VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate. ANTARA/HO/Kominfo/FR -

The government adopts three approaches to ensure that development of the national capital (IKN) Nusantara can create access equality for all, Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate stated.

These three approaches comprise IKN Nusantara's development as a Forest City, Sponge City, and Smart City, Plate noted through his written statement on Saturday.

"For Smart City, IKN Nusantara will maximize the opportunity in the digital space and conduct various smart initiatives in various fields," the minister explained.

"For instance, in access and mobility, environment, security and safety, public and government sector, urban system, and liveability as well as dynamics," he explained.

According to Plate, IKN Nusantara will not solely be a symbol of the nation's identity or symbol realized through the development of physical spaces but also demonstrate Indonesia's vision in supporting sustainable development that aligns with digital transformation.

IKN Nusantara is promised to become a breath of fresh air for the people and serve as a concrete example that development in the Western and Eastern parts of Indonesia can be equal.

"Nusantara capital also represents the idea of inclusive advancement, Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), with the development vision as a new smart metropolis or smart city that integrates information and communication technological aspects," he remarked.

Nusantara also becomes an innovation center that consolidates growth and advances Indonesia.

The existence of Nusantara is also expected to become a solution to address challenges that Indonesia currently faces, including the challenge of equalizing the economy.

The government's data concerning Indonesia's economic structure spatially is dominated by Indonesia's western region, specifically in Java Island, the minister noted.

The island contributes 57.8 percent to the total gross domestic product (GDP) followed by Sumatra Island, with 21.7 percent.

Meanwhile, for eastern regions, Maluku and Papua, it was recorded that they only contributed 2.49 percent.

"This shows that Java Island still largely dominates Indonesia's economic structure," he noted.

He realized that the government's efforts to address the economical gap became a major work for Indonesia.

To this end, the development of IKN became a huge breakthrough and a realization of the central government's concrete decision in realizing more equitable national growth and development//ANT

Illustration - Screenshot of the Borderline Export Import documentary. (ANTARA/HO-KKP/rst) - 

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Ministry collaborates with Angkasa Pura (AP) II to produce a short documentary film to edify people on the quarantine process and quality control of fishery products for export and import.

State-owned airport operator AP II President Director Muhammad Awaluddin welcomed the synergy with the ministry to educate the public regarding fishery products' export and import activity through the airport.

"AP II strongly supports collaboration with KKP to educate our public regarding fishery products' import and export activity through the airport," Awaluddin noted in a press release on Saturday.

He is optimistic that in future, Indonesian fishery products would become more advanced and recognized in the global market.

The documentary show, titled "Borderline Export Import" and broadcast through the Neptune TV Channel, explains about the export-import process of fishery products through Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang District, Banten Province.

The documentary covers several aspects related to the topic: live fish and fish products' certification, testing samples process in the laboratory, export acceleration program, and steps to unravel the obstacles faced by exporters through technology-based services.

"The segment regarding live fish and fish products' certification explained that derivatives of fish, including shrimp, tuna, snapper, crabs, and lobsters, are declared free from quarantine fish pests and also meet the quality requirements," Acting Head of the Fish Quarantine, Quality Control, and Fishery Products Safety Agency (BKIPM) of KKP, Hari Maryadi, expounded during the 27-minute-long film.

The documentary also examines the mechanism for extermination of imported fishery products that failed to comply with the provisions, such as being contaminated with bacteria or parasites that can threaten public health and likely harm the Indonesian fishery ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Doni Ismanto, remarked that the content offered by Neptune TV was maximized to provide literacy on the development of the marine and fisheries sector for the community.

"This film attempts to create an impression about the synergy between the KKP, in this case, the BKIPM work unit and the equipment and infrastructure at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in providing quarantine services and quality fishery products," he noted.

Ismanto expressed hope that after watching the short documentary, the public would support the management of fishery products if they are looking to export through the airport and gain an understanding of prohibited fishery products to be traded.

The documentary "Borderline Export Import" can be enjoyed for free on the KKP official YouTube account, the MAXstream video application, and also the IndiHome service on the Neptune TV channel//ANT

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian. (ANTARA/HO-Kemendagri/pri) -

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian issued a ministerial circular to regulate Eid al-Fitr gatherings, locally known as halalbihalal, to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases.

"On account of the Eid al-Fitr celebration and to prevent COVID-19 cases from surging, it is important that residents, governors, and mayors/district heads take notice (of this circular) to regulate halalbihalal activities being organized," the minister stated here on Saturday.

The circular instructed regional leaders to observe the prevailing Home Minister's Instruction on activities restriction enforcement (PPKM) levels 3, 2, 1, that affect their region before allowing Eid gathering activities.

Halalbihalal activities in regions with level 3 PPKM must be restricted to 50 percent of the total venue capacity, while residents in regions with level 2 PPKM can organize the gathering activity by observing a 75-percent capacity restriction at the venue, and halalbihalal activities in regions with level 1 PPKM can be organized without capacity restriction.

The circular also instructed organizers of halalbihalal activities, with more than 100 participants, to not serve foods and beverages in a buffet, and instead, serve the food in packages that can be brought home.

"Communal dining, which makes participants take off their masks (to eat), must be avoided because the situation will increase the vulnerability of COVID-19 infection," according to the ministry's circular.

Strict health protocols, subject to further regulation from the regional authority yet at least must include wearing masks, washing hands or using hand sanitizer, and physical distancing must be observed during Eid gathering activities.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto noted that the government will regulate the obligation to comply with COVID-19 health protocols during Eid gatherings.

Hartarto, who concurrently serves as chairman of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN), said the government has advised against communal dining during halalbihalal activities.

However, if people decide to organize communal dining, then they must follow the applicable health protocols, Hartarto emphasized//ANT

Homecoming travelers carry their belongings to a bus at Pakupatan Bus Terminal in Serang, Banten province, on Friday (April 22, 2022). (ANTARA FOTO/Asep Fathulrahman/hp) (ANTARA FOTO/ASEP FATHULRAHMAN) - 

The government has made COVID-19 vaccine booster shots mandatory for Eid-al-Fitr homecoming travelers, a spokesperson has said.

As part of this measure, which has been taken to prevent an increase in the COVID-19 caseload after the long holidays, those who have not received the booster dose will be asked to produce an antigen swab test certificate, spokesperson and chief of the expert team of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Prof. Wiku Adisasmito, said during a ‘Safe & Healthy Homecoming’ program, held virtually on Friday.

"Of course, all (Eid homecoming travelers) must have received booster shots and met travel requirements. Children aged 6 to 17 years are exempt from antigen test since a booster vaccine (for the age group) is not available,” he said.

“That is the requirement which must be directly integrated with the PeduliLindungi app,” he added.

The requirement has been laid down in the Addendum to COVID-19 Handing Task Force’s Circular No. 16 of 2022 concerning Requirements for Domestic Travelers during the Pandemic Situation, he informed.

As per the new requirements for the 2022 Eid-al-Fitr homecoming, domestic travelers who have received the third or booster vaccination will no longer need to undergo a PCR test for detecting the presence of the coronavirus.

They will no longer be required to show the negative results of RT-PCR or antigen rapid tests, he added.

Meanwhile, the PCR and antigen test requirements will apply to domestic travelers who have only received the full primary vaccination (two doses), he said.

They will be required to show the negative results of antigen rapid tests taken 1X24 hours prior to departure, or the negative result of an RT-PCR test taken 3X24 hours prior to departure, he added.

PCR is also mandatory for domestic travelers who only have received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

They will be required to produce a negative result of an RT-PCR test taken 3X24 hours before departure.

"In principle, what is different this time is requirements. The President has recommended booster (vaccination) as a homecoming requirement. Thus, they (people who have taken the booster shot) do not need to take the test any longer,” he said.

"However, homecomers who have not received booster shots still have to undergo a screening process so that their journey is safe and healthy. Make sure that they have received booster vaccine and met travel requirements,” he added//ANT