VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Workers at the PT Green Enterprises Indonesia coconut oil facility in Batu City Village, East Simeulue, Aceh, were pictured washing coconut flesh for processing into pure coconut oil on Tuesday (1/2/2022). (ANTARA FOTO/SYIFA YULINNAS) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Ministry of Trade and the International Coconut Community (ICC) are co-hosting the 51st Cocotech international conference and exhibition in Surabaya, East Java, from July 22-25, 2024.

This event, which will take place from July 22–25, 2024, in Surabaya, East Java, aims to propel the development of a green economy for coconut commodities.

Director general of international trade negotiations, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, highlighted that the conference will address key global issues impacting the coconut industry.

In a statement released by the ministry in Jakarta on Thursday, he informed that the issues include international policies and support for the development of a sustainable coconut sector.

These include international policies and support for sustainable practices, alongside advancements in technology and the potential of coconut-based renewable energy solutions to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

According to Witjaksono, the activity will bring together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including academics or researchers, government officials, private sector players, and coconut industry observers.

The goal is to collaboratively develop solutions and strengthen the industry's resilience and long-term sustainability.

Cocotech, a biannual flagship event, serves as a platform for decision-makers within and beyond the coconut sector. This year's edition prioritizes sustainable practices and the well-being of coconut farmers.

"As the host, Indonesia is expected to be a catalyst for positive change within the coconut industry," Witjaksono said.

The international conference and exhibition is scheduled to be opened by President Joko Widodo, accompanied by the Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan.

Themed "Utilizing the Potential of Coconut as a Tree of Life and Green Energy," Cocotech is expected to be attended by 400 participants, consisting of delegates from ICC member and non-member countries, as well as coconut commodity experts from across the world.

Indonesia is the second-largest coconut producer in the world after the Philippines, with total production reaching 2.83 million metric tons (MT) in 2023.

The same year, Indonesian coconut exports to the world were valued at US$1.55 billion, accounting for 38.3 percent of total global exports.

The main export destinations for Indonesian coconuts include China, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Indonesia's main export products in the coconut sector consist of coconut oil derivatives, coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut charcoal, and grated coconut//ANTARA-VOI

Daily Chair I of the FOLU Net Sink 2030 Working Team Ruandha Agung Sugardiman at the Sub National Socialization event for Indonesia's FOLU Net Sink 2030 South Papua Province, monitored online from Jakarta, Thursday (18/7/2024). ANTARA/Prisca Triferna - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) reminded that operational planning for Indonesia's FOLU Net Sink 2030 at the sub-national level must reach the forest management unit (KPH) level to ensure implementation at the grassroots level.

In the 2030 FOLU Net Sink Sub-National socialization monitored online from Jakarta, Thursday, Daily Chair I of the 2030 FOLU Net Sink Working Team, Ruandha Agung Sugardiman, explained that to achieve Indonesia's climate targets set out in the Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), efforts had been launched to achieve higher levels of absorption. higher than emissions in the forestry sector in 2030.

"Therefore, the planning must reach the KPH so that what happens at the site level will become Indonesia's international face," said Ruandha, referring to the work plan to reduce emissions from the forestry and land use (FOLU) sector.

He explained that the FOLU Net Sink 2030 work plan at the sub-national level must be prepared in a structured, systematic and massive manner and with improved performance targets.

"We are improving this performance with the aim of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to -140 million CO2 equivalent by 2030," he said.

The main basic principles that need attention, said Ruandha, are sustainable forestry sector management, environmental and carbon governance.

He reminded that in preparing the plan, the 2030 FOLU Net Sink achievement factors must be taken into account, including reducing emissions from deforestation and peatlands as well as increasing the capacity of natural forests to absorb carbon.

Also needing attention are efforts to restore and improve peat water systems, forest restoration and rehabilitation, sustainable forest management and optimization of unproductive land.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry itself targets to complete the preparation of the entire FOLU Net Sink 2030 operational work plan at the sub-national level this year, with the remaining provinces including Banten, DKI Jakarta, and South Papua, Central Papua, Southwest Papua and Mountain Papua//ANTARA-VOI

Head of the National Library of Indonesia's Center for Information and Manuscript Management Services, Agus Sutoyo when giving his remarks on the Seminar on Repatriation of Ancient Manuscripts: Restoring Identity, Preserving Heritage in Jakarta, Thursday (18/7/2024), (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Repatriation of manuscripts is not only interpreted as returning it but also as an effort to preserve the civilizational heritage of a nation. The National Library currently records a total of 121,545 ancient manuscripts, 82,158 of which are stored privately and in domestic documentary institutions. Of the remainder, there are still many manuscripts located abroad.

"The National Library prioritizes foreign cooperation for the repatriation of manuscripts," said Deputy for Development of Library Materials and Information Services at the National Library Mariana Ginting at the Seminar on Repatriation of Ancient Manuscripts: Restoring Identity, Preserving Heritage in Jakarta, Thursday (18/7/2024).

Mariana added that the law states that the National Library continues to strive to return ancient manuscripts that are abroad and preserve them.

Its status as a former colonial country makes it difficult for Indonesia to return ancient manuscripts that are abroad. Even though manuscripts have an important meaning for civilization.

"Ancient manuscripts can describe the past to be studied and explored," added the Head of the National Library of Indonesia's Center for Information and Manuscript Management Services, Agus Sutoyo.

Deputy for Human Development, Society and Culture of Bappenas, Amich Alhumami emphasized the state's commitment to repatriating manuscripts. Repatriation of ancient manuscripts is an important issue in human development and the development of cultural progress. In fact, this is one of the priorities on the cultural agenda in the 2025-2029 RPJMN.

"Those who are committed to ancient manuscripts are not only philologists. However, we need to map them first considering that repatriation requires systematic and sustainable efforts," explained Amich.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the Kejora Anak Negeri Foundation, Erwin Dimas, confirmed the fact that Indonesia has an abundance of ancient manuscripts but research has not been carried out optimally. For example, in the ancient manuscripts Abdul L-Fata, Taju L-Muluk, and the Book of Tuan Guru Sapat which contain information about health, medicine, social norms, and so on.

"This means there are challenges in identifying, preserving and utilizing the ancient manuscripts that we have," he said.

The rise in repatriation efforts carried out by many former colonial countries has encouraged a number of parties to establish repatriation institutions. In Indonesia itself, a new repatriation agency was formed in 2021, where one of its focuses is returning cultural heritage objects from abroad.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday (18/07/24), in 2023, 472 artifacts and four Singosari statues were returned to the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta by the Dutch Government. These artifacts and statues were obtained by the Dutch during their colonization of Indonesia.

The return is carried out without conditions, thus opening up space for dialogue and research on these objects to reveal their origins while upholding historical justice.

"Repatriation is not only about returning manuscripts, but also returning parts of our identity that may have been forgotten. It requires appropriate strategies and stages that are not counterproductive to preserving manuscripts," said Professor of Philology at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Oman Fathurrahman.

Professor of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences from Lancang Kuning University, Junaidi, said that the manuscript repatriation process requires strong collaboration between the government, cultural institutions and the academic community both at home and abroad.

He said he was proud of the country's success in retrieving ancient manuscripts from abroad. Of course, this is not just to preserve and research but also to strengthen the nation's cultural identity. However, what is no less important is that this method can be an inspiration for other countries in their efforts to maintain their own cultural heritage.

Chairman of the Archipelago Writing Society (Manassa), Munawar Kholil, said that repatriating ancient manuscripts requires a long time and a strong database. Because when a manuscript is in the wrong hands, someone who doesn't know how to care for it, then that will definitely be a problem.

However, if the repatriation is successfully carried out and disseminated appropriately, then according to Ananta Hari Noorasetya the repatriation has succeeded in producing new literacy and becomes very important for expressing new things//VOI

VOInews,Jakarta: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta on Thursday, at around 04:15 WIB, after making a state visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Under the plane's stairs, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto and National Police Chief General Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo were seen welcoming President Jokowi's arrival, according to a written statement from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia.

Previously, President Jokowi departed from Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi at around 14:55 local time.

Appearing to see off the President's departure to Indonesia were, among others, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei, Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE Husin Bagis, and UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia Abdullah Salem Al Dhaheri.

On the flight to Jakarta, President Jokowi was accompanied by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir.

Also attending were the Director General of Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Head of State Protocol Andy Rachmianto, the President's Military Secretary Major General TNI Rudy Saladin, the Commander of the Paspampres Major General TNI Achiruddin, and the Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat M Yusuf Permana.

During his visit to Abu Dhabi, President Joko Widodo held a bilateral meeting with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) to enhance cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic sector.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in her statement in Abu Dhabi explained that the UAE is one of Indonesia's important partners in the Middle East.

"In the past 10 years, relations between the two countries have developed rapidly. In terms of trade, for example, there has been a significant increase. Trade figures from 2015 to 2023 increased by 52 percent, and in 2023 reached 3.282 billion (US dollars)," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In terms of investment, a significant increase was also recorded. Foreign Minister Retno said that the achievements of relations in the past decade received attention from President Jokowi in bilateral meetings.

"This strong relationship will be capital for the future government to continue to strengthen cooperation between the two countries," said Retno.

In addition to holding plenary meetings, the two leaders also met tete-a-tete. Foreign Minister Retno explained that the discussion in the meeting focused on investment cooperation.

Some of the things that became the focus of the discussion included the plan for cooperation in developing a financial center in the Indonesian Capital City (IKN). This cooperation plan is accommodated in an MoU signed by the Minister of PUPR with the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).

The second issue discussed in the tete-a-tete was cooperation in developing the nickel raw material industry. As is known, Indonesia has a very large stock of nickel.

Indonesia has also developed a nickel downstream ecosystem, especially batteries and electric vehicles ( EV ).

"In this regard, President Jokowi invited the UAE to invest in the EV sector from upstream to downstream," said Foreign Minister Retno.

Source: Antaranews