VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A screenshot of State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday (December 27, 2021). (ANTARA/ YouTube Sekretariat Presiden) - 

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir on Monday announced his ministry's plans to build hospitals or health facilities of international standards, like the Bali International Hospital, in several parts of Indonesia.

"But, of course, these (international standard hospitals or health facilities) would not be built in Bali only. We are also planning, if possible, (to build them) in several other areas that have a high selling value," he said in Denpasar, Bali.

The ministry is building an international hospital in Bali because the province already has complete infrastructure, he informed.

"As was ordered by Mr. President, we must increase competitiveness. One of them is by (utilizing the fact that) Bali has very complete infrastructure, not only (in terms of) airports but also toll roads, hotel facilities, and so on. This (the hospital) is what we are completing right now so that Bali has an addition of health tourism that is integrated with Bali itself," he elaborated.

Thohir said that state-owned enterprises and the world's best cancer hospital, Mayo Clinic, will partner up for the hospital in Bali.

He further said the hospital in Sanur, Bali will serve as a one-stop health service of international standards and support Indonesia's health ecosystem.

State-owned enterprises are making efforts to create a better national health ecosystem, he noted adding, it is unlikely for Indonesia to stay unhealthy.

Indonesians must be healthy first to serve as a basis or fundamental for work, and only then Indonesia will grow, the minister remarked.

This is state-owned enterprises' breakthrough for sovereignty in the health sector, especially for handling cancer cases, he added//ANT

Deputy II at the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Abetnego Tarigan. (ANTARA/HO-KSP.) - 

Presidential Staff Office's (KSP's) Deputy  Abetnego Tarigan  assessed that the government's plan to apply a micro lockdown policy to slow down the potential spread of the Omicron variant in the country is an effective strategy.

Tarigan made the statement in response to the news of a COVID-19 patient, who had escaped quarantine at Wisma Atlet Jakarta.

"If there is a case, then a micro lockdown is considered as being an effective policy," he noted in a KSP press release, here on Monday.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan had earlier confirmed that one patient had escaped quarantine at the Jakarta Wisma Atlet emergency hospital for COVID-19. The news sparked concerns over the likely spread of the Omicron variant to other regions.

Tarigan pointed out that so far, cases of the Omicron variant had come from overseas travelers. Hence, rules had been tightened at entry points to the country, quarantine centers, and places of isolation.

"The government continues to increase testing and tracing," Tarigan emphasized.

Strict application of health protocols and acceleration of vaccination are also effective strategies in preventing local transmission of the Omicron variant.

Tarigan stated that the Presidential Staff Office, as the agency tasked with overseeing the priority programs of the president and vice president, will continue to monitor the handling of COVID-19, especially at several crucial locations, such as airports, ports, quarantine centers, and isolation areas.

"Monitoring has been conducted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, this monitoring has been communicated by the Chief of the Presidential Staff to the President," Tarigan noted//ANT

The annual press conference of Inddonesian tourism and creative economy Monday (27/12/21) - 

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency targets the number of foreign tourist arrivals (tourists) of 1.8 million to 3.6 million. This figure is focused on achieving the concept of quality and sustainable tourism in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. This was conveyed by Menparekraf Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno during the 2021 End of Year Press Conference at the Soesilo Soedarman Hall, Sapta Pesona Building, Jakarta, Monday (27/12/2022)

"The number of foreign tourists has always been the number we are chasing but this time when we look at the figure of 2024 million this year, an estimate of 1.5 million next year, we focus on 1.8 to 3.6 million as quality and sustainable tourism. This domestic tourist, who is the mainstay with a target of 260 - 280 million movements and the added value of the creative economy reaching Rp1,236 trillion, puts us in the third position in the world after America with Hollywood, South Korea with K-Pop and Indonesia is now in third position. This number of tourism workers makes me very optimistic next year that we will be able to target the creation of 400 thousand quality jobs in the tourism sector" Minister said. 

Minister Uno added that the creative economy sector is expected to grow by more than 600 thousand to 700 thousand jobs, which is supported by leading sectors such as Culinary, Craft and Fashion. On the same occasion, the Deputy for Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Baparekraf Nia Niscaya said that the origination of foreign tourists targeted by Indonesia was very dynamic, because it was in accordance with coordination with the Ministry of Health, which had to consider COVID-19 cases in the targeted countries. Indonesia is still top of mind for tourists who want to travel to their homeland. It can be seen from the search volume of tourists on search engines. In addition, in 2022 there will be several International MICE events that will be held in Indonesia such as G20, AVPN, and others //VOI-NK

Japan oil auction - 

Japan's industry ministry said on Monday it will hold an auction on Feb. 9 to sell about 100,000 kilolitres, or 628,980 barrels, of oil from its national reserve as a part of the U.S.-led coordinated release of oil reserve to cool rising crude prices.

The supply will become available to the winning bidder on March 20 or later, it said in a statement//CNA