VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The total number of people infected by Covid-19 kept increasing, as if it was unstoppable. Many countries kept reporting new omicron cases. 

In Europe, for instance, WHO stated there were more than 7 million new cases of Omicron across the continent in the first week of January. The number rose twofold within two weeks. 

WHO Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Kluge said on Tuesday (1/1) there were 26 countries reporting more than 1 percent of the population infected every week. He quoted the estimation from Institute of Health Metrics at University of Washington which projected half of the West European population would be infected in the next six or eight weeks. 

Kluge was worried that when Omicron moves to the East, crossing Europe, that variant will take more victims much more in countries with low vaccination rate. In Denmark, he recorded, Covid-19 inpatient rate was six higher on those who were not vaccinated than the vaccinated ones. Similar high cases also happened in the US, Poland, and Japan. 

The Omicron also infected Indonesians. Data from the Health Ministry until Monday (10/1) showed 506 Omicron cases in Indonesia. The ministry's Director for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Siti Nadia Tarmizi said that Omicron infection was still dominated by international travelers and 84 of them were local infections. Therefore, she affirmed that the people must be ready in facing the Omicron, considering how easily it spreads.

Although Omicron has lighter symptoms, the people must stay on alert. More infection can burden health facility capacity and operational capacity of other sectors. Health protocols are a must, including wearing maskers, keeping distance, and washing hands. Preventing is better than curing.

The government of East Nusa Tenggara supported the Komodo and other threatened species conservation programs implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Flores Island. Deputy Governor of East Nusa Tenggara, Josef Nae Soi held a meeting with the coordinator for the conservation program dubbed "Investing in the Komodo Dragon and Other Globally Threatened Species in Flores" (IN-FLORES).

Josef Nae Soi in a press release received on Sunday (9/1) said that the East Nusa Tenggara government is ready to give a support and recommendation letter needed by UNDP for the IN-FLORES implementation for the conservation and community empowerment around the conservation area. He further remarked about the importance of a clear task division between UNDP and the provincial government in the conservation program.

Meanwhile, UNDP's IN-FLORES Program Coordinator, Fransiska Sugi explained that UNDP in cooperation with the Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry has submitted the IN-FLORES Program proposal to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). GEF had granted 80 billion rupiahs funding for a six-year term from 2022 until 2028. Fransiska Sugi also said that the UNDP conservation program will be implemented in Komodo dragon habitats across three regencies, namely West Manggarai, East Manggarai, and Ngada. This program will include the integration of conservation, economic development of the community around the Komodo dragon habitat, and research about Komodo dragon and other flora and fauna around the Komodo conservation area.

Indonesia and Japan agreed to increase cooperation in innovation and sustainable economy through the Public Private Track 1.5: Japan Indonesia Co-Creation Partnership for Innovative and Sustainable Economic Society. The cooperation was agreed by Coordinating Minister for Economy, Airlangga Hartarto when receiving the visit of Japanese Minister for Economy Trade and Industry, Koichi Hagiuda in Jakarta on Tuesday (11/01). Minister Airlangga in his official statement said that Indonesia is always ready to cooperate with the Japanese government to optimize the two countries' great cooperation potential.

Through the Public Private Track 1.5: Japan Indonesia Co-Creation Partnership for Innovative and Sustainable Economic Society, the two countries will increase cooperation in the regional and global supply chain, infrastructure development, digital economy, human resources development, and sustainable industry which are Indonesia's development priorities. The bilateral forum is also expected to be a platform to promote micro small and medium enterprises and digital economy.

Besides, another very important sector for Indonesia is the digital economy. Indonesian e-commerce value is projected to keep increasing up to US$32 billion in 2025, with 54 percent year on year growth rate.

The meeting also discussed cooperation potential in Indonesian G20 Presidency in 2022 themed "Recover Together, Recover Stronger." Therefore, Minister Airlangga invited the Japanese government to cooperate and support Indonesia's initiative to promote the agendas in Indonesian G20 Presidency.

Then, the meeting discussed the two countries' trade access as well as cooperation increase in the region, mainly in ASEAN forum and Indo-Pacific countries. Total trade between Indonesia and Japan from January until November 2021 was US$28.5 billion or 31 percent higher than the same period in 2020 with US$21.7 billion From investment, from January until September 2021, Japan's investment to Indonesia was US$1.7 billion in more than six thousand projects, which was the 4th biggest among other Indonesian investors.

Dutch company Verstegen Sauces & Spices BV received the 2021 Primaduta Awards given by Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mayerfas on Wednesday (5/1). Ambassador Mayerfas said that the Netherlands is one of Indonesia's main trading partners in the European region. The Netherlands is also the entry point for Indonesian products in the European region. He said that in the third quarter of 2021, the Netherlands ranked highest as the export destination for Indonesian products in the European region with a transaction value worth US$ 3.6 billion. He believes that this year, both countries jointly face the economic challenges of the pandemic better, and recover together and are  stronger in accordance with the theme of the Indonesian G20 Presidency, Recover Together, Recover Stronger".

The same thing was conveyed by Director General of National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade, Didi Sumedi. He appreciated the role of Verstegen, which has been Indonesia's trading partner for more than 50 years, especially in the spice export sector. He also said that amid pandemic Covid-19, cooperation is the key to world economic recovery. This cooperation is well exemplified by Verstegen and its trading partners in Indonesia by supporting each other to create an accountable and sustainable business climate.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Monday that Primaduta Awards recipients were screened from 303 potential candidates worldwide. Of this number, 25 companies were selected as award recipients. Verstegen is 1 of 25 Primaduta Awards recipients, which is a form of appreciation from the Government of Indonesia to international buyers. Verstegen has shown its loyalty by continuously buying products from Indonesia and contributing actively in improving the quality of Indonesian products and human resources. It is hoped that this trade cooperation will encourage the economic development of the people in Indonesia.