VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The wind turbine at the open sea of British Governmetn to run electricity power - 

British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, announced a $15 million (over IDR 200 billion) commitment in Southeast Asia including Indonesia to provide investment capital needed to boost clean and sustainable economic growth as well as green energy transition. This commitment is a great step towards UK’s support on Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) which was launched last year at G20 in Bali. 

BII’s first investment in the region is expected to attract more capital to support Indonesia in reaching net zero emissions by 2060. This commitment will be implemented through SUSI Asia Energy Transition Fund (SAETF), a Southeast Asia-focused energy transition infrastructure fund managed by Swiss-based firm SUSI Partners, with a proven track record of investing globally across the energy transition infrastructure spectrum.

In Indonesia, the firm has invested in the development of run-of-river hydropower and wind projects via a joint venture between SAETF and regional developer Pacific Impact. It reiterates the renewed approach to investing in climate finance in Indonesia as one of BII’s priority markets in Southeast Asia. 

The investment marks the start of realising BII’s ambitions to invest up to £500 million of climate finance in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, with this commitment, BII joins other development finance institutions, including AIIB, FMO, Swedfund, Norfund, and OeEB, as well as private investors in backing SAETF. SAETF targets infrastructure investments across the energy transition spectrum, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy storage projects and focuses on emerging economies in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Tuesday, the Fund will contribute to global climate mitigation goals and the Paris Agreement by financing clean energy solutions, increasing the supply of reliable and affordable electricity for businesses and consumers, and enabling access to clean energy solutions in underserved areas. 

To address the growing energy demand and reduce dependence on fossil fuel generation, Indonesia has already committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2060 or before. The region’s sustainability ambitions require at least $200 billion of energy sector investment by 2030, of which over three-quarters needs to be channeled into clean energy. 1 Consequently, BII’s investment is also aimed at attracting further commercial investors to unleash climate finance opportunities and support green, resilient economic growth in the region including Indonesia.

“In the margin of G20 Leaders Summit in Bali last year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined other world leaders to launch Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). This country-led partnership will not only help Indonesia pursue an accelerated just energy transition, away from fossil fuels and towards renewable sources, but will also help support economic growth, new skilled jobs, reduced pollution and a resilient, prosperous future for Indonesians. “I am delighted to see British International Investment’s extended offering to the Indo- Pacific region as this investment will also support Indonesia to accelerate its transition away from coal as part of the country’s commitment to its 2060 net zero target. The UK remains committed to work in partnership with" British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Owen Jenkins said//VOI

Erin McCusker, Senior Vice President, Leader, SATO and LIXIL - 

Sanitation must be the main concern because it relates to important needs for the community, but it is quite unfortunate if it turns out that more than two million Indonesians still use toilets that do not comply with existing health standards.

Erin McCusker, Senior Vice President, Leader, SATO and LIXIL, explained that more than two million people in Indonesia still use non-standard toilets, this refers to the World Health Organization (WHO) / ​​United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) Joint Program ) for Water Availability, Sanitation, and Cleanliness.

“That's why SATO offers sanitation and hygiene products that are easy to implement and affordable for more than 16 million people in Indonesia who still use open latrines. In fact, we are developing innovative, aspirational and affordable sanitation and hygiene product solutions, both for household consumers and agencies in rural and peri-urban areas or around urban areas," said Erin.

She added, not only in Indonesia, his party expanding in the Southeast Asia region is also a step towards achieving his big goal of improving the quality of life of more than 100 million people in various countries in 2025.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Tuesday, SATO Leader for the Asia region, Suguru Sakata explained that SATO Solutions has been prepared to bring change to millions of lives around the world and hope to fill the gap in Indonesia, by offering affordable and advanced solutions towards sustainable sanitation management that is safe and clean, and can achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6.2//VOI

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Penny Williams - 

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Penny Williams PSM begins an official visit to North Sumatra today. Ambassador Williams will meet with the Deputy Governor of North Sumatra, Mr. Musa Rajekshah, as well as local business owners, representatives in the field of education, and local community leaders.

“It's great to be in Medan, the heart of North Sumatra province and one of the biggest cities in Indonesia. With a strong economy, including in the tourism and education sectors, I really
excited to learn more about this dynamic region," said the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Penny Williams. 

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday, while in Medan, Ambassador Williams will visit the University of North Sumatra for delivering a public lecture on Australia-Indonesia relations. In addition, he will also organized a series of activities with Australian alumni marking the 70th anniversary Australian scholarships in Indonesia.

“For 70 years, our Australian alumni have helped create strong relationships between Indonesian and Australian communities. I can't wait to meet our great alumni based in Medan and celebrating this important year together,” said Ambassador Williams//VOI

Illustration : Graduation - 

UK Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell announced a new UK funding of £30 million (IDR 600 billion) to boost education opportunities for women and girls in Southeast Asia at the Education World Forum (EWF) held in London this week. EWF is the largest international gathering of education ministers which was also attended by Indonesian Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Makarim.

The five-year programme is the first in a series of new ASEAN-UK programmes designed to deliver on UK commitments as a Dialogue Partner. The programme will focus on four main areas: foundation learning; out-of-school girls and children with disability; gender barriers to digital skills and employment; enabling work on education technology.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Saturday, The new UK funding will help address barriers to education including low quality schooling, learning poverty and limited access to schools in rural areas across the ASEAN region. UK expertise will help schools improve the quality of teaching through lesson planning and in-class support which means the programme will directly support progress towards the UK’s international development commitments for 40 million more girls in school and 20 million more girls reading.

Though this is the first in a series of new ASEAN-UK programmes, the UK already works closely with Indonesia to empower women and girls through education and digital literacy. Our Digital Access Programme in Indonesia promotes inclusive, responsible and sustainable digital transformation through projects that focus on 

improved internet connectivity in rural communities, digital literacy for the underserved, and the upskilling of marginalised female entrepreneurs in business, financial, and digital technology. Over the last two years, the UK spent £1.2m supporting digital inclusion across Indonesia, with approximately 6,000 women and girls having directly benefitted from improved digital connectivity, skills, content, and services.

The UK Skills for Prosperity Programme in Indonesia has supported more women and girls to develop their skills to join the maritime sector workforce and encouraged more women entrepreneur to start new tourism businesses in coastal areas. Whilst through the MENTARI programme, women and girls form the marginalised community in Sumba, NTT were given a tailored support and education to become local leaders for the management, operation, and economic opportunities of the project.

On education sector, the UK government’s flagship scholarship programme, Chevening, aims to give opportunities to future leaders and change makers from across Indonesia with diversity and inclusive agenda attached. In recent years, well over 50% of successful candidates for the Chevening programme in Indonesia are dominated by women//VOI