VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: PT Pertamina (Persero) has launched a Sustainable Finance Framework that aims to ensure the company's sustainability efforts are integrated into its funding strategy. The framework is the basis for Pertamina and its subsidiaries to access funding for green projects and energy transition projects. "The strategic step to develop the Sustainable Finance Framework is in line with efforts to provide a broader commitment to create long-term value and sustainability for stakeholders and have a positive impact," said Pertamina's Finance Director, Emma Sri Martini, as reported by pertamina.com, Thursday (20/6/2024).

According to her, the Sustainable Finance Framework also strengthens Pertamina's commitment to achieving the 32% emission reduction target from the business as usual (BAU) scenario by 2030 and supports the Indonesian Government's efforts to achieve Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060 or even sooner, while ensuring national energy security.

ISS-Corporate, as an independent opinion provider, has issued a Second Party Opinion (SPO) validating the consistency of the Sustainable Finance Framework with Pertamina's sustainability strategy.

In addition, the platform conforms to international sustainability funding standards, namely the Green Bond Principles (GBP) issued by the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) and the Green Loan Principles (GLP) issued by the Loan Market Association (LMA). "Through this Sustainable Finance Framework, Pertamina and its subsidiaries can issue green or transitional funding instruments to finance or refinance eligible green or transitional projects in nine categories," said Emma.

The nine categories include renewable energy, green hydrogen, transmission and distribution networks for renewable and low-carbon gases, green buildings, clean transport, low-carbon fuels, sustainable management of living natural resources and land use, emission reduction, and to transition in the shipping sector.

It said the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Framework also includes a robust governance and reporting process for transparency and visibility for investors and lenders, regarding the positive environmental impact of Pertamina's green investments or energy transition. "The presence of the Sustainable Finance Framework is expected to be one of Pertamina's concrete steps as a leader in energy transition, which can contribute to Indonesia's sustainability journey," added Pertamina's VP Corporate Communication, Fadjar Djoko Santoso.

With the support of Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (CACIB) who acted as Structure Advisor during the process, the development of the Sustainable Finance Framework not only strengthens Pertamina's commitment to sustainable business practices.  But more than that, it also demonstrates Pertamina's intention to use the Sustainable Finance Framework as a reference for integrating sustainability in future funding.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition sector, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuing to encourage programmes that have a direct impact on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"All of these efforts are in line with the implementation of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) in all lines of business and Pertamina's operations," she concluded.

VOInews, Jakarta: The government has issued a licence to establish a branch campus of King's College London (KCL) in the Singhasari Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Malang district, East Java. Singhasari SEZ is the first exclusive area designated to develop the digital economy and education sectors.

Located at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs on Thursday (20/06), the Government handed over the King's College London (KCL) Branch Campus Establishment Permit in the form of Decree of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Number 238/E/O Year 2024 on the KCL Branch Campus Establishment Permit granted to Yayasan King Singhasari Indonesia. "This is a new history for education in Indonesia because of the arrival of universities from the UK that are top 100 or number 40 best in the world. So this is present in Malang and hopefully, this can encourage the HR education cluster in Malang to become a superior cluster. And of course, the Singhasari SEZ is expected to be a hub for collaboration of major universities in the world and this synergy is certainly needed to prepare our human resources to enter the future of works," said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto as Chairman of the SEZ National Council at the event.

For education, KCL will take a full role in the implementation of the master's degree programme, from the implementation of the lecture curriculum to the teaching staff. The initial phase will focus on the digital economy through the MSc Digital Economies programme in September 2024, followed by the MSc Digital Futures programme in January 2025.

In addition, KCL's Place-Based Trans-National Education (TNE) is the first of its kind to be offered in Indonesia and half of KCL's faculty at the London campus have been involved in establishing TNE in Indonesia. This also demonstrates KCL's commitment to the delivery of its campuses in Indonesia. "And of course, the presence of King's College London will also facilitate Indonesian students who will study at King's College London. So it will be a two-sided agent. First to train the Indonesian people and then second to open access for Indonesian citizens to study at King's College London. So there will be 2 traffic and of course, we hope that the number of students in Indonesia will be more," said Airlangga.

In the future development plan, one new programme will be launched each year. The planned advanced programmes include an MSc in Digital Law in year 3, an MSc in Psychology in year 4, and an MSc in Cyber Security in year 5. Meanwhile, Singhasari SEZ will take a full role in providing infrastructure, facilities, and learning facilities for students.

On the occasion, Airlangga also gave directions to KCL to be able to accommodate at least 1,500 students, one of which is by working with the LPDP which is committed to providing scholarships for Indonesian students who will study at KCL Indonesia. "Of course, we hope that more universities will come to Indonesia. So that we have many top 100 human resources, and this will be in line with the demographic bonus in Indonesia and I hope that our young people become productive young people and can fill the needs of the digital economy," concluded Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

Source: Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs

VOInews, Jakarta: Deputy for Production Statistics at the Indonesian Central Agency on Statistics (BPS), M. Habibullah, on Wednesday (19/6/2024) reported an increase in Indonesia's export value in May 2024 compared to last month. Through an official statement, he said that the value of exports in May 2024 reached US$22.33 billion, an increase of 13.82 percent from the export achievements in April 2024.

VOInews, Karanganyar: Indonesian president Joko Widodo (Jokowi) highlighted the importance of water management to face the current dry weather challenges. This was stated as Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) estimates that some regions in Indonesia will face dry weather that may endanger food production in Indonesia.