VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Aceh is currently preparing itself to be the world best halal destination. Aceh along with Lombok arearrangedto be halal destinations. By considering Aceh tourism sector development and people’shigher interest to make Aceh as the tourism destination, Indonesian Tourism Minister, Arif Yahya suggested Aceh to build a special economic zone. Minister Arif Yahya in Jakarta explained that Aceh needs 20 Triliun Rupiah to build a special economic zone. 

"culturally, we have a halal positioning firm. While, Sabang is the best natural port in Indonesia, and it is projected that this year there will 30 cruises will lean there, with world-class attractions. In my opinion, for the first stage, more people come to Aceh and the Ministry of Tourism will help to provide incentives, for example from KL and from Singapore to Aceh. The average of one destination requires a budget of 20 Trillion, 10 Trillion for basic infrastructure, 10 Trillion for amenities" The Minister said. 

Minister Arif Yahya moreover added that the country’s biggest chalange is on licensing issues because it still has complicated birocracy. With the special economic zone the matter will be simplified while basic infrastructure as well as facilities will be fully supported by the government. (NK)

The Environment and Forestry Ministry held coordinating meeting on National priority lake rescue in achieving target of middle terms National Development Plan of 2015-2019. Director General of Watersheds Control and Protection Forests (PDASHL), IB Putera Parthama at Manggala Wanabakti,Jakartaexplainedthat revitalization of 15 damaged lakes requires a huge budget.

“...Many of our lakes are damaged and 15 of them are severely damaged. Lots of funds are needed. So, the lake management plan is needed. The problem is, this is the duty of the sector and the funds should also be taken from the sector. While the Ministry has the task to improve water catchment in upstream area, and we are looking for a budget for that, for each lake needs different funds” Putera said. 

Moreover, IB Putera Parthama added that the Environment and Forestry Ministry was also in cooperation with other 11 ministries among others Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Transportation Ministry, Tourism Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and Bappenas. The Rawa Pening lake in Semarang is one of the lakes that becomes priority as revitalizing pilot. (NK)

The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry held a REDD + week on 26 to 28 March 2019 in Jakarta to coordinate the implementation of Paris Agreement on a commitment to Climate change and reduction of emissions gas by 2020. Met after the event on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, in Grand Sahid Hotel, Jakarta, Director General of Climate Change Control (PPI), Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ruandha Agung Sugardiman explained that the central and regional governments must work together so that the reduction of nationally targeted gas emissions can occur.

“By 2020, we are still practicing in doing the counting by ourselves, then after that, it will be evaluated by the international team. We will start this in 2020. Full implementation means that we have to be prepared with a methodology accessed, validated by the international. Now what I have to say is that there is a synergy between what Indonesia has committed internationally and at the National level. There are laws and regulations. And that must be done in the regions because the emissions can reduce if the local governments really do the efforts,” Ruandha Agung Sugardiman said.  

Ruandha added that addressing climate change is a global problem. The involvement of all stakeholders is needed to play an active and synergic role in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Indonesia is one of the countries that have an active role in negotiating and fully implementing reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries or REDD +. A report on the achievement of Reducing REDD + emissions in Indonesia was submitted and registered with the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change or UNFCC on 21 December 2018. (VOI/NK/AHM)

Directorate General of Pollution Control and Environmental Damage at the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry held a Technical Working Meeting on the Field of Pollution and Environmental Damage Control which has taken place in Jakarta, February 26 to March 1. The meeting aims to collaborate between the Central and Regional Governments in the field of pollution control and environmental damage. In his remarks in Jakarta on Wednesday (2/27), Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar remarked that there are three ways to solve environmental problems.

"... So theoretically solve environmental problems, the most basic we need is knowledge. We must understand knowledge about it. The second is public campaign, a public campaign that is continuously carried out and can be understood by the public. And the third is regulation; so how we manage taxes, incentives, disincentives, and how to monitor" The Minister said. 

Minister Siti Nurbaya added that this arrangement would work well if enough information is available to formulate policies and provide feedback to improve existing policies. Therefore, monitoring the Environmental Quality Index is very necessary. This technical work meeting was attended by around 300 participants from the Provincial, District / City Environmental Service throughout Indonesia, Ministries / Institutions, academics, and business people. (NK)