the people of the greatness of the Indonesian nation. According to him, steps to maintain the greatness of one of them can be done by husnu tafahum or prejudiced both to fellow community, not with suut tafahum or suspecting each other. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)