VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo released the 2022 first export of smelter-grade alumina from PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia in the Galang Batang Special Economic Zone in Riau Islands on Tuesday (25/10. In a press release of the Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau, the President appreciated the company that was brave enough to downstream the mineral and mining industry. He also reaffirmed the importance of industrial downstream by stopping raw material export. Then, the President encouraged companies to process the raw materials into finished goods and semi-finished goods in order to increase the product's added value.

On the occasion, the President further remarked that Indonesia has a great potential to downstream coal into dimethyl ethyl (DME). The downstream will bring about a lot of profits for the country from personal and company tax to jobs for the people. He also affirmed again that the government will keep stopping raw mineral and coal export despite getting protests from many countries via the World Trade Organization. 

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economy, Airlangga Hartarto said that the Smelter-grade Alumina (SGA) production in the future will accelerate the downstream of bauxite into the aluminum ingot. It needs domestic industry for various products, such as plate, billet, scrap, and profile that are required in many industrial processes such as aircraft, ship, automotive, and construction.

Pacitan Regency in East Java is famous for its beautiful beaches, such as Klayar, Banyu Tibo, Buyutan and Srau. In addition, Pacitan also has many other wonderful tourism destinations.  One of them is the Maron River. Due to its beauty and authenticity, the river gets the nickname “the Amazon River“ coming from East Java. The distance is about 40 kilometers from the Pacitan square, while it takes approximately one hour by motorcycle.

You have to pay an entrance ticket of Rp 5,000 to enter the Maron River tourism attraction. By walking 20 meters from the entrance, you will arrive at the river bank. Here, you will see a row of boats docking at the side of the river on a small dock. To enjoy the wonder of this tourism area, you have to try the river crossing adventure. You can also rent boats owned by the local residents with a maximum capacity of 6 people. Before going down the river, you are recommended to wear a life jacket. Tour along the river stretches for 4.5 kilometers for 45 minutes.

When you go down this river, you will enter a river that divides the forest area. It is not surprising that the destination is nicknamed the 'Amazon' of Indonesia. It is because the right and left sides of the river are surrounded with shady tropical forests. Along the river, you will enjoy the bluish green water of the Maron River. Coming closer to the end of the riverside tourism route, you will go along the coral hills near the beach. During the trip along the river, you can also enjoy some interesting photo spots. There is one favorite photo spot, namely a swing that is attached to a large tree trunk above the river. You can relax by sitting on the swing with your feet touching the surface of the river. But, of course, the best spot is by sitting at the end of the boat which has a backdrop of lush trees and streams. This walking river tourism trip will end at Ngiroboyo Beach. You can go down for a moment and enjoy the atmosphere of the beach. The boat driver will wait for two hours maximumly before returning to the dock. Besides the river activity, you can also swim and fish in the Maron River. The tourism attraction is equipped with toilets, restaurants, and a large parking lot.

Ciwidey is famous for its white crater tours and Rancabali tea plantations. But recently, there has been a new favorite tourism spot, namely Curug Tilu Rancabali Ecopark. This place is fairly complete because it provides spots for tours, and gazebos to stay overnight. You will have no trouble finding the location of this Curug Tilu Ecopark because you can find it right next to the entrance gate of the Rancabali Tea Plantation. With an area of about 3.7 hectares, of course, Curug Tilu Ecopark has lots of interesting spots. Some of the things that are always targeted by tourists are in the glamping gazebo area, on Balinese-style net beds, photo spots with the background of the Rancabali Tea Garden, and many others. In addition, there is also a playground for children.

The Curug Tilu Ecopark opens from 07:00 to 21:00. From Monday to Friday, the ticket price is Rp 15,000. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the ticket price is Rp 20,000. Do you want to stay? For one night, the glam camp at the Curug Tilu Ecopark sets a price of Rp 400,000 on weekdays and Rp 500,000 on weekends. Access to get there is fairly easy. From the highway towards the Kawah Putih gate to Situ Patenggang, you just have to pass the turn and the location is on the right. To make it easier, you can search for it directly on the online map application by typing Curug Tilu Ecopark. If you want to visit this tourism spot, don't forget to always comply with the health protocols so that your vacation is safer and more comfortable.

Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea, Gandi Sulistiyanto invited businesspeople of South Korea and Indonesia to cooperate to boost the trade volume of both countries in many sectors. The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul in its written statement on  Friday (21/1)  stated that Ambassador Gandi Sulistiyanto at a business forum organized by the Korea-Indonesia Management Association (KIMA) explained that in the era of President Joko Widodo's government, the economic diplomacy is carried out as a stimulus for development.

The reinforcement of economic cooperation of both countries was marked by the signing of the Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK-CEPA) at the end of 2020. Moreover, the construction of an electric car by the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (HHMI) factory is also a real manifestation of Indonesia and South Korea's commitment to move forward the economy and the welfare of the people of both countries. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia, which is intended to be a hub for electric car production, plans to produce electric cars in Southeast Asia with a total 250,000 units per year.

Furthermore, Ambassador Gandi noted that his assignment as the Indonesian Ambassador to Seoul coincided with the Indonesian Presidency at the G20. Bringing the theme "Recover Together, Recover Stronger", Indonesia invites the 19 largest economies in the world, including South Korea to focus on three main agendas, namely restructuring global health architecture, digital-based transformation and energy transition.