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UK Minister for International Development, Women and Equalities Anneliese Dodds and Minister for National Planning Suharso Monoarfa after signing an MOU in Jakarta on Tuesday Septmber 17th 2024. (Photo : British Embassy) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Strengthening genuine partnerships to tackle the climate crisis, delivering green growth and empowering women and girls as part of the 75th anniversary of UK-Indonesia diplomatic relations.

UK Minister for International Development, Women and Equalities Anneliese Dodds is visiting Indonesia on 16-19 Sept 2024 to emphasise the UK’s commitment to working with Indonesia on shared development goals. 

"I’m delighted to be in Indonesia on my first visit to Asia as International Development Minister.Indonesia has a thriving economy and plays a key role in tackling global challenges like the climate crisis. Our joint programmes with Indonesia on climate, forestry and energy transition are going from strength, and I’m looking forward to exploring what further partnerships we can build. Our partnership with Indonesia and ASEAN is an essential part of the UK’s commitment to reset our relationship with the Global South. This government is committed to putting women and girls at the heart of our development mission. I’m keen to learn about what more we can do with Indonesia to empower women and girls, as  well as our UK-ASEAN programmes on girl’s education and female leadership in regional peace and security. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the UK will continue to work closely with Indonesia to deliver increased prosperity and resilience for our people and planet and lasting peace for our shared future", Minister for Development, Women and Equalities Anneliese Dodds said. 

During her visit to Indonesia, Minister Dodds also met with Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Pahala Mansury, Minister for National Planning Suharso Monoarfa, Minister for Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar today, and she will meet with Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia tomorrow to discuss bilateral partnerships on tackling the climate crisis, forestry, energy transition and the wider international development agenda. On Tuesday morning, Minister Dodds signed a MoU between the UK and National Planning Agency (Bappenas) on development cooperation.

She will also undertake a site visit to Makassar, South Sulawesi to engage with local authorities and show the UK’s support to scale up innovative financing for climate and development, through Ecological Fiscal Transfers (EFT) at the village/community level//VOI 

National Symposium with the theme "Forest Product Standards in a Circular Economy for Green Construction" which took place in Jakarta (12/9/2024), (Photo : KLHK Ministry) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) through the LHK Standardization and Instruments Agency held a National Symposium with the theme "Forest Product Standards in a Circular Economy for Green Construction". The event which took place in Jakarta (12/9/2024) aimed to discuss the important role of forest product standards in supporting sustainable development, especially in the construction sector.

In his remarks, the Head of the LHK Standardization and Instruments Agency, Ary Sudijanto, emphasized the urgency of using certified and sustainably managed forest products. According to him, sustainably produced wood can not only preserve biodiversity, but also contribute to reducing carbon emissions and supporting a circular economy.

"The building industry currently contributes 39% of global CO2 emissions. Using wood as a carbon neutral material can reduce emissions significantly," said Ary.

This symposium also discussed the importance of integrating forest product standards in green construction to address the challenges of climate change and the biodiversity crisis.

The participants, consisting of academics, business actors and other stakeholders, discussed the development of new standards that can support sustainable forest management and encourage sustainable growth of the forestry industry.

"By implementing the right standards, we can improve the quality of forest products, support international trade, and contribute to green economic development," added Ary.

One of the important points discussed in this symposium was the role of the circular economy in forest management. Circular economy principles which emphasize reducing waste and maximizing resource utilization are considered very relevant to efforts to preserve forests and sustainable development.

This national symposium presented several speakers, including Prof. Dr. Lina Karlinasari, S.Hut., M.Sc.F.Trop, from IPB University, Ha Kyungsoo, Forestry Attache of the Embassy of the Republic of South Korea, and Chair of the Indonesian Wood Panel Association.

It is hoped that the results of this symposium can become the basis for formulating policies and developing more comprehensive forest product standards, so that they can support sustainable development in Indonesia//VOI

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp attended a diplomatic reception commemorating Indonesia’s Independence Day, hosted at the Indonesian Ambassador’s residence in Wassenaar (Photo : KBRI Netherlands) - 

VOInews, Netherlands : In a vibrant display of Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp attended a diplomatic reception commemorating Indonesia’s Independence Day, hosted at the Indonesian Ambassador’s residence in Wassenaar. This event marked one of the first diplomatic engagements of FM Veldkamp, who was sworn in as part of Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s cabinet in July 2024.

Upon his arrival, FM Veldkamp was greeted with a distinctive Minang (West Sumatran) cultural ceremony, honoring the birthplace of the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mayerfas.

The traditional Talempong music filled the air as Plate and Pasambahan dancers performed, offering the ceremonial Betel leaves to Ambassador Mayerfas and his distinguished guest, FM Veldkamp, symbolizing a gesture of respect and goodwill. 

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Mayerfas expressed his gratitude for FM Veldkamp’s presence, emphasizing the strong and growing partnership between Indonesia and the Netherlands. He voiced optimism that under FM Veldkamp’s leadership, the two nations would continue to foster a comprehensive and forward-looking bilateral cooperation, building upon the existing Comprehensive Partnership framework.

FM Veldkamp reciprocated the sentiments, extending his congratulations on Indonesia’s Independence Day and reiterating the importance of collaboration. He highlighted the significance of the Plan of Action 2024-2025, which aims to strengthen economic, cultural, and political ties between the two countries. 

In a special segment aimed at promoting Indonesian entrepreneurship and innovation, over 30 members of the Indonesian diaspora, along with several Indonesian State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), showcased their products and services.

The highlight of the evening was a fashion show by “Sroja”, a premium Indonesian fashion brand, which unveiled its latest collection to the distinguished guests, furthering Indonesia's cultural and economic diplomacy. Total more than 900 guests attended the reception//VOI

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of Indonesia, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan giving his closing remarks at ISF 2024. (Photo : SS doc. Video NK-VOI) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF) 2024 concluded on Friday (Sept. 6) with a series of climate-related commitments, further cementing Indonesia’s position as a key climate player and leading voice of green growth for developing economiesThe two-day gathering saw the signing of 14 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on critical areas such as cross-border electricity interconnection, carbon capture, acceleration of energy transition, as well as green transition in transportation, among others.

In his closing remarks, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (CMMAI/Kemenko Marves) of Indonesia, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the ISF’s strong spirit of collaboration boosted his hopes in tackling climate crisis.

“I have every confidence that we will maintain the momentum generated in these past two days and
turn the ideas we’ve exchanged into meaningful action, We all heard that the energy transition is complex, and there are no shortcuts. While we all come from diverse backgrounds with different starting points, boundaries, and challenges, we share the same responsibility and opportunity to contribute to the global sustainability journey,” said Pandjaitan, whose Ministry hosted the ISF 2024 with support from the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce (Kadin Indonesia).

Rachmat Kaimuddin, Deputy for Transportation and Infrastructure at the Coordinating Ministry of and Maritime Affairs and Investment (CMMAI/Kemenko Marves), echoed Luhut’s statement saying that the next step is to focus on action.

“We hosted the ISF 2024 in Indonesia because we recognize that to combat climate crisis, the world must build lasting, mutually beneficial collaboration that respects each country's starting point, needs and constraints. We are dealing with complex challenges, but we can't afford to wait for the theoretically perfect solutions. So let us focus on practical solutions that can positively impact people's lives, now", Rachmat said. 

Shinta W. Kamdani, Coordinating Vice Chairwoman for Maritime, Investment and Foreign Affairs of Kadin Indonesia, said that the collaborative solutions from ISF 2024 can bridge the sustainable funding gap, enabling the implementation of sustainable business practices, particularly in terms of financing.

“The ISF 2024 proved to be an impactful platform that could turn collaboration into green opportunities. I look forward to witnessing how the ISF’s follow up actions could strengthen the collective commitment of the corporate world as a key driver in mobilizing green funding,” Shinta said.

The ISF 2024 drew around 7,000 participants, more than triple compared to last year’s attendance. The 7,000 participants were part of the 11,000 people from 53 countries who had registered for the event. Luhut said that next year’s ISF is planned to be held in Bali with a bigger outreach//VOI