VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received the Order of Zayed from United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his great endeavors to strengthen the two countries' bilateral relations. ANTAR/HO-Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden - 

VOInews, Jakarta : President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received the Order of Zayed from United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his notable endeavors to strengthen both nations' bilateral relations.

The prestigious award was conferred to the seventh Indonesian president when the two leaders held a bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace, Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

The Order of Zayed is the highest civilian honor that the UAE leader confers to world leaders and heads of state. The recipients include Xi Jinping from China, Narendra Modi from India, and Vladimir Putin from Russia.

According to the Indonesian government's press statement that ANTARA received here, Thursday, Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto is also noted as the recipient of a similar award.

The UAE leader was quoted as saying that the Order of Zayed granted to Jokowi was proof of his appreciation for the Indonesian president's profound endeavors to push forward the bilateral relationship.

The UAE leader, better known as MBZ in Indonesia, also prayed for President Jokowi's good health and the advancement and prosperity of the Indonesian people.

In response to the granted award, President Jokowi expressed his high appreciation and pride, saying that the Order of Zayed conferred to him reflected the two countries' special relations.

On a separate occasion, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also conferred the Order of the Union on Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan for his contribution to endeavors to strengthen strategic partnership between the UAE and Indonesia.

Meanwhile, regarding the result of Wednesday's bilateral meeting, the two presidents witnessed the announcement of eight deliverables of the agreements:

• An MoU between the Indonesian Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises and UAE real estate developer Eagle Hills on tourism and air transportation;
• An MoU between the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) and the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority on establishing a financial center in Nusantara;
• An MoU between Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Emirates Nuclear Energy (ENEC) on nuclear energy;
• An MoU between Bank Indonesia (BI) and the Central Bank of the UAE (UAECB) on payment systems;
• An MoU between the finance ministries of Indonesia and the UAE on public finance management;
• A framework agreement between PT Dirgantara Indonesia and PAL Aerospace on technology transfer of maritime patrol aircraft and anti-submarine warfare;
• An MoU between PLN Icon+ and an Emirati state-owned renewable energy company for joint assessment and a commercial and industrial study for rooftop solar installations in Indonesia;
• An MoU between the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund of the UAE on developing the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Center in Bali//ANTARA-VOI

File - Students are seen in class at a high vocational school not far from the construction project for the new capital city, Nusantara, in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, on October 11, 2022. (ANTARA FOTO/Rivan Awal Lingga/rwa) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) shared on Thursday the results of a study on the development of the education sector in Nusantara Capital City (IKN), East Kalimantan.

"We continue to improve and develop the education sector to increase the quality of education, which has a positive impact on society," said Alimudin, OIKN's deputy for sociocultural and community empowerment.

A number of researchers and education observers have conducted research and training to prepare an educational roadmap for eight educational units in Nusantara and its surrounding areas.

The results of the study were disseminated to school heads and supervisors, teaching staff, teachers, and educational staff.

An educational roadmap for all levels of education in Nusantara is very important to ensure schools do not find it difficult to innovate. Education in the new Indonesian capital will be based on the needs of students.

The OIKN will also increase the number of vocational schools to produce work-ready human resources.

The authority will align education with partner regions, thereby carrying out an education process that is slightly different from the current one.

"Education methods in the new capital city must be in harmony with partner or buffer regions so that there is no imbalance in human resources," Alimudin stressed.

He added that the OIKN prioritizes helping local residents compete by accelerating improvements in the quality of education in Nusantara//ANTARA-VOI

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is constructing Jenelata Dam in Gowa district, South Sulawesi, to optimize flood control in Makassar city. (ANTARA/HO-Kementerian PUPR) - 

VOInews, Jaarta : The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is building the Jenelata Dam in Gowa district, South Sulawesi, to optimize flood control in Makassar city in the province.

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said that the construction of dams and reservoirs for water storage in various regions of Indonesia is a real effort to overcome the threat of climate change, especially extreme weather.

Hadimuljono noted that the government has increased water storage, both in reservoirs and dams, to face the threat of climate change.

"We prioritize dams so that during the dry season, there are still quite large water reserves. And in the rainy season, it can become sufficient storage that effectively restrains flood discharge," Hadimuljono explained in Jakarta on Thursday.

The construction of the dam is primarily aimed at optimizing flood control in Makassar city, which has so far solely relied on Bili-Bili Dam, which has a capacity of 375 million cubic meters and was completed in 1997, for the purpose.

The largest dam in South Sulawesi, Bili-Bili Dam is no longer adequate for holding water to control floods when there is heavy rainfall, as seen in 2019, when the impact of flooding was felt in Makassar city.

Jenelata Dam is expected to help hold back the overflow from Jenelata River, which flows down to Jeneberang River, so that it can supplement Bili-Bili Dam, which also dams the upstream Jeneberang River, in flood control.

It is hoped that Jenelata Dam will be more optimal in reducing flooding in Makassar city and supporting water needs during drought.

Jenelata Dam will also function as a source of irrigation water for 26,773 hectares (ha) of agricultural land: 2,400 ha in the Bili-Bili Irrigation Area (D.I), 13,916 ha in D.I. Bissua, and 10,457 ha in D.I. Kampili.

The dam will also serve as a source of water supply with a capacity of 6.05 cubic meters per second for Bili-Bili, Jenelata, sugar factories, and sugar cane fields in Takalar, and the Sungguminasa Intake.

With a storage capacity of 223.6 million cubic meters, the dam also has the potential for hydroelectric power generation of 7 MW as well as water and culinary tourism.

The construction work on the dam is being carried out by PT Adhi Karya (ADHI) along with PT Wijaya Karya and China's KSO CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd. The value of the construction contract is pegged at Rp4.1 trillion (253.5 million US dollars).

Construction work on the dam has been carried out since October 2023 and is planned to be completed in 2028, with work on the excavation of the main dam and spillway area currently underway//ANTARA-VOI

Workers at the PT Green Enterprises Indonesia coconut oil facility in Batu City Village, East Simeulue, Aceh, were pictured washing coconut flesh for processing into pure coconut oil on Tuesday (1/2/2022). (ANTARA FOTO/SYIFA YULINNAS) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Ministry of Trade and the International Coconut Community (ICC) are co-hosting the 51st Cocotech international conference and exhibition in Surabaya, East Java, from July 22-25, 2024.

This event, which will take place from July 22–25, 2024, in Surabaya, East Java, aims to propel the development of a green economy for coconut commodities.

Director general of international trade negotiations, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, highlighted that the conference will address key global issues impacting the coconut industry.

In a statement released by the ministry in Jakarta on Thursday, he informed that the issues include international policies and support for the development of a sustainable coconut sector.

These include international policies and support for sustainable practices, alongside advancements in technology and the potential of coconut-based renewable energy solutions to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

According to Witjaksono, the activity will bring together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including academics or researchers, government officials, private sector players, and coconut industry observers.

The goal is to collaboratively develop solutions and strengthen the industry's resilience and long-term sustainability.

Cocotech, a biannual flagship event, serves as a platform for decision-makers within and beyond the coconut sector. This year's edition prioritizes sustainable practices and the well-being of coconut farmers.

"As the host, Indonesia is expected to be a catalyst for positive change within the coconut industry," Witjaksono said.

The international conference and exhibition is scheduled to be opened by President Joko Widodo, accompanied by the Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan.

Themed "Utilizing the Potential of Coconut as a Tree of Life and Green Energy," Cocotech is expected to be attended by 400 participants, consisting of delegates from ICC member and non-member countries, as well as coconut commodity experts from across the world.

Indonesia is the second-largest coconut producer in the world after the Philippines, with total production reaching 2.83 million metric tons (MT) in 2023.

The same year, Indonesian coconut exports to the world were valued at US$1.55 billion, accounting for 38.3 percent of total global exports.

The main export destinations for Indonesian coconuts include China, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Indonesia's main export products in the coconut sector consist of coconut oil derivatives, coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut charcoal, and grated coconut//ANTARA-VOI