VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (VOI News) - The Moroccan Alumni Association in Indonesia (HIMMAMI) held an international webinar in commemoration of the 60 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Morocco, Monday (15/06). Present as the keynote speaker was the Middle East Director of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Achmad Rizal Purnama. In his presentation, Achmad Rizal Purnama said Indonesia-Morocco relations in the future must be encouraged much faster. For this reason, he continued, there are a number of considerations, including the two countries having to win in the war against COVID-19. He said Indonesia and Morocco must collaborate to ensure the need for medical devices is met to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Indonesia and Morocco must become a force to mobilize international support regarding access to equitable medicines and COVID-19 vaccines at affordable prices. At present, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco are members of the International Coordination Group on COVID-19. The Foreign Minister's Forum can be used as a vehicle to fight for vaccines for all, especially for developing countries.

In addition to the war against COVID-19, the Middle East Director Achmad Rizal Purnama said Indonesia and Morocco must also collaborate in combating economic slowness, supporting Palestine and preventing Israeli annexation on Palestine, as well as strengthening multilaterism," said Achmad Rizal Purnama.

The International webinars to commemorate the 60 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Morocco also featured speakers including the Indonesian Ambassador to Morocco Hasrul Azwar, the Moroccan Ambassador to Indonesia Ouadiâ Benabdellah, and Ustad Abdul Somad. (VOI / AHM)

Head of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Suhariyanto. (ANTARA/Sella Panduarsa Gareta)

Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of US$2.1 billion in May 2020, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS).

The country's export value reached $10.53 billion, while imports touched $8.44 billion last month.

"Hence, we observe that this surplus is less encouraging, as exports fell, and imports kept plunging deeper," BPS Head Suhariyanto stated at a virtual press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

Indonesia’s export value reached $10.53 billion in May 2020, down 13.40 percent from that in April 2020 and a 28.95-percent decline in comparison with the export value in May 2019.

The country’s imports plunged 32.65 percent in May 2020 to reach $8.44 billion, from that recorded in April 2020 and declined by 42.20 percent as compared to that in May 2019.

"The decline in exports was the lowest since July 2016, at $9.6 billion," Suhariyanto stated.

This occurred since export destination countries experienced an economic slowdown and lowered social and economic activities owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hence, Suhariyanto has cautioned to remain watchful for a further decline in exports and imports, particularly in the imports of raw materials and capital goods.

"One needs to really look out for a decline in the imports of raw materials and capital goods, as it could impact domestic industrial and trade activities," he added. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo. ANTARA/BPMI Setpres/Handout/wsj

President Joko Widodo has been watching carefully the current world economic growth that is experiencing a sharp correction and the entire nation grappling to avoid falling into recession.

The head of state made the remarks in his welcome address while opening the 2020 National Internal Control Coordinating Meeting of the Government in 2020 through videoconference from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday.

"All countries are struggling to salvage themselves from terrible economic pressures. Demand and supply are disrupted, production is also problematic, and the world economic growth is witnessing a very sharp correction. All countries are struggling to not enter the brink of recession," the president remarked in Jakarta on Monday.

Widodo pointed to all nations, including Indonesia, facing such a situation.

The president called for swift and appropriate government response to all matters.

"In the health sector, we must control the transmission of COVID-19, so that it does not spread more broadly and does not infect healthy people, while the sick should be treated until healed. In the socio-economic field, we also have to guarantee that poor people and those affected by COVID-19 receive protection and social assistance," the president emphasized.

The head of state also called on the government to ensure that the informal sector and MSMEs continue to survive and that businesses keep moving while also avoiding mass layoffs.(ANTARA)

Brigadier General Darmawan Sutawijaya, a member of the Security and Law Enforcement Subdivision of Indonesia's Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Response. ANTARA/Dewanto Samodro

The cyber team of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) is currently conducting investigations into 130,680 hoaxes related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Brigadier General Darmawan Sutawijaya stated.

"Of the total 137,829 hoaxes related to COVID-19, some 130,680 are being investigated. A total of 17 suspects have been arrested, and 87 are being processed under the law. They include 66 men and 38 women," Sutawijaya, a member of the Security and Law Enforcement Subdivision of Indonesia's Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Response, stated in Jakarta on Monday.

In connection with cyber violation being committed, the National Police also conducted investigation into 75,755 general criminal cases related to COVID-19.

In connection with economic crimes, the National Police investigated 151,003 cases of hoarding of goods and 161,077 cases of violations in the trade of food and medical equipment.

The police also handled cases of violations of the government's homecoming ("mudik") ban. Travelers that violated the ban used private vehicles and did not ply on the main roads, he revealed.

To break the chain of COVID-19 transmission, the Joko Widodo administration has imposed a ban on Indonesian Eid al-Fitr holiday revelers from returning to their hometowns and instructed them to stay put where they were.

"Some 637 vehicles faced police action taken by their officers. In addition, 109,479 vehicles were urged to turn around," he remarked.

The Eid al-Fitr holidays fell on May 24-25, 2020.

To implement the "mudik" ban, the National Police established checkpoints in the areas of Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, and East Java.

"A total of 524 checkpoints were set up in the Jakarta area, while 2,374 checkpoints were established in West Java, Central Java and East Java," he added.(ANTARA)