VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) highlighted the high potential of tourism in becoming the largest contributor of foreign exchange. The tourism industry should be intensified further to offer more foreign exchange to the nation, Jokowi stated during a gala dinner to mark the 50th anniversary of the Association of Indonesian Restaurants and Hotels (PHRI), here, Monday evening.

"Our tourism potential is huge. We are among the six most beautiful countries and the top 10 countries that must be visited," he pointed out.

Jokowi believes that such recognition must become a brand and asset for Indonesia`s tourism, he added. He said tourism has contributed foreign exchange worth US$16 billion, exceeding those from palm oil and CPO.

"Now, it is already the highest," Jokowi noted.

The president has urged the public works and public housing minister to prioritize infrastructure development in four of the 10 New Bali tourist destinations. The four priority destinations are Mandalika, Lake Toba, Labuan Bajo, and Borobudur.

Infrastructure development should not only be centered on Java Island, where 149 million of the country`s 260 million population, reside.

During the gala dinner, Jokowi was accompanied by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

Meanwhile, President Jokowi was named Father of Indonesian Tourism during the gala dinner of (PHRI). PHRI Chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani bestowed the title on Jokowi at the Jakarta Convention Hall.

"The honorary title of Father of National Tourism was bestowed by PHRI on Mr Jokowi for his initiatives and commitment to tourism development since he was the mayor of Solo," Sukamdani noted.

Infrastructure development projects, such as toll roads, 11 new airports, seaports, and power plants, constructed by President Jokowi across Indonesia, have directly affected the tourism sector, he pointed out.

Owing to Jokowi`s policies, including on visa-free travel, the rise in tourist arrivals in Indonesia has surpassed the average increase in the regions, he remarked. (ant) 

Indonesia`s official reserve assets at the end of January 2019 were quite high, at US$120.1 billion.

"The assets were lower than $120.7 billion the end of December 2018," Bank Indonesia (BI) Executive Director for Communications Agusman noted in a statement in Jakarta on Monday.

The position of reserve assets was equivalent to financing of 6.7 months of imports or 6.5 months of imports and servicing of government external debt, well above the international standard of reserve adequacy of three months of imports. BI considers that the position of official reserve assets is able to support the external sector resilience and maintain macroeconomic and financial system sustainability, he remarked.

He noted that the decline in reserve assets in January 2019 was mainly due to the government external debt repayment.

Going forward, BI believes that the official reserve assets remain adequate, supported by confidence in the stability of and upbeat outlook for the domestic economy as well as positive export performance. (ant)

Sail Tidore will be organized in Tidore Islands, North Maluku Province, in 2021 to coincide with a meeting of the Global Network of Magellan Cities (GNMC), according to Ali Ibrahim, the mayor of Tidore. Tidore will host the 10th meeting of GNMC in July 2021, the mayor stated in Ternate, Monday.

Sail Tidore will be organized to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. At least 22 mayors from 13 countries, visited by Magellan during his expedition, will participate in the meeting.

The GNMC is a network of all cities that the explorer Magellan traveled to on the first-ever journey around the world, promoting collaborative participation and cooperation among the different cities that share the history of Magellan`s first journey.  This network of cities will celebrate the 5th century of Magellan`s journey that took place from 1519 to 1522 and from 2019 to 2022.

Magellan organized the Spanish expedition to the East Indies from 1519 to 1522, with five ships provided by King Charles V, resulting in the first circumnavigation of the Earth. The explorer died in the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. The circumnavigation of Magellan was later completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano, a Spanish explorer with only two ships, Victoria and Trinidad.

Sail Tidore is part of a series of the Sail Indonesia international maritime event organized annually by the Indonesian Government to promote tourism. (ant) 

The government will install 1.2 million new power connections free for the poor in 2019, according to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan.

"There is a plan that the government would contribute some Rp6 trillion to install free power connections this year. The number is some 1.2 million connections, particularly for the poor," Jonan stated in Jakarta, Monday.

With the support of other sources, including the State Budget of the ministry and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from state enterprises, the number of new power connections might increase, he added.  With funds from the ministry, there will be additional 100 thousand to 150 thousand connections, he noted.

Jonan stated that State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno had also agreed to channel CSR funds from PLN, Bulog, Jamkrindo, Pegadaian, Semen Indonesia, Dahana, Perhutani, BRI, Pindad, Telkom, Telkomsel, BNI, Airnav, Askrindo, Waskita, PTPN III Holding (PTPN VIII), Jasa Marga, Jasa Raharja, Jasindo, Biofarma, KAI, Hutama Karya, Telkomsel, Pertamina, Mandiri, Angkasa Pura 2, Pelindo 2, BTN, PIHC, WIKA, PP, PGN, Antam, Taspen, ASDP, and POS, among other things.

He explained that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had instructed to provide new power connections for the poor in certain regions of the country.

"The thinking is not loss and profits, but better equitable development," he pointed out.

The government has set a target of achieving 99.9 percent electricity coverage in 2019, he remarked.

"I am optimistic that it will be achieved," Jonan added. (ant)