VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Tin blocks from Bangka Belitung are ready to be exported. (Antara/Aprionis)

South Korea is the main export destination for tin from Bangka Belitung Islands, with target value of 17.76 percent of the tin exported to the country in January-February 2021,  Statistics Indonesia (BPS) stated.

"In comparison with the same period in the previous year, tin exports to South Korea this year increased by around 2.57 percent," Head of BPS for the province Dwi Retno Wilujeng Wahyu Utami noted here on Friday.

Utami remarked that Singapore, India, the Netherlands, and Japan were among the five main export destinations for tin during the January-February 2021 period. The four countries contributed from 10.70 percent up to 14.14 percent.

"The five main destination countries for tin exports from the province contributed 67.09 percent," Utami stated.She pointed out that exports from the province in February 2021 decreased by 13.04 percent from the same month in the previous year. Moreover, export value of the tin commodity dropped by 10.66 percent and that of the non-tin commodity also decreased by 22.86 percent.

The total export value in February this year reached US$117.77 million. (Meanwhile, the export value in the same month of the previous year was recorded at US$135.42 million)," she noted.

In comparison with the previous month, the export value in February 2021 increased by 16.68 percent. The surge was driven by an increase in tin exports by 18.87 percent and non-tin exports by 7.22 percent.

"During the period from January to February 2021, tin and non-tin exports respectively contributed 82.03 percent and 17.97 percent," she pointed out//ANT

(From left to right) — SOEs Minister Erick Thohir, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, and Trade Minister M Lutfi. (ANTARA/HO-KBRI Beijing)

During a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in WuYi, Fujian province, China, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi submitted a proposal for turning Indonesia into a vaccine hub for Southeast Asia, as part of long-term vaccine cooperation.

"This idea is still in its early stage, but what we are proposing includes cooperation to strengthen vaccine development research, develop raw material industries, and increase national vaccine production capacity," she said during a press conference held from China on Friday.

The idea was discussed with Wang Yi during talks on strengthening vaccine partnership, both in the long and short term, she informed.

The two countries will hold further discussions on long-term vaccine cooperation, but in principle, China has expressed its support for the Indonesian initiative, she said.

During the meeting, Indonesia also expressed the hope that, in the short term, the Chinese government would continue to provide support so that the delivery of vaccines, which has become a binding commitment, can be carried out according to the agreed schedule, she added.

"We also discussed the issue of strengthening vaccine cooperation directly with vaccine producers in China," said Marsudi.The discussion comes at a time when vaccine producing countries have imposed export restrictions and bans on the grounds of meeting domestic needs, as several countries are facing a spike in cases.The restrictions are affecting the supply chain rate of vaccine supply to the world, Marsudi noted and expressed her concern over the impact of the vaccine supply slowdown amid the fight against the pandemic and economic recovery efforts.

"Therefore, as one of the co-chairs of the COVAX AMC Engagement Group, I have a moral responsibility to continue to call for cooperation so that equal access to vaccines for all countries can be realized," she remarked.

Marsudi paid a visit to Fujian province, China with Minister of State-owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir, and Minister of Trade, Muhammad Lutfi.

On Friday, the three ministers held about 14 meetings on various issues, including vaccine cooperation, increased trade and investment activities, as well as consular cooperation, particularly for efforts to strengthen protection for Indonesian sea vessel crew members//ANT

President Joko Widodo. (Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has praised the youth wing of the Muhammadiyah for its pioneering efforts in the economic field by conducting synergies and business incubations to produce new entrepreneurs.

"There is a progressive entrepreneurial movement that is synergizing all young Muhammadiyah entrepreneurs to carry out business incubations to give birth to new entrepreneurs. We need more young entrepreneurs because we have to anticipate the peak demographic bonus in 2030," Widodo said in his opening remarks during a Muhammadiyah youth wing meeting on Friday.

He cited data that shows 2.9 million young people enter the labor market each year to highlight the urgent need for new jobs.

Young entrepreneurs can play a significant role in creating new jobs, he pointed out.

The government has been supporting the emergence of new entrepreneurs by carrying out large-scale business ecosystem reforms, he said. Regulations that hamper the development of MSMEs have been trimmed, while access to capital continues to be expanded, he noted."We are also organizing vocational education and training to be more adaptive to the needs of the industrial world. We will also continue to do asset redistribution and agrarian reform to achieve economic equity and justice," the President said.

He expressed the hope that the Muhammadiyah's youth wing would continue to promote entrepreneurship among the younger generation.

The President also urged the Muhammadiyah to be on the frontlines in promoting the values of tolerance and national unity, in line with the national ideology of Pancasila.

Widodo delivered his speech online from Jakarta, while the meeting was organized in Manado, North Sulawesi. Muhammadiyah is Indonesia's second largest Muslim organization//ANT

Japan to issue digital vaccine passport - Mint

Japan is set to issue digital health certificates to citizens who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, joining China, the EU and other countries that have adopted similar measures aimed at opening up overseas travel, the Nikkei reported s.nikkei.com/3stfAX6 on Saturday.

In line with international standards, the certificate can be managed on a mobile app, allowing the carrier to present the proof of vaccination when boarding a plane or checking in to a hotel, the report said.

The app is also focused on foreigners staying in Japan and returning to their respective home countries, according to the report//Reuters