VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Kabaparekraf Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno in a meeting with the diaspora at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Laos  -

Voinews, Jakarta - The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf) invites the Indonesian diaspora in Laos to actively participate in promoting Indonesia's tourism and creative economy (parekraf) potential in the international market through the culinary industry.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Kabaparekraf Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno in a meeting with the diaspora at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Laos, Wednesday (24/01/2024) said, in promoting the potential of tourism and creative tourism in Indonesia, especially the culinary industry, strong collaboration is needed from various parties. Including the Indonesian diaspora abroad.

"By strengthening synergy and collaboration, the tourism and creative sector will rise stronger and the target of the export value of creative economy products of 27.53 billion US dollars in 2024 can be achieved and provide economic benefits for the Indonesian people," said Sandiaga.

Through strong collaboration, the Indonesian tourism and creative sector was able to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and was even able to develop itself to the point of receiving a lot of positive responses from the international community.

"Indonesia is still in third place on the map of creative economic industry power after the United States and South Korea, we must improve this because the added value is extraordinary and the quality of Indonesian culinary strength is well known abroad. This is an opportunity to prioritize Indonesian culinary tastes and "not only winning the hearts of the people of Laos but also of people throughout the world," said Sandiaga.

Sandiaga said the presence of Indonesian cuisine restaurants in the country would really help the economy in the diaspora. Because various foods from Indonesia are quite popular abroad and can be combined with the tastes of local residents.

"So Indonesian food and local food in Laos have almost the same taste, and will be liked by many people. So this is part of us pushing the Indonesia Spice of the World program so that we can use it to promote our tourism," he explained.

Indonesia Spice Up the World is the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy's flagship program launched by the President in 2022 in Dubai and aims to promote Indonesian culinary delights. Apart from also increasing the number of spice exports from Indonesia throughout the world with a target export value of 2 billion US dollars and 4,000 Indonesian restaurants abroad by 2024.

According to Sandiaga, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will continue to support the development of the Indonesia Spice Up the World program. Among them is Indostar, which is a derivative of Indonesia's Spice Up The World program which provides marketing, funding, training and development assistance to encourage access to financing and promote Indonesian herbs and spices abroad.

On the same occasion, the Indonesian Ambassador to Laos, Grata Endah Werdaningtyas, explained another fact discovered by his team in the field, namely that the Lao people really need daily consumption products. Consumption demand is greater than product production. But this also makes it difficult to bring Indonesian products to Laos.

"We are working with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Young Entrepreneur Association of Laos to promote Indonesian products to the Laotian market. This is an opportunity for Indonesia to introduce Indonesian products. The challenge now is how to open channels for this supply-demand. This requires collaboration and coordination "It would be more optimal with other ministries or institutions," said Grata.

At the end of the event, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy encouraged more young people and the Indonesian diaspora to be optimistic about developing the culinary business so that it could encourage the creation of jobs in the community.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga is optimistic that there will be more and more culinary entrepreneurs from among young people who can revive the Indonesian economy. "So I am very proud that we are trusted and Indonesia can become a champion not only at home but also abroad," said Sandiaga//VOI

The International and Indonesia Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Forum 2024 - 

Voinews, Jakarta - The International and Indonesia Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Forum 2024 was held again in Jakarta, Tuesday (23-1-2024). This annual event, organized by the Indonesia CCS Center, has strategic significance for Indonesia, as well as being a forum to show that Indonesia has the largest CO2 storage potential, this was revealed by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut B. Pandjaitan when opening the event.

"This forum is strong evidence of our commitment to environmental management and sustainable practices," emphasized Coordinating Minister Luhut.

The Indonesian government has supported the implementation of CCS hubs in Indonesia for some time, and is currently preparing the announcement of a Presidential Regulation on Carbon Capture and Storage which is supported and initiated by several ministries in Indonesia.

“We stand together for sustainable investment, with efforts aimed at reducing carbon emissions as a driver of investment. In the coming years, we encourage all stakeholders in the CCS industry to take advantage of Indonesia's large potential storage capacity and develop downstream industries to produce low-carbon products," said Coordinating Minister Luhut.

Coordinating Minister Luhut also invited all relevant stakeholders to jointly design a joint strategy that will pave the way for the successful implementation of CCS hubs in Indonesia.

"This collaborative effort is critical in achieving our shared goals for a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future," he explained.

Furthermore, Coordinating Minister Luhut expressed his full support for the Indonesia CCS Center. It also encourages organizations to embrace and foster collaboration with all stakeholders, including state institutions, state-owned enterprises, private companies and international institutions.

These partnerships have been instrumental in conducting studies, advocating for necessary regulations, and creating a conducive environment for the growth of CCS in our country.

“Your participation and presence at the 2024 forum will undoubtedly contribute to the success of this important initiative. Together, let's build a future where Indonesia becomes a beacon of innovation and leadership in the field of Carbon Capture and Storage," concluded Coordinating Minister Luhut in closing his remarks//VOI

Highschool representative giving the souvenir to teh regent of Purbalingga during the launch of tesis program in Purbalingga, Central Java - 

Voinews, Jakarta - A school with many achievements, SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta (Smandel), is again holding research and community service activities called TeSIS or Smandel Scientific and Social Meeting. TeSIS is one of the superior programs in State High Schools 8 Jakarta which has existed since 2003 so this activity has been going on for more than 20 years.

TeSIS combines teaching and learning activities that are usually carried out in the classroom into research activities outside of class and preparation of scientific papers.

This activity took place from Wednesday (24/1) to Saturday (27/1) and was attended by everyone class XI student at Smandel Jakarta. A total of 348 students will experience a different atmosphere in the village, mingle with residents, and live in people's homes. Meanwhile, 2 students will carry out TheSIS around their respective home environments.

The choice of this place is appropriate with the wishes of students. The Regent of Purbalingga, Dyah Hayuning Pratiwi, SE, B.Econ, MM had the opportunity to attend and gave a speech at the opening of TheSIS 2024 activities. In his speech, he advised that the younger students of TeSIS participants could learn about life in the village and see progress in the village.

Meanwhile, Drs. Mukhlis, M.I.Kom, Principal of SMAN 8 Jakarta accompanied participants during the TheSIS took place and at the opening of TheSIS at Sekar Bintang Field, Serang Village Purbalingga, conveyed the message to his students that 

"with scientific activities. So there is integration of scientific and social activities. When you know the reality community, hopefully inspiration will emerge in the future when they become the next generation leader of the nation," He said. 

Chairman of the SMAN 8 Jakarta Committee, Ir. Ariesta at the opening of TheSIS 2024 said, activities this TheSIS is very important, apart from improving scientific writing skills and develop students' social spirit, also train students to be able to plan, carrying out and reporting scientific research activities, as well as fostering togetherness and ability to work together in a team.

This will increase interpersonal intelligence and students' emotional intelligence which will certainly have a positive impact on intelligence academic. In this way, students will have complete intelligence face various life situations.

Chair of Representatives for the Class of 2025 Committee known as the Parent Communication Forum Golden Generation Students (FORSA25) Dr. Eva Fauziah, drg, Sp.KGA (K) said, from the start The discussion on plans for implementing this TheSIS was very dynamic, considering the pandemic situation and concerns parents, funding, children's readiness, location selection, etc.

Various options and back and forth considerations were processed, in order to achieve the big goal of holding the TheSIS activity itself, namely as a place to equip SMAN 8 children, to research and socialize, as well as share with the community outside the school environment//VOI

Screenshot of Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi delivering Indonesia's statement at the UN Security Council open debate in New York, United States, on Tuesday (23/1/2024) local time (Wednesday 23/1/2024 WIB). (ANTARA/Yashinta Difa) - 

Voinews, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi reminded that the UN Security Council has a mandate to maintain international peace and security, not to tolerate war, let alone genocide like what happened in Palestine.

“My question to the UNSC is: how many resolutions regarding Palestine have been adopted? And how many have been implemented?” said Retno, Wednesday morning (Tuesday, 23/1, New York time).

He made the statement after speaking at the United Nations Security Council's open debate on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, which was monitored online, at the UN headquarters in New York, United States.

He deliberately conveyed this statement to the UN Security Council because Indonesia saw that many resolutions had been violated regarding Palestine, but there had never been any sanctions for the violators.

Furthermore, Retno questioned where Palestine should complain if the UN Security Council for decades failed to implement the resolutions it made itself, while Israel killed Palestinians with impunity.

“Israel must be held accountable for its actions, including atrocities in Gaza. "No country is above the law," said Retno, emphasizing.

"Once again, I urge DK members to immediately stop the fear that Palestinians face every day in Gaza and also in the West Bank," he said.

The UN Security Council consists of 10 countries, five of which are permanent members and have veto power so they can overturn any Security Council attempt to pass any resolution.

The five countries with veto rights are the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.

Retno also highlighted that more than 25,000 thousand Palestinian lives had been lost and more and more of the population was starving and cold, because the UN Security Council was slow to act.

"I emphasize that all of us have a responsibility to respect International Humanitarian Law without exception, including (in responding to) the situation in Gaza," he said.

The UNSC open debate was the third held in the last three months to respond to Israel's war in Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7 2023.

The government declared Foreign Minister Retno's participation in the meeting as Indonesia's commitment to continue supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian Hamas militant group, which Israeli authorities say killed 1,200 people.

At least 25,295 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli attacks while 63,000 others were injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israel's onslaught has also displaced 85 percent of Gaza's population amid shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60 percent of the infrastructure in the enclave has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN//ANT-VOI