VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Workers at the PT Green Enterprises Indonesia coconut oil facility in Batu City Village, East Simeulue, Aceh, were pictured washing coconut flesh for processing into pure coconut oil on Tuesday (1/2/2022). (ANTARA FOTO/SYIFA YULINNAS) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Ministry of Trade and the International Coconut Community (ICC) are co-hosting the 51st Cocotech international conference and exhibition in Surabaya, East Java, from July 22-25, 2024.

This event, which will take place from July 22–25, 2024, in Surabaya, East Java, aims to propel the development of a green economy for coconut commodities.

Director general of international trade negotiations, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, highlighted that the conference will address key global issues impacting the coconut industry.

In a statement released by the ministry in Jakarta on Thursday, he informed that the issues include international policies and support for the development of a sustainable coconut sector.

These include international policies and support for sustainable practices, alongside advancements in technology and the potential of coconut-based renewable energy solutions to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

According to Witjaksono, the activity will bring together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including academics or researchers, government officials, private sector players, and coconut industry observers.

The goal is to collaboratively develop solutions and strengthen the industry's resilience and long-term sustainability.

Cocotech, a biannual flagship event, serves as a platform for decision-makers within and beyond the coconut sector. This year's edition prioritizes sustainable practices and the well-being of coconut farmers.

"As the host, Indonesia is expected to be a catalyst for positive change within the coconut industry," Witjaksono said.

The international conference and exhibition is scheduled to be opened by President Joko Widodo, accompanied by the Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan.

Themed "Utilizing the Potential of Coconut as a Tree of Life and Green Energy," Cocotech is expected to be attended by 400 participants, consisting of delegates from ICC member and non-member countries, as well as coconut commodity experts from across the world.

Indonesia is the second-largest coconut producer in the world after the Philippines, with total production reaching 2.83 million metric tons (MT) in 2023.

The same year, Indonesian coconut exports to the world were valued at US$1.55 billion, accounting for 38.3 percent of total global exports.

The main export destinations for Indonesian coconuts include China, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Indonesia's main export products in the coconut sector consist of coconut oil derivatives, coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut charcoal, and grated coconut//ANTARA-VOI

Daily Chair I of the FOLU Net Sink 2030 Working Team Ruandha Agung Sugardiman at the Sub National Socialization event for Indonesia's FOLU Net Sink 2030 South Papua Province, monitored online from Jakarta, Thursday (18/7/2024). ANTARA/Prisca Triferna - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) reminded that operational planning for Indonesia's FOLU Net Sink 2030 at the sub-national level must reach the forest management unit (KPH) level to ensure implementation at the grassroots level.

In the 2030 FOLU Net Sink Sub-National socialization monitored online from Jakarta, Thursday, Daily Chair I of the 2030 FOLU Net Sink Working Team, Ruandha Agung Sugardiman, explained that to achieve Indonesia's climate targets set out in the Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), efforts had been launched to achieve higher levels of absorption. higher than emissions in the forestry sector in 2030.

"Therefore, the planning must reach the KPH so that what happens at the site level will become Indonesia's international face," said Ruandha, referring to the work plan to reduce emissions from the forestry and land use (FOLU) sector.

He explained that the FOLU Net Sink 2030 work plan at the sub-national level must be prepared in a structured, systematic and massive manner and with improved performance targets.

"We are improving this performance with the aim of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to -140 million CO2 equivalent by 2030," he said.

The main basic principles that need attention, said Ruandha, are sustainable forestry sector management, environmental and carbon governance.

He reminded that in preparing the plan, the 2030 FOLU Net Sink achievement factors must be taken into account, including reducing emissions from deforestation and peatlands as well as increasing the capacity of natural forests to absorb carbon.

Also needing attention are efforts to restore and improve peat water systems, forest restoration and rehabilitation, sustainable forest management and optimization of unproductive land.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry itself targets to complete the preparation of the entire FOLU Net Sink 2030 operational work plan at the sub-national level this year, with the remaining provinces including Banten, DKI Jakarta, and South Papua, Central Papua, Southwest Papua and Mountain Papua//ANTARA-VOI

Head of the National Library of Indonesia's Center for Information and Manuscript Management Services, Agus Sutoyo when giving his remarks on the Seminar on Repatriation of Ancient Manuscripts: Restoring Identity, Preserving Heritage in Jakarta, Thursday (18/7/2024), (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Repatriation of manuscripts is not only interpreted as returning it but also as an effort to preserve the civilizational heritage of a nation. The National Library currently records a total of 121,545 ancient manuscripts, 82,158 of which are stored privately and in domestic documentary institutions. Of the remainder, there are still many manuscripts located abroad.

"The National Library prioritizes foreign cooperation for the repatriation of manuscripts," said Deputy for Development of Library Materials and Information Services at the National Library Mariana Ginting at the Seminar on Repatriation of Ancient Manuscripts: Restoring Identity, Preserving Heritage in Jakarta, Thursday (18/7/2024).

Mariana added that the law states that the National Library continues to strive to return ancient manuscripts that are abroad and preserve them.

Its status as a former colonial country makes it difficult for Indonesia to return ancient manuscripts that are abroad. Even though manuscripts have an important meaning for civilization.

"Ancient manuscripts can describe the past to be studied and explored," added the Head of the National Library of Indonesia's Center for Information and Manuscript Management Services, Agus Sutoyo.

Deputy for Human Development, Society and Culture of Bappenas, Amich Alhumami emphasized the state's commitment to repatriating manuscripts. Repatriation of ancient manuscripts is an important issue in human development and the development of cultural progress. In fact, this is one of the priorities on the cultural agenda in the 2025-2029 RPJMN.

"Those who are committed to ancient manuscripts are not only philologists. However, we need to map them first considering that repatriation requires systematic and sustainable efforts," explained Amich.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the Kejora Anak Negeri Foundation, Erwin Dimas, confirmed the fact that Indonesia has an abundance of ancient manuscripts but research has not been carried out optimally. For example, in the ancient manuscripts Abdul L-Fata, Taju L-Muluk, and the Book of Tuan Guru Sapat which contain information about health, medicine, social norms, and so on.

"This means there are challenges in identifying, preserving and utilizing the ancient manuscripts that we have," he said.

The rise in repatriation efforts carried out by many former colonial countries has encouraged a number of parties to establish repatriation institutions. In Indonesia itself, a new repatriation agency was formed in 2021, where one of its focuses is returning cultural heritage objects from abroad.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday (18/07/24), in 2023, 472 artifacts and four Singosari statues were returned to the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta by the Dutch Government. These artifacts and statues were obtained by the Dutch during their colonization of Indonesia.

The return is carried out without conditions, thus opening up space for dialogue and research on these objects to reveal their origins while upholding historical justice.

"Repatriation is not only about returning manuscripts, but also returning parts of our identity that may have been forgotten. It requires appropriate strategies and stages that are not counterproductive to preserving manuscripts," said Professor of Philology at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Oman Fathurrahman.

Professor of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences from Lancang Kuning University, Junaidi, said that the manuscript repatriation process requires strong collaboration between the government, cultural institutions and the academic community both at home and abroad.

He said he was proud of the country's success in retrieving ancient manuscripts from abroad. Of course, this is not just to preserve and research but also to strengthen the nation's cultural identity. However, what is no less important is that this method can be an inspiration for other countries in their efforts to maintain their own cultural heritage.

Chairman of the Archipelago Writing Society (Manassa), Munawar Kholil, said that repatriating ancient manuscripts requires a long time and a strong database. Because when a manuscript is in the wrong hands, someone who doesn't know how to care for it, then that will definitely be a problem.

However, if the repatriation is successfully carried out and disseminated appropriately, then according to Ananta Hari Noorasetya the repatriation has succeeded in producing new literacy and becomes very important for expressing new things//VOI

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut B. Pandjaitan during the Phase 2 development visit at the Herbal and Horticulture Science and Technology Park (TSTH), Humbang Hasundutan, North Sumatra (North Sumatra), Friday (12/07/2024), (Photo : Kemenkomarves) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut B. Pandjaitan carried out a Phase 2 development visit at the Herbal and Horticulture Science and Technology Park (TSTH), Humbang Hasundutan, North Sumatra (North Sumatra), Friday (12/07/2024).

In this review, Coordinating Minister Luhut is optimistic that Indonesian agriculture will have good quality seeds because it applies genomic technology (genetic engineering).

"Frankly, I couldn't have imagined that today we would be at this point, especially regarding this genomic, indeed this genomic would later be able to represent all regions in Indonesia and this could later become our center. "Therefore, later our agriculture will have good quality seeds because of the application of genomics," said Coordinating Minister Luhut at the location.

Regarding agricultural seeds themselves, Coordinating Minister Luhut explained that he had discussed at the Limited Meeting (ratas) regarding the addition of agricultural seeds, such as the addition of cocoa seeds, of which there are currently only around 2 million seeds.

"Yesterday at the meeting in Jakarta, we were preparing to replant oil palms, and I suggested that research data should be activated. Well, the BPDPKS (Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency) has funds of around 52 T for the oil palm replanting program, and at the same time I'm including cocoa. Cocoa needs 800 million seeds, we only have 2 million seeds. "So it can be programmed genomically here," he said.

"I'm really really happy because we can start, with the time sequence being finished, maybe in January, with the landscape in February. "So maybe the President-elect can inaugurate this place in March, and there will also be genomic results that can be reported to the President-elect," he added.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday (12/07/24), during this meeting, a number of agreements were also implemented, namely the Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) and the Del Institute regarding the use of the BMN Herbal and Horticulture Science and Technology Park, then the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PT Mars Symbio-science Indonesia and Asia-beef Biofarm Indonesia with IT Del regarding Research, Education and Community Services, as well as an MoU between Symbioscience Indonesia and IT Del regarding Cocoa Productivity Research and Transfer of Technology.

"I am happy that in the future we hope that everyone can collaborate with various universities and I think this will create a game changer for Indonesia in the agricultural sector and other fields, for example the garlic that we have been importing all this time, now we can do genomics and make it here. "Hopefully that will happen because many Indonesian children are smart," he said.

"The construction of TSTH2 is underway and I thank the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), the Directorate General of Human Settlements, BPPW North Sumatra, PT Nindya Karya, and PT Vitrama Karya who have made great efforts to accelerate the construction of TSTH2 Phase 2. ," added Coordinating Minister Luhut.

He said he would report to President Jokowi on Monday regarding this visit, so it is hoped that in August, President Jokowi will be able to participate in the onion harvest.

“So I hope that over the next 2-3 months, everything will be settled. "So when the president comes here, it looks like it really is a classy research center," he concluded.

Adding to Coordinating Minister Luhut, Humbang Hasundutan Regent Dosmar Banjarnahor said that his party continues to support and coordinate with related parties so that the construction of TSTH2 can be completed according to the expected time limit.

"This has been a long process, we continue to support and coordinate with all parties so that development runs well. "Hopefully this event will go well until it is finished and all construction will run smoothly in accordance with our common goals," concluded Regent Dosmar//VOI