VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

An aerial picture shows damaged governor of West Sulawesi province's office following an earthquake in Mamuju - REUTERS

An aftershock hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island on Saturday (Jan 16) as rescue workers searched for people trapped under rubble after an earthquake killed at least 45 people, injured hundreds and sent thousands fleeing. Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency said no damage or casualties were reported from the 5.0-magnitude aftershock in the West Sulawesi districts of Mamuju and Majene a day after the 6.2-magnitude earthquake. 

Agency head Doni Monardo told Kompas TV the search continued for victims who could still be trapped under rubble. More than 820 people were injured and about 15,000 people have been evacuated, the agency said. Some have sought refuge in the mountains, while others went to cramped evacuation centres, witnesses said.

Friday's quake and its aftershocks damaged more than 300 homes and two hotels, as well as flattening a hospital and the office of a regional governor, where authorities told Reuters several people had been trapped.Access to the neighbouring city of Makassar remains cut off, Arianto Ardi of the search and rescue agency in Mamuju told Reuters, adding that the search will focus on the hotels//CNA 

Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia - anha

Deputy Chairperson of Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly  -MPR RI, Hidayat Nurwahid welcomed the success of Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia recently. In a statement last Thursday (7/1), he welcomed the normalisation in the Gulf as well as diplomatic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and other member countries, especially with Qatar.

Hidayat Nurwahid affirmed that the people of Indonesia keep hoping that the Gulf will be stable, secure, and sovereign. Also, Indonesia hopes the relations among Gulf countries to stay stable.

Furthermore, Hidayat Nurwahid also appreciated the attitude of GCC Countries that consistently support Palestine while recognizing and fighting for Palestine as an independent country. He hopes that Indonesia can do more comprehensive cooperation with Gulf countries in protecting Palestine's independence and fighting Israel's crimes against international laws and norms.

Indonesian Ambassador to Cuba met with deputy foreign minister of Cuba in Havana - Kbri Havana

Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Cuba, Nana Yuliana met Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anayansi Rodriquez to hand over a copy of the Indonesian President's Credential Letter to the President of the Republic of Cuba, Diaz Canel Bermudez Monday (4/1). As quoted on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website go.id (07/1), Ambassador Nana Yuliana expressed her appreciation for the scholarship assistance that the Cuban government has given to nine Indonesian students to study at Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina (ELAM). Two of these students have now completed their education and they are in Indonesia. Deputy Minister Anayansi promised that Cuba would keep providing medical scholarships for Indonesian students.

Ambassador Nana conveyed the opportunities and potential for cooperation between Indonesia and Cuba in several fields to continue to be improved in 2021. She also remarked that economic diplomacy, health and sports are the priorities of the Indonesian Embassy in Havana in the future.

In addition, Deputy Minister Anayansi welcomed the presence of Ambassador Nana as the first female Indonesian Ambassador to Cuba and further increased the role of women in international diplomacy. The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to finalizing the draft diplomatic and official visa-free agreement in 2021. Meanwhile, Indonesia offers capacity building in the agriculture and fisheries sector to increase Cuban Human Resources in this sector. Ambassador Nana Yuliana further stated that with the condition of Covid-19, this did not close the opportunity for training and education that could be carried out through virtual media. In the fields of economy, investment and trade, Deputy Minister Anayansi welcomed the Indonesian Ambassador's program plan to increase cooperation in the fields of education, trade, health, sports and biopharmaceuticals that need to be improved. In addition, Cuba and Indonesia have geographical similarities which could provide opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, aquamarine, and many others.

National Movement to be Proud of Indonesian Products 2021 -  Kemenkomarves

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan officially launched the National Movement to be Proud of Indonesian Products 2021-Gernas BBI 2021, Monday (11/1). The launch of Gernas BBI 2021 was carried out in three locations: I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Yogyakarta International Airport, and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. This year, Gernas BBI has the theme 'Indonesian MSME Products Become Host in Their Own Country'. Through Gernas BBI, the Government of Indonesia is targeting to add 6.1 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises-MSMEs connected to the digital ecosystem (onboarding) every year.

In his remarks, Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said, feeling proud and wanting to use local products are a form of national struggle that can be carried out today. He also appealed to the government officials to become ambassadors for the local products to support the MSMEs.

There is great hope from the National Movement which was launched by President Joko Widodo for the first time in May 2020, especially a lot of support provided by various parties. Take for example; Bank Indonesiais committed to continuing to take the role of a Movement Leader through various creative programs that prioritize the digitization of the MSMEs. Through 46 Regional Representative Offices, they will continue to cooperate to support the achievement of 30 million MSMEs connected to the digital ecosystem by 2023.

The commitment to support the MSMEs is also provided by the private sector by facilitating credit programs that will help provide adequate capital and complete payment infrastructure to make it easier for MSMEs to do entrepreneurship.

Supports by many parties to make the UMKM products become host in their own country is, of course, not optimal without the support of the Indonesian people. Indeed, they are the main key to the success of this program. Being proud alone is not enough to succeed the National Movement in Indonesia. The most important point is the act of consuming and using the local products. Never be proud of using local products that have been labeled with international brands whose prices are higher than using local products with local brands made by the Indonesian people.

In terms of quality, there is no doubt that many Indonesian products are able to compete globally. However, what must also be considered altogether is how the local products can compete in prices with similar products from abroad. At present, getting a cheaper price, of course, is a reality that cannot be denied. The policy to limit the purchase of goods from abroad through the marketplace might increase sales of MSME products in the country.

The real actions of all Indonesian people taking part in the National Movement to be Proud of Indonesian Products 2021 must be proven. Quoting President Joko Widodo's message at the event of Award to be Proud of Indonesian Products 2020 in December last year, if 270 million Indonesians feel proud, love, buy, and use Indonesian-made products, this will help reduce the current account deficit, and will make the national creative industry growing faster. We wish the National Movement to be Proud of Indonesian Products 2021 to succeed in the country, and also to go global.