VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani invited Japanese investors to participate in the development of Indonesia's new capital (IKN), Nusantara, during her meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Tuesday.

"The two countries have been close friends for more than six decades, with extensive cooperation in various fields, ranging from the economy and education to cultural exchanges," she said in a statement issued by the DPR in Jakarta.

Maharani and her entourage were received at Kishida's office in Tokyo. The meeting is part of her working visit to Japan, during which she will be staying for the next few days.

The visit by the DPR delegation, led by Maharani, also coincided with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Japan. Japan is Indonesia's third-largest trading partner.

She explained that Japan could invest in the construction of Nusantara. Furthermore, with the recent ratification by the DPR of Law Number 3 of 2022 on IKN, investors will be granted the Right to Cultivate (HGU) for up to 190 years.

Maharani also sought a commitment from Japanese automotive companies to make Indonesia a center of production, especially for electric vehicles. Currently, the Indonesian government is promoting the use of electric vehicles to combat global warming.

Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Industry, as of October 2023, 11 automotive companies from Japan have established vehicle assembly plants in Indonesia.

In 2022, the total production of vehicles with four or more wheels in Indonesia reached 1.17 million units, with the contribution from Japanese automotive companies accounting for 83.31 percent.

This is anticipated to position Indonesia as one of the largest vehicle production hubs in the ASEAN region.

"Of course, we hope that Japan can also become a partner investing in various sectors in Indonesia, such as the automotive industry and the ongoing development of IKN Nusantara," she said.

She emphasized that the DPR will cooperate with the Japanese Parliament to support the governments of both nations in carrying out cooperation that is inclusive and beneficial for the people. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia has established cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Climate Promise Project to develop a blueprint or road map for tourism decarbonization, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, said.

"We encourage stakeholders to develop action plans and road map to promote climate-positive tourism. Our future tourism must be able to present climate-positive tourism," he added at a press conference on the "Road Map for the Indonesian Tourism Sector Towards Decarbonization" in Badung, Bali, on Tuesday.

According to the minister, the tourism decarbonization road map will cover three sub-sectors, namely tourism attractions, particularly destinations; accommodation or tourism facilities; and tours and travel.

The initial initiative will focus on aspects of energy consumed and waste generated from tourism activities, Uno added.

"In the future, decarbonization will be implemented to reduce energy consumption and reduce the amount of rubbish and waste generated from tourism activities," he informed.

His ministry will also follow up on the road map based on calculations of emission reduction targets from the tourism sector and prepare a reporting system in line with efforts toward achieving zero emissions by 2060 or sooner.

Moreover, the ministry is collaborating with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources under the Climate Promise Project to conduct waste processing surveys at a number of hotels, which will be followed by mitigation actions to reduce carbon emissions, Uno informed.

"Similar actions will be expanded to five other super-priority tourism destinations in Indonesia," he added.

The plan for the decarbonization road map for the tourism sector was conveyed at the "Indonesia Policy Showcase" during the "AIS: Blue Economy High-Level Dialogue: Forging a New Era of Sustainable Growth" on Monday (October 9), and was signed at the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the AIS (Archipelagic and Island States) Forum on Tuesday. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi met with Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Seru Nakausabaria Kamikamica to discuss the strengthening of trade and development cooperation.

During the bilateral meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Tuesday, Minister Marsudi highlighted the role of Fiji as Indonesia's fourth-largest trade partner in the Pacific region.

"We should follow up this good momentum with strategic efforts aimed at facilitating our trade activities, including by formulating a preferential trade agreement or other schemes," she said, as quoted in a written statement released by the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Both ministers praised the positive trend in bilateral trade activities, which has been reflected by the average trade growth of 10 percent in the last 5 years.

During the meeting, Minister Marsudi also extended an invitation to Fiji to participate in the 38th Trade Expo Indonesia, which will be held from October 19–22.

She then underscored Indonesia's commitment to bolstering its development cooperation with Fiji, both through a direct bilateral channel and through the Melanesian Spearhead Group as well as the Pacific Islands Forum.

The commitment is reflected in Indonesia's plan to build the Demonstration Farm and the Regional Training Centre for Agriculture in Rakiraki, Fiji.

Further, Indonesia completed the Queen Victoria School rehabilitation project in August this year. Fiji considers the school as a place that enshrines historical values since it has produced numerous influential alumni, including the incumbent Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

Marsudi then reiterated Indonesia's commitment to supporting several concrete projects and establishing inclusive cooperation in the Pacific region.

"As a Pacific state, Indonesia bears a great moral responsibility to make our home a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region," she said.​​​​​​​

Marsudi and Kamikamica acknowledged the importance of strong cooperation and collaboration to achieve common interests, particularly in relation to global issues, such as climate change.

Kamikamica, who is also serving as Fiji's Minister of Trade, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and Communication, welcomed Indonesia's offer to enhance development cooperation, especially in the field of fisheries, maritime affairs, education, agriculture, health, and MSMEs.

He also welcomed the invitation to attend the Trade Expo Indonesia in October. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Archipelagic and States (AIS) Forum, held in Badung District, Bali, on Tuesday, produced seven cooperation documents, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi stated.

"In my opening speech of the meeting, I stated that we had chosen the right path. In the midst of global uncertainties, Indonesia chooses to prioritize the strengthening of cooperation and collaboration," she remarked after chairing the meeting in Nusa Dua, Badung.

"This is the manifestation of Indonesia's commitment and contribution to the world," she noted.

The seven cooperation documents include the document of road map for decarbonization in the tourism sector, document of blue carbon emissions profile, letter of intent (LOI) on maritime cooperation between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, and LOI on joint research involving the University of Malta.

The meeting also resulted in the document of cooperation in the development of AIS Forum's Center for Research and Development at the Imperial College of London, the memorandum of understanding between Indonesia's UNPAD and IPB and Madagascar's University of Toliara.

An LOI on joint strategic programs between the AIS Forum and the Melanesian Spearhead Group was also signed during the meeting.

Minister Marsudi expressed belief that all the agreements mirror the keenness of the AIS Forum participating countries to focus on intensifying practical cooperation and finding innovative solutions that find their roots in the countries' local wisdom.

"We reiterated the importance of solidarity to overcome common challenges. I affirmed that the AIS Forum must become a forum that produces innovative solutions and ensures sustainable maritime governance," she noted.

During the meeting, ministers of the AIS Forum also deliberated on the draft of the Joint Declaration of the Leaders of the AIS Forum before presenting and approving it in the 1st High Level Meeting (HLM) of the AIS Forum on October 11, 2023, in Nusa Dua.

According to Minister Marsudi, the HLM, which will be opened by President Joko Widodo, will serve as a milestone that is expected to encourage archipelagic and island states to bolster synergy to find solutions to deal with global challenges.

The 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum will focus on the blue economy, the future of oceans, and solidarity as well as draw participation from delegates of 30 archipelagic and island states as well as four international organizations. (Antaranews)