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A visitor scans QR Code of micro, small, and medium enterprises products at Lombok International Airport, Central Lombok district, West Nusa Tenggara province, on March 9, 2022. (ANTARA FOTO/Ahmad Subaidi/aww/uyu) - 

The Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Ministry will provide an e-catalogue of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) products during the 2022 Pertamina MotoGP Grand Prix of Indonesia.

The attempt is aimed at expanding the market of various superior products of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, the host of the racing event, as well as improve the economy of local people, it said.

"The catalogue will provide information about the varieties and prices of the products, as well as the contacts and marketplaces of the producers," Deputy for SMEs at the ministry Hanung Harimba informed at a virtual press conference on Friday.

In drafting the catalogue, the ministry has collaborated with the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, Bank Indonesia (BI), and the NTB Provincial Cooperatives and SMEs Office, he said.

There are two types of e-catalogues. The first one contains automotive, merchandise and souvenirs, as well as health products, meanwhile the second catalogue consists of culinary items, he informed.

The deputy said that the ministry has placed a number of standing banners and stickers showing the Quick Respond (QR) feature of the e-catalogue at various locations to facilitate the public to obtain information on the MSMEs products.

"The locations include the Bangsal Harbor, former Selaparang Airport, Sangkareang Park, NTB Islamic Center, Gili Mas Harbor, Lombok International Airport, former International Work Training Center (BLT), Mandalika Hospital, Mandalika Kuta Beach, Senggigi Market, as well as Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit,” he informed.

A total of 27 automotive SMEs, 38 merchandise and souvenirs SMEs, five health SMEs, as well as 45 culinary SMEs will exhibit their products during the racing event, he said.

Harimba added that the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has prepared an exhibition area for 300 SMEs at Lombok International Airport and 10 food trucks at Mandalika Beach Park.

“Furthermore, Bank Indonesia has prepared 83 SMEs spots at the circuit area, while the NTB Provincial Cooperatives and SMEs Office in collaboration with the transportation and delivery company Grab have prepared the location for the 45 culinary SMEs," he added//ANT

Screenshot—Daily chairman of Indonesian E-sports Executive Board (PBESI), Bambang Sunarwibowo (middle), chairman of Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), Raja Sapta Oktohari (right), and International Esports Federation (IESF) secretary general, Boban Totovski (left), in a virtual press conference on Friday (March 11, 2022). (ANTARA/Arindra Meodia/uyu) - 

Indonesian Esports Central Board (PBESI) Operational Director Bambang Sunarwibowo has informed that Indonesia will compete in six events at the 14th International Esports Federation (IESF) World Championships and target to bag two gold medals.

"As the host of the tournament, we target to snatch at least two gold medals. However, we hope that we can get more than three medals,” he remarked at a virtual press conference on Friday.

Chairperson of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari said that the competition is important to improve domestic e-sports athletes’ competence on the international stage.

"We believe that PBESI’s attempts in honing the young athletes, implementing systematic national competition, and participating in various international competitions can increase the achievement of Indonesian e-sports athletes,” he added.

IESF Secretary General Boban Totovski, who visited Indonesia in person to check the nation’s preparation for the international championship, noted that the event will see participation from more than one thousand athletes from 120 countries. The event will be held from November 20–27, 2022.

"The participants can experience Indonesian hospitality and see the beauty of the nation while staying during the tournament," he remarked.

He said the IESF will ensure that the players are in good condition considering that the participants from Costa Rica need to travel for 50 hours to reach Bali.

"I believe with the professionalism of PBESI and KOI as well as IESF experience in handling international competition, I am confident that in 2022 we can set the standards for e-sports events," the IESF secretary general remarked.

A total of 127 countries have registered to participate in the world e-sports championship, he noted.

However, due to the COVID-19 travel limitations, it is estimated that participants from only 120 countries will attend the tournament, he said.

In addition to the athletes, 150 representatives of national e-sports federations from various countries and 30 media delegations from all over the world will attend the event, he added//ANT

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin (right) reviews rice stocks at state-owned logistics firm Bulog’s warehouse in Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, on Friday (March 11, 2022). (ANTARA/Aditya Ramadhan/uyu) - 

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has said that the government will resolve security disturbances in Papua region through peaceful efforts such as by improving the welfare of the community.

"We will still prioritize improving the people’s welfare to handle the security disruptions,” he said while inspecting Cipinang Rice Market, East Jakarta, on Friday.

The government must implement a dynamic defensive attempt for maintaining the security of the region to avoid any casualties, he added.

"We do not use offensive security attempts. We prioritize to protect the community, thus there will be no more victims," he remarked.

Furthermore, the Vice President said that the government has also discussed the matter with various parties.

“We do not want the disturbances to happen again in the future," he emphasized.

According to the Presidential Staff Office, between January and early March 2022, there have been at least seven alleged acts of violence committed by Papuan separatist groups (KKB) in several districts in Papua province.

The incidents claimed a total of 13 lives and left 5 people injured, it said. The victims were military personnel and civilians, it added.

Armed separatists killed a gold miner in Yahukimo district on March 7, 2022, and injured a construction worker in Intan Jaya district on March 8. The worker sustained injuries on the neck.

In addition, separatists attacked employees of telecommunication company PT Palapa Timur Telematika (PTT) in Puncak district on March 2.

About ten KKB members shot eight PT PTT workers when they stayed overnight night at their camp to repair a base transceiver station (BTS).

Due to the difficult terrain and bad weather, the only survivor of the attack, Nelson Sarira, was evacuated to Mimika district on March 5 by the Peace Cartenz Task Force.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the victims were moved to Mimika Regional Hospital for identification and post-mortem examination on Monday 7//ANT

The Indonesian 2024 elections plan - 

Commissioner of the General Elections Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) Mochammad Afifuddin has said he expects synergy with the General Elections Commission (KPU), the public and voters, and political parties to make the 2024 elections a success.

"We hope that synergy with the general public and other stakeholders will enhance further to answer challenges and ensure the success of the 2024 general election,” he said during a public discussion on the organization of the 2024 elections, accessed online from Jakarta on Friday.

Several issues might arise during the elections, such as election fraud, violations of electoral regulations, and money politics, he highlighted.

Afifuddin, who will soon leave Bawaslu following his selection as KPU RI commissioner, then urged stakeholders in the election to comprehend and observe electoral regulations.

Compliance with electoral regulations during the election will improve the quality of election organization in Indonesia, he added.

"Our election conduct can improve, but if the election is performed without complying with the legal basis, then everyone will question the election’s conduct," the commissioner said.

During the discussion, Afifuddin also expressed his views regarding several political leaders and public members proposing a delay in election or an extension of the Presidential term that is set to expire in 2024.

He said that the Constitution must be referred to while responding to discourses made by political leaders, and the discourses must not proceed and must be stopped if they violate the Constitution and prevailing laws.

"We must respond to those discourses by referring to the Constitution or the direction that will lead to democracy. In opposite, we need not respond to the discourse if it violates the Constitution," Afifuddin remarked//ANT