VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - The Indonesian Government has been promoting and implementing its downstream policy to solidify the country's economic foundations amid geopolitical tensions, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani stated.

Minister Mulyani noted that the government devised the policy to optimize Indonesia's abundant natural resources, including mineral resources that are highly valuable to electric vehicle industry, like nickel.

"Hence, in the context of global trade, the government is implementing the downstream policy to increase Indonesian products' added value and strengthening the country's external balance," she noted in a written statement received here on Sunday,

She observed that the recently mounting geopolitical tensions could trigger uncertainties and affect economic projections.

However, Indonesia could make the most of its abundant natural resources to navigate the dynamic global conditions, she said.

"Currently, we are focusing on improving and strengthening the economic structure. One of the efforts made is implementing the downstream policy through the construction of more smelters that will help us boost our products' added value and strengthen our external balance," she elaborated.

She further said that to strengthen Indonesia's economic foundations, the government has also been implementing various regulations, such as the Tax Regulation Harmonization Act (HPP Law), Fiscal Relations Between Central Government and Regions (HKPD) Law, and Financial Sector Development and Strengthening (P2SK) Law.

The efforts to solidify the economic foundations also include improvements in the banking sector, non-bank financial institutions, management of pension funds, and stock exchange, she said.

Minister Mulyani then added that the newly launched Indonesia Carbon Exchange (IDXCarbon) is also part of the government's initiatives to help the country strengthen its economic foundation.

Earlier on September 26, during the Finance Ministry's Media Gathering in Bogor, West Java, Chief Economist of state-owned Bank Mandiri opined that the downstream policy could become one of the keys to maintain the investment performance during the 2024 political year.

He also said the government could further expand the application of the policy to minerals beside nickel to seize opportunities in the enormous potential of the electric vehicle industry. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Four Indonesian citizens, recently evacuated from the occupied West Bank and its surroundings, arrived safely in Jakarta on Sunday.

"The evacuation process has begun since October 13. They were brought safely from a safe house in Jerusalem to Amman via the Jordan River Border," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

As of Sunday, a total of 136 Indonesian citizens remain in the West Bank and its surroundings.

"They chose to stay in their respective locations," the ministry stated in the statement.

The Indonesian Government is making utmost efforts to evacuate 10 Indonesian citizens from Palestine's Gaza Strip which has been under the Israeli occupation forces' intense bombardment since October 7.

The vulnerable security situation in the overcrowded enclave has been forcing the government to take mindful steps and maintain intensive coordination with various parties to enable the citizens to leave the war zone.

Amid further escalation of this Palestinian-Israeli war that has killed more than two thousand people in Gaza, the Indonesian Government recorded no Indonesian casualties

The Israeli occupation forces continue to mount military assaults on the Gaza Strip in response to
Hamas' surprise attack on Oct 7.

Hamas that runs the besieged Gaza Strip commenced Operation Al Aqsa Storm by mounting a spate of rockets at Israel while executing incursions by land, sea, and air.

Hamas explained that the operation was meant as an act of retaliation for the storming and desecrating of the Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, a territory occupied by Israel, as well as the increasing intensity of Israeli settlers' violence towards Palestinians.

In response, the Israeli forces launched Operation Iron Swords that placed Hamas in the Gaza Strip as the target.

Moreover, the Israeli government has also cut off water, fuel, and electricity supplies to Gaza, making the living condition of Palestinians in the small and densely-populated enclave more difficult. Prior to the war, they have also suffered severely from the impacts of tight blockades that Israel has carried out since 2007.

Since the start of the war, at least 2,215 Palestinian civilians, including 724 children, got killed while Israel lost 1,300 citizens. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) plans to initiate the development of a dengue hemorrhagic fever (DBD) vaccine made in Indonesia.

Vaccine Development Researcher at the Vaccine and Drug Research Center of Health Research Organization of BRIN, Doddy Irawan Setyo Utomo, said the vaccine development is planned to use the virus-like particle (VLP) method which can trigger the formation of antibodies.

"This virus-like particle does not have genetic material in it, so it is not radical like the original virus which is infectious," said Utomo when contacted in Jakarta on Sunday.

He said these particles can display epitopes (antigenic molecules) from four types of dengue virus serotypes, which is DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4, all at once.

Therefore the four serotypes can be simultaneously recognized by the body in one virus-like particle contained in the vaccine.

Utomo said the method used for developing the dengue vaccine in Indonesia was different from
Dengvaxia and Qdenga. These two vaccines which have already been in circulation use virus weakening methods.

According to him, through the VLP method, the effectiveness of the vaccine developed by Indonesia can reach 90-95 percent.

"By using VLP, we are hopefully able to enhance its effectiveness to 90-95 percent," he said.

Utomo said the vaccine development process itself can take 5-10 years. This is because the manufacturing process must go through clinical trials, safety, regulatory approval, and a mass production process.

He said that after the vaccine was successfully produced, the public was expected to be able to receive it for free.

"When it comes to the public the price can be cheaper or even free," he said. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) is promoting the U-17 World Cup 2023 extensively in a bid to meet the spectator target set by FIFA, said PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir on Sunday.

"We are running promotional programs, trophy experiences, and playing official song in public places," he said during the U-17 World Cup trophy exhibition in Jakarta.

The U-17 World Cup 2023 will be held from November 10 to December 2 at four stadiums: Jakarta International Stadium (JIS), Si Jalak Harupat Stadium (SJH) in Bandung, Manahan Stadium in Solo, and Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium (GBT) in Surabaya.

A total of 24 participating countries, including Indonesia as the host, will compete in the junior-level championship.

Thohir said that the series of promotions was carried out in order to attract the public to watch the match, as FIFA has targeted from 10,000 to 18,000 spectators per match.

"Based on previous sports events in Indonesia, a tournament typically attracts a large crowd 10 days before the start of the tournament," he said.

Promotions for the U-17 World Cup include trophy exhibitions in four cities: Jakarta (October 15), Bandung (October 22), Surabaya (October 29). and Solo (November 5).

The official song of the U-17 World Cup 2023 has also been played on the radio, in malls, and other public spaces, to let the people know that Indonesia is hosting the international event.

He said that he has discussed with VISA and some state-owned banks about offering discounted family packages in the match's ticket selling.

"We will promote the package which has discounts. The various promotions are expected to make people flock to the stadium," he said. (Antaranews)