VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

UK Development Director to Indonesia, Amanda McLoughlin check te internet connection during a Rural ICT program in Sukabumi, West Java. (Photo : British Embassy) - 

VOInews, Sukabumi : The British Embassy Jakarta, through the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme, and in partnership with local partner the Common Room Networks Foundation, organised the fifth Rural ICT (Information & Communication Technology) Camp at Ciracap, Sukabumi Regency, West Java, from 7 – 11 October 2024.

This year’s theme, Rural Connectivity and Climate Resilience, brought together government officials, international partners, civil society organisations, ICT activists, and local champions from the School of Community Networks initiative.

Since its launch in 2020, the Rural ICT Camp has become a platform for capacity building, digital literacy, and knowledge exchange. Now in its fifth year, the Rural ICT Camp 2024 served as an international forum featuring technical skills training, IoT (Internet of Things 1 ) workshops, and discussions on using technology to strengthen community internet connectivity and climate resilience.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday October 18th 2024, the fifth bamboo-based internet tower was inaugurated by the UK Development Director to Indonesia, Amanda McLoughlin, alongside Alessandra Lustrati, Head of Digital Development Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).

Located at Pangumbahan Village Hall, the tower is equipped with an IoT weather station to support local climate monitoring. This initiative is part of citizen science, empowering the community to track their own climate data at a minimal cost.

“I am honoured to launch this year’s Rural ICT Camp, especially as this year also marks 75 years of UK-Indonesia diplomatic relations. Providing digital access and literacy is central to the UK’s Digital Access Programme and vital for sustainable development. This initiative helps bridge the digital divide and empowers rural communities to build resilience in the face of climate change. The camp underscores the importance of community-driven digital infrastructure in reducing inequalities and fostering climate resilience,” UK Development Director to Indonesia, Amanda McLoughlin said. 

Meanwhile, Director of Common Room, Gustaff H. Iskandar said that Community centred connectivity is critical to support sustainable development and enhance climate resilience. Citizen engagement can strengthen rural connectivity and meaningful internet utilisation//VOI

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan together with the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi hit the bell to inaugurate Dhoho Kediri Airport. (Photo : Kemenkomarves) -  

VOInews, Kediri : Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan together with the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi symbolically inaugurated the operation of Dhoho Kediri Airport, Kediri Regency, East Java, Friday (18/10/2024).

Coordinating Minister Luhut said the presence of this airport was very important to accelerate economic growth in the southern region of Java Island. "Today is an important moment for connectivity and economic development," he said in his remarks.

Coordinating Minister Luhut explained that Dhoho Kediri Airport was the first pilot project in Indonesia with an unsolicited PPP scheme, where the project initiative came from the private sector and was supported by the government. The airport reflects effective collaboration between the public and private sectors, being an example of how the PPP scheme can overcome development challenges quickly. and efficient.

"The construction of this airport is in line with the Government's vision, namely expanding connectivity not only in the northern route, but also in the southern region of East Java," he said.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday October 18th 2024, this project is expected to provide a significant multiplier effect, not only creating job opportunities and increasing people's income.

In the future, he also hopes that new investment will continue to flow and further accelerate economic growth in Kediri and its surroundings, making this area the new economic center in East Java.

"Apart from functioning as an air gateway, Dhoho Airport is encouraging the acceleration of other infrastructure, including the Access Toll Road which is currently starting to be built with the aim of facilitating people's mobility," he explained.

Apart from that, Coordinating Minister Luhut stated that on behalf of the government he expressed his deepest appreciation to PT Gudang Garam Tbk. through its subsidiaries which have worked hard to realize this project.

As is known, Dhoho Kediri Airport has been operated by Angkasa Pura Airports since March 29 2023 based on Joint Operation (KSO) between Angkasa Pura Airports and PT Surya Dhoho Investama (PT SDHI).

The inauguration of Dhoho Kediri Airport was attended by the Acting Governor of East Java, Directors and Leadership of PT Gudang Garam Group, and other invited guests//VOI

Principal Secretary of the Indonesian National Library (Perpusnas) Joko Santoso hit a gong to open the Writer Festival 2024 in Jepara on Thursday October 17th 2024. (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The choice of Jepara as the location for holding the National Library Writers Festival (PWF) this year cannot be separated from the close connection with R.A. Kartini, a figure of women's emancipation who was born in this city. As stated by the Principal Secretary of the Indonesian National Library (Perpusnas) Joko Santoso in his speech, Kartini understands literacy as a force that drives social change.

"Writing for Kartini is a form of peaceful intellectual resistance, Kartini voices her ideas about education, women's emancipation and freedom of thought," he said at the opening of PWF 2024 at Pendopo Kartini, Jepara, Thursday (17/10/2024).

Joko explained that writing for change means using writing as a tool to influence, inspire and move others towards social, cultural or individual change.

“Writing has the power to shape opinion, raise awareness and encourage action,” he added.

He hopes that this festival will become a forum for young writers, including local writers in Jepara, to contribute to developing Indonesian literacy.

"By presenting various speakers who have written their best works, this festival also supports the National Library's mission to build a more knowledgeable society," he explained.

In between the series of events, National Library Main Secretary Joko Santoso symbolically handed over the assistance of a mobile library motorbike to Plt. Head of the Jepara Regency Archives and Library Service Hadi Sarwoko. It is hoped that this assistance can increase Jepara people's access to reading materials and encourage increased interest in reading in various regions, especially in hard-to-reach areas in Jepara.

This event was initiated by Perpusnas Press as a meeting place between writers, readers, literacy activists and the writing ecosystem to create meaningful works.
Meanwhile, the Acting Regent of Jepara, Edy Supriyanta, expressed his gratitude for Jepara being chosen as the host for PWF 2024.

“We, as hosts, are grateful to have been given the trust to hold an event of this magnitude. Because Jepara is a small city at the tip of Central Java. "Now, Jepara has started to develop," he said when opening this festival.

Furthermore, Edy revealed that literacy challenges in Jepara still need improvement. Based on data from the Community Literacy Development Index (IPLM), Jepara is at 54.2 or in the medium category.

"Meanwhile, the level of people's reading hobby is also in the medium category, namely 72.5, so it still needs improvement," he explained.

Edy Supriyanta also promoted Jepara's mainstay tourist destination, Karimunjawa, which is only 2.5 hours by boat from Jepara.

"We are waiting for your arrival in Karimunjawa. The place is beautiful, the hotel is good, and the tickets are quite cheap," he concluded.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday October 18th 2024, PWF 2024, which runs until October 21, features various interesting activities, including Writing Talks, Book Launches and Reviews, Writing Workshops, Short Film Screenings, Poetry Musicalizations, Dramatic Readings, as well as Field Trips and writing residencies to Karimunjawa.

Head of the Legal, Organizational, Cooperation and Public Relations Bureau of the National Library, Sri Marganingsih, highlighted that the activity target is 750 active participants and 1,000 visitors,

"It is hoped that this PWF can motivate more people to engage in and love the world of writing and literacy," he hoped.

Through collaboration with various media, Sri also projects that this event will reach more than 100,000 people who will be exposed to PWF information, both through the social media of National Library, Jepara Regency Government, Community Reading Park Forum (TBM), and other media partners.

Literacy activist Maman Suherman as the speaker of the talk show on the first day stated that PWF actually celebrates life skills, inviting all elements in society to continue to increase the love of reading culture.

“The program at PWF invites these things. "Don't just read and write, but how to be empowered and empower each other," he said.

PWF has become an annual activity that continues to grow since it was first held in 2021 in Jakarta. In 2022 it will still take place in Jakarta and in 2023 this festival will move to the city of Bandung. With a different theme every year, in 2024, Jepara was chosen as the host, presenting a theme that is in line with the literary legacy of R.A. Kartini//VOI

List of the ASEAN, Japan and UNDP winners of the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge (ABIC), (Photo : UNDP) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : ASEAN, Japan and UNDP officially announced the winners of the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge (ABIC), an initiative that aims to advance sustainable blue economy solutions in ten ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. Launched in April 2024, ABIC is part of the ASEAN Blue Economy Innovation project supported by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and implemented by UNDP, with funding support from the Government of Japan.

This initiative identifies and supports innovative solutions from ten ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste that address pressing challenges in marine and freshwater ecosystems. The initiative received 1,341 proposals, of which 60 winners were selected by a Joint Selection Committee consisting of Satvinder Singh, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community; Kiya Masahiko, Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN; and Norimasa Shimomura, Chief Representative of UNDP Indonesia.

These 60 winners represent a diverse range of innovators, and their solutions aim to improve sustainability in aquaculture, fisheries and tourism while addressing broader environmental challenges such as climate change, plastic waste and water resource management. Through technological innovation, community engagement and new financing models, this innovation project has the potential to generate positive environmental and social impacts across the region.

One other important piece of information is gender inclusion. Of the 60 winners, 27 of them (45%) were led by women, with a total of 125 female team members, exceeding the number of male members which amounted to 116 people.

Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN said, “This project marks an important milestone in our journey towards sustainable blue economy development. By empowering local innovators and encouraging regional collaboration, we not only address pressing environmental challenges but also open new economic opportunities for ASEAN. I congratulate the 60 winners whose solutions have the potential to improve the future of our marine and freshwater ecosystems. I am confident that the partnerships formed through this initiative will drive long-term positive change across the region.”

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday October 10th 2024 in Jakarta, four focus areas covering sustainable fisheries, marine plastic pollution, sustainable tourism and climate issues, the winners emphasized the use of the latest technological advances in the blue sector to increase efficiency and environmentally friendly approaches.

In precision aquaculture, for example, award recipients from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and the Lao People's Democratic Republic are using artificial intelligence (AI) and water filtration technology to optimize fish farming and increase local production. To demonstrate circularity in fisheries, award recipients from Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines transformed fish and shrimp waste and seaweed into valuable products such as fertilizer, microalgae and food supplements, promoting resource sustainability and community resilience. In biotechnology, solutions such as phage therapy (a medical treatment that uses viruses that infect and kill bacteria to treat bacterial infections) and the use of Bacillus probiotics to improve health or prevent disease in aquaculture ─ aim to improve fish health, while grass-based filters Oceans tackle microplastic pollution.

Award recipients from Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam focus on plastic solutions, developing alternatives to agricultural waste, converting plastic waste into valuable products such as furniture and industrial materials, and facilitating the issuance of plastic credits in collaboration with local SMEs. In ecotourism, award recipients from Thailand and Timor-Leste are creating sustainable tourism models that involve local communities in conservation and waste management, driving environmental and social impacts.

This announcement also marks the start of a six-month incubation program for 60 winners. The program is designed to support the development of their proposed solutions at various stages of business implementation, from testing and proof of concept to scale-up and commercialization, equipping them with the tools to turn their ideas into impactful, scalable solutions. The winners are also entitled to funding of up to 40,000 US Dollars for 60 innovators//VOI