VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Japan Credit Rating Agency Ltd. has raised Indonesia`s Sovereign Debt Rating from BBB- with positive prospective to BBB with stable prospect.

Economic structural reform that has been carried out to achieve sustainable growth has brought a positive impact to improve investment climate, infrastructure development and slow corporate foreign debt withdrawals, ANTARA learned here on Thursday from JCR official statement.

"Private foreign debt has grown limitedly since 2016 because of the implementation of prudent regulations by the central bank that led to increasing economic resilience against external pressure," according to JCR.

JCR also viewed economic policy packages and reduction of Bank Indonesia reference rate as having boosted private investment especially in the non-commodities sector. The decline in the current account deficit and high foreign exchange reserve has also reflected the increasing resilience of Indonesia`s economy, it said.

"Indonesia`s banking sector has remained healthy and financing through financial market has grown strongly reflected by increasing issuence of shares, bonds and medium debt securities," JCR states.

As for the fiscal condition, JCR admits that fiscal reform that has been carried out by the government in the form of shifting subsidy spending to infrastructure, health and education spending has been able to help reduce fiscal deficit and increase spending efficiency.
In a written statement Bank Indonesia governor Agus Martowardojo said JCR`s decision to raise Indonesia`s debt rating reflected international institutions` confidence in the economic structural reform being carried out by Indonesia.

"This also shows that the harmonious synergy between Bank Indonesia and the government has been able to safeguard macro-economic stability and financial system," he said.

JCR improved Indonesia`s sovereign debt rating from stable to positive and at the same time affirmed the rating to BBB- (investment grade) on March 7, 2017. (antaranews)

The Argentinian government has expressed gratitude to the Indonesian National Police for its quick response in finding a lost seven-year old Argentinian child, Alum Langone Avalos.
"I have come here to meet National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian to express my deep gratitude to the Indonesian Police for its quick response in handling the case," Argentinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Ricardo Luis Bocalandro, stated after a meeting with Karnavian at the National Police Headquarters here on Thursday.
Karnavian stated that the case was a sensitive issue in Argentine, where any attempt to take away a child, without taking care of it, is regarded as a serious crime.

"The issue has been under the spotlight, including in the social media," he noted.
He praised his ranks and files for their performance to find the child quickly. "Interpol has acted quickly to contact South Sulawesi Provincial Police to arrest (the perpetrator) and take the child to Jakarta. The child was later handed over to the (Argentinian) Embassy," he revealed.

Secretary of the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Interpol Indonesia, Brigadier General Napoleon Bonaparte, explained that the case started a year ago when Alum was picked up by his father Jorge Gabriel Langone from school. Langone later took Alum abroad.

The local court has decided to give the right to Elizabeth, as his natural mother, to take care of him.

Langone, accompanied by his girl friend, Candela Guiterres, took Alum to travel to several countries, including Brazil, Bolivia, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.

On Feb 5, 2018, the Indonesian police found Alum in Tana Toraja tourist site, South Sulawesi.  (antaranews)

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said Italy and Indonesia had strong cooperation in interreligious dialogue. He called inter-religious dialogue between the two countries is still regularly held and make the relationship between the two countries really perfect. Angelino Alfano stated that Italy believes interfaith dialogue is one of the most effective ways to fight against radicalism and discrimination. He also added that Indonesia has the same views related to efforts to fight against radicalism and discrimination. In addition to combating radicalism and discrimination through interfaith dialogue, Indonesia and Italy have also continued to pursue peace at both regional and international levels. One of the issues of concern to both countries is the Palestinian issue. Both countries hope the existing problems in Palestine will be immediately settled with a good ending./// VOI 08.02.2018 Rezha