VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

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Voinews, Jakarta - Indonesia's inflation rate eased to 2.57 per cent in January, roughly in line with market forecasts and near the midpoint of the central bank's target range, data from the statistics bureau showed on Thursday.

Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected a January annual rate of 2.55 per cent, cooling from December's 2.61 per cent.

Bank Indonesia (BI) targets inflation within a range of 1.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent this year.

The core inflation rate, which strips out government-controlled prices and volatile food prices, also cooled to 1.68 per cent in January, from 1.80 per cent in the previous month. The poll had expected a rate of 1.76 per cent.

The statistics bureau said it has changed the base year for its calculation of the consumer price index to 2022, compared with its previous base year of 2018.

Inflation in Southeast Asia's largest economy has stayed within the central bank's target range since the middle of 2023, helped by BI's interest rate hiking cycle of 250 basis points between August 2022 and October 2023.

Despite the low headline figure, food prices have risen in the country amid supply disruptions due to drier than usual weather.

Volatile food inflation accelerated to 7.22 per cent in January, from December's 6.73 per cent, reflecting rising prices of rice, garlic, tomato, chili and chicken.

BI Governor Perry Warjiyo has said he saw room for the central bank to begin cutting interest rates in the second half of 2024, though other officials have also noted upside risks to BI's inflation forecast due to pressure on food prices//CNA-VOI

FILE PHOTO: AI Artificial intelligence words, miniature of robot and EU flag are seen in this illustration taken December 21, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo - 

STOCKHOLM : More than a third of European businesses adopted artificial intelligence in 2023 as use of generative AI surged, a report commissioned by Amazon Web Services found.

The European Commission, the EU executive, in 2021 presented its 2030 Digital Decade vision to transform the region, with 80 per cent of the population acquiring basic digital skills, 5G connectivity everywhere and 75 per cent of EU companies using cloud services.

In 2022, however, only a quarter of EU businesses had adopted AI and a report last year estimated the European Union was at risk of falling behind its Digital Decade goals by ten years unless the governments focused on bridging the skills gap.

"Last year was pivotal; from Malmo to Milan, the accessibility of generative AI created an appetite for experimentation among consumers and businesses," Tanuja Randery, Managing Director at AWS, told Reuters.

"The accelerated uptake of AI last year has helped put Europe on track to meet its Digital Decade goals," she said.

The survey conducted by Strand Partners of over 16,000 citizens and 14,000 businesses found 38 per cent of companies were experimenting with AI.

The report estimated the positive economic impact of AI at an additional 600 billion euros, on top of an earlier estimate of 2.8 trillion euros//CNA-VOI

Indonesian Ambassador to Namibia Wisnu Edi Pratignyo (in grey suit) during a meeting with Namibian Foreign Affairs Ministry's Director of Bilateral Affairs Sabine Moller and Director of the United Nations World Food Program to Namibia George Fedha on Monday (January 29, 2024). (ANTARA/HO-KBRI Windhoek) - 

Voinews, Jakarta - The Indonesian Government is committed to solidifying relations and stepping up development cooperation with African countries, including Namibia, Indonesian Ambassador to Namibia Wisnu Edi Pratignyo stated.

According to a statement received here on Wednesday (Jan 31) from the Indonesian Embassy in Windhoek, Pratignyo met with Namibian Foreign Affairs Ministry's Director of Bilateral Affairs Sabine Moller and Director of the UN World Food Program to Namibia George Fedha on Monday (Jan 29).

"Indonesia is ready to broaden the extent of fields covered by Indonesia-Namibia development cooperation to include agriculture, fishery, and education," he noted.

In its statement, the embassy highlighted that Moller and Fedha warmly welcomed the ambassador's offer, particularly concerning the agriculture sector. The cooperation is expected to further strengthen ties between Indonesia and Namibia and help the two countries grow their economy.

During the meeting, Pratignyo also stated that Indonesia would host the Indonesia-Africa Forum II in May this year to demonstrate the country's genuine commitment to strengthening bonds with countries in Africa.

"The Indonesia-Africa Forum II is expected to serve as an effective platform for deepening cooperation and paving the way for even closer relations between Indonesia and African countries," the ambassador noted.

The first edition of the Indonesia-Africa Forum took place in Indonesia's Bali Province in 2018.

Africa was among the continents visited by Indonesian President Joko Widodo last year. The president stated that Indonesia and African countries share longstanding historical relations, given that Indonesia was the pioneer and host of the Asia-Africa Conference in 1955.

During the period of August 20-25 last year, President Widodo had visited the African continent for the first time ever in the capacity of head of state.

Widodo had the opportunity to visit four African countries, namely Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa. The president made the most of his inaugural visits to hold high-level bilateral meetings with the aim of exploring bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, and development//ANT-VOI

Ambassador Jermey during the launch of a bamboo internet tower in Sumba (British Embassy doc) -

Voinews, Jakarta - British Ambassador to Indonesia Dominic Jermey visited Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara on 30 January – 1 February 2024. During his visit, the Ambassador launched the first Bamboo Internet Tower in Sumba Barat Daya, serving approximately 400 people from surrounding villages, addressing digital connectivity challenges as well as supporting economic empowerment in rural and remote areas.

This community-owned internet tower was built through a partnership between the UK’s Digital Access Programme (DAP), local NGO Common Room, and Don Bosco Training Centre. The Digital Access Programme catalyses inclusive, affordable, safe, and secure digital access for excluded or underserved populations in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil and Indonesia.

The DAP uses increased digital inclusion as a basis for more thriving digital ecosystems that stimulate innovations for local development challenges and the creation of local skilled jobs. In Indonesia, the Digital Access Programme has directly benefitted 68,000 people with improved digital connectivity, skills, literacy, and services.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday (01/02/24), since 2020, the UK has spent £2m through local implementing partners across 18 provinces in Indonesia. Ambassador Jermey also had the opportunity to visit the solar power plant in Mata Redi and MataWoga villages, which is part of the UK-Indonesia just energy transition partnership MENTARI programme (Towards Indonesia’s Low Carbon Energy Transition). 

The 95 kWp solar power plant which was completed in 2022, supplies electricity to 243 houses, 14 public facilities such as schools, health centers, offices and for street lighting twenty-four hours a day.

“I am very pleased to visit this beautiful island of Sumba and witness how the UK-Indonesia partnership in digital access and just energy transition through the MENTARI programme, have made significant impact on the local communities. As we celebrate UK-Indonesia's 75 th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, our MENTARI programme and the building of the Bamboo Internet Tower in Sumba is another strong example of the UK’s commitment to deepen our partnership with Indonesia to support remote communities and reduce poverty. The first bamboo internet tower built through the UK’s Digital Access Programme, demonstrates our serious commitment to work with Indonesia in enhancing digital inclusion and literacy for rural development. The UK’s flagship MENTARI programme has also been successful by involving communities, especially women and the younger generation, to make a positive contribution to their villages, and to realise their economic potential, and climate resilience through renewable energy", Ambassador Jermey said. 

Meanwhile the Director of Geothermal, Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Harris Yahya said that the Ministr is pleased to collaborate with British Embassy Jakarta through the MENTARI programme to develop renewable energy-based electricity for people in Mata Redi and Mata Woga.

“MEMR is pleased to collaborate with British Embassy Jakarta through the MENTARI programme to develop renewable energy-based electricity for people in Mata Redi and Mata Woga. The holistic approach used in the programme allows us to have an optimum solar PV system operability and ensure its benefits for villagers. MENTARI project in Sumba have successfully empowered them to use the power efficiently and productively, which leads to an improvement in their livelihoods and creating a more inclusive community” He said. 

The warm welcome was not only come from the Ministry but also from the Acting Regent of Central Sumba Dr Lery Rupidara who stated that development in the local economy is more inclusive in the community as the result of trainings provided by MENTARI.

"I am pleased to welcome British Ambassador, Mr. Dominic Jermey on his first visit to Sumba. It has now been more than one year that the community enjoy the benefits of having electricity access in Mata Redi and Mata Woga. I am very happy to see the development in the local economy and a more inclusive community as the result of trainings provided by MENTARI. Sumba has lots of potential to be explored and we're happy that Sumba can take part in the global action to tackle climate change by maximising it's renewable energy potential", He added//VOI