VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A screenshot of senior deputy governor of Bank Indonesia, Destry Damayanti, at a Casual Talks event on Friday (February 18, 2022). (ANTARA/Bank Indonesia's YouTube channel/uyu) - 

Climate change must be addressed without delay so that it does not disrupt monetary and financial system stability, Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Destry Damayanti has emphasized.

"The increasing extreme weather, clean water crises, forest fires, and other environmental disruptions have the potential to disrupt monetary and financial system stability," she noted during a webinar on Friday.

According to experts, the cost of handling the damage caused by climate change is estimated to be higher than the cost of handling the 2008 global crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, she highlighted.

Over the last 20 years, the cost of dealing with extreme weather has reached US$1.51 trillion, Damayanti said.

In addition, a number of analysts have predicted that without any action on climate change, the Earth's temperature will rise by 3.2 degrees Celsius, which will lead to an 18-percent decline in global GDP (gross domestic product), she added.

"However, if we can realize the targets of the Paris Agreement, the maximum temperature increase will be below two degrees Celsius, while global GDP will only reduce by four percent," the official said.

Hence, through its G20 Presidency, Indonesia is stressing the importance of sustainable financing for ensuring a green, sustainable, and inclusive global economic recovery, she explained.

Indonesia has developed a number of sustainable financing products, such as green bonds and green sukuk, Damayanti noted.

Green bonds, which have grown significantly, are projected to reach US$260 billion during 2021–2023, she said.

Bank Indonesia has also determined the BI Green Financial and Institutional Framework, consisting of the two pillars of green policy transition and green institution, she added.

They aim to realize an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient financial system and economic growth, she said.

As of December 2021, BI has invested US$1.83 billion in the green portfolio, she informed.

Furthermore, Bank Indonesia’s senior deputy governor urged all countries to actively participate in international cooperation to mitigate global warming.

"Indonesia is always ready to support global recovery in accordance with the spirit of the 2022 G20 Presidency of ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger,’" she added//ANT

Mandalika Special Economic Zone. (/) - 

The development of the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ) will not stop after the 2022 MotoGP Pertamina Grand Prix, Deputy I of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Febry Calvin Tetelepta, has emphasized.

"The implementation of 2022 MotoGP is only the beginning of local economic recovery," he remarked in a statement issued here on Saturday.

He said he expected more national and international events to be held in the area in the future.

He then asked the public to support the implementation of the events to create long-term multiplier effects for the community.

One of the keys to realizing the multiplier effect of the development of the tourism destination area is by empowering local communities, he said.

This is in accordance with the commitment and directives of President Joko Widodo on the establishment and development of the economic zone, he noted.

"Since the beginning, the development of the Mandalika area has been designed holistically. Thus, the infrastructure development and local community empowerment must be carried out simultaneously," Tetelepta said.

There will be many tourism supporting sectors—such as construction, lodging, meal, transportation, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—which will benefit from the multiplier effect of the development of the tourism area, he added.

"The implementation of events will certainly involve the local community. It shows that the development of the Mandalika SEZ is dedicated to the welfare of the Indonesian people, especially the people of NTB province," he added.

The Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit is holding the 2022 MotoGP pre-season test from February 11–13, 2022. Pol Espargaro was the fastest rider on the first day of the test, while Luca Marini bested the other competitors on the second day.

Meanwhile, the 2022 MotoGP Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia will take place from March 18–20, 2022//ANT

The Chairperson of Women20, Hadriani Uli Silalahi, in a virtual press conference hosted from Manado on Friday. ANTARA/HO -

Women20 is envisioned to be able to promote Likupang's tourism in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, to the global community.

"W20, as one of the Engagement Groups from the Group of Twenty (G20), chose Likupang as the location for the side events of the W20 Indonesian Presidency, which is expected to introduce this leading tourist destination to the international community," Chairperson of Women20 Hadriani Uli Silalahi delivered the statement through a virtual press conference broadcast from Manado on Friday.

Silalahi remarked that Likupang was one of the Special Economic Zones also designated as a super priority tourist destination by the government.

Currently, an integrated tourism ecosystem is being developed in the area, and it is expected to become a world-class tourist destination.

The entire agenda of the W20 Presidency of Indonesia would be conducted in several stages at several priority destinations in the country until October 2022.

The implementation was the result of collaboration with International Knowledge Partners, UN agencies, civil society organizations, academia, government agencies, and the private sector.

After Likupang, the side events of the Indonesia W20 Presidency until the W20 Summit will take place in Batu, East Java, and Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan in March 2022; Manokwari, West Papua, in May 2022; Lake Toba, North Sumatra, in July 2022; and Denpasar, Bali, from September to October 2022.

Indonesia's position was also expected to unite the citizens, especially in terms of the areas on which the G20 and W20 agendas were being made.

Indonesia will be increasingly recognized for its diversity, its appeal to draw tourists, as well as for proffering investment opportunities supported by programs that would be established during the presidency.

The series of agendas for the W20 Presidency of Indonesia, as one of the engagement groups in the G20, would commence soon. The forum will raise several issues related to women's empowerment. It would be divided into several main agendas called the Women20 Summit and also additional agendas or side events.

The Likupang tourist area in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, would serve as the location for the first W20 side event scheduled on February 14-16, 2022.

At this first meeting, some 150 participants will comprise representatives from G20 member countries: the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Turkey, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, China, Germany, the UK, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Italy, France, Russia, as well as the European Union. The meeting will be conducted through both the online and offline method//ANT

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow, Russia February 7, 2022. Sputnik/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo - 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said nothing during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday (Feb 12) that he indicated he was preparing to invade Ukraine, an official in the French presidency said.

The two leaders spoke at a time of high tension over Russia's massing of troops near the Ukrainian border, with Washington saying on Friday that Moscow could invade at any moment. Russia has denied it plans to invade.

"We see no indication in what President Putin says that he is going to go on the offensive," the official told reporters after Macron and Putin spoke on the phone for nearly 90 minutes.

"We are nevertheless extremely vigilant and alert to the Russian (military) posture in order to avoid the worst."

Separately, the Kremlin said that Putin had highlighted during the call with Macron a "lack of a substantive response from the United States and NATO to well-known Russian initiatives". This referred to a series of Russian security demands, including that it bar Ukraine from ever joining NATO.

Putin and Macron also discussed the situation related to "provocative speculations" around an allegedly planned Russian invasion, the Kremlin said.

The Elysee official said France would recommend that French nationals avoid trips to Ukraine and preparations would be made for embassy staff and their families to leave the country if they wanted, the official said.

The French ambassador would review the situation for the some 1,000 French nationals in the country, many of whom hold both French and Ukrainian citizenship, the official said. The United States and many other countries have urged citizens to leave Ukraine amid fears of an invasion.

Macron visited Moscow earlier this week and then and in their call on Saturday the two discussed ways to move forward on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements on achieving peace in eastern Ukraine, as well conditions for security and stability in Europe, the Elysee said separately in a statement.

Macron was also due to speak on Saturday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy//CNA