VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan - 

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, is visiting Indonesia on 1-2 October 2023 to announce the launch of the second phase of the UK’s support for   Indonesia’s Low Carbon Development Initiative (LCDI) with the Minister for National Development Planning, Suharso Monoarfa.

This £27.2m of new UK funding will foster sustainable economic growth and development through training and capability building, science-based policy development, and piloting innovative low-carbon technologies.

While in Jakarta, Minister Trevelyan will also meet Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, to discuss global and regional security, and Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, to discuss economic cooperation and progress under the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP).

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday, Minister Trevelyan will also meet ASEAN Secretary General Dr Kao Kim Hourn to reaffirm the UK’s respect for ASEAN centrality and commitment to its role as a Dialogue Partner.

“Indonesia’s thriving economy and capacity for innovation bring ever greater opportunities for our two countries to work together, from trade and investment to science and tech cooperation. The Low Carbon Development Initiative (LCDI) will ensure Indonesia’s economic growth is sustainable and resilient against the impacts of climate change, delivering benefits for people in the UK, Indonesia and across the Indo-Pacific.” UK Minister for Indo Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan said. 

Meanwhile, British Charge d’Affaires Matthew Downing explained that they are delighted to welcome Minister Trevelyan to Indonesia.  Her visit is a clear demonstration of the UK’s long term commitment to working with Indonesia across a broad range of areas, including low carbon, green growth and economic development. 

"The £27.2 million of new UK funding for the second phase of the Low Carbon Development Initiative will support the Indonesian Government in reducing emissions and help it achieve its target to be Net Zero by 2060 or sooner. We look forward to working with Indonesia in realising that ambition as we deepen our relationship for many years to come”, Downing added//VOI

Head of the National Library, M. Syarif Bando check the new Library in Polewalimandar - 

This magnificent three-story building worth Rp. 10 billion, sourced from DAK in 2022, apart from being equipped with a reading room, is also equipped with facilities such as an elderly reading room, diorama room, audio-visual room, outdoor reading room, digital room and lactation room.

“We deliberately placed it in the Sports Center area. In public areas. So, for example, people who want to rest after exercising can visit. "Anyone can fill their free time by reading in the library," said Polewali Mandar Regent Andi Ibrahim Masdar at the inauguration of the Polewali Mandar regional public library building accompanying the Head of the National Library Muhammad Syarif Bando, Friday, (29/9/2023).

After its inauguration, the Regent promised to plan to accelerate the increase in the literacy index by building 10 soundproof reading gazebos and a literacy cafe.

On the occasion as a keynote speaker, Syarif Bando said that there are at least four factors that cause poverty. First, access to knowledge is lacking. Second, minimal innovation and creativity skills. Third, access to capital is very, very limited, and fourth, the culture of laziness is still a habit.

When we think that this problem can be handled with education, then place the library as the heart of education. However, often we actually place the foundation of our education through diplomas and credits.

"As a result, many undergraduate graduates receive high passing scores but are unable to do much to address problems in society. "Because their mindset after graduating is looking for work, not creating jobs," said Syarif Bando.

"We cannot measure the quality of someone's knowledge using a diploma. But measure your knowledge by your reading habits. From there, various technologies were born that are useful for the life of the universe. There is no transfer of theory and practice from books to the brain except by reading," explained the Head of National Library.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday, in the talk show session, Chairman of the DPRD Polewali Mandar Jupri Mahmud admitted that currently the legislative and executive circles have the same frequency that libraries are fundamental to improving the condition of the Polman community. There is no reason for regions not to support it because legal laws through laws and Government Regulations (PP) regarding libraries already exist.

"We too, since 2021 have had regional regulations regarding the operation of libraries," explained Jupri.

Jupri understands that if the quality of literacy is lacking, there will be no significant progress in an area. Therefore, his party will agree to the Regent's proposal which requires a reading gazebo and literacy cafe to accelerate the literacy index in Polman.

During the recess period, members of the DPRD also received requests to build community reading parks and book collections in the villages. This request has been sought by the public since 2020.

"But we encountered obstacles because the rules or information system that accommodates the program does not yet exist.

"In fact, regional conditions require encouragement or a pick-up program because many regions experience conditions where people are less interested in reading," said Jupri again.

Meanwhile, Perahu Pustaka mobile library activist Muhammad Ridwan Alimuddin added that statistically, Indonesia is one of the countries that has the most libraries.

However, as stated by the Director of the National Library, access to reading materials is not yet adequate.

"Take for example a school library where the library room has been converted into a sports equipment warehouse. "Even if there is a collection of books, the books are left piled up, dusty, and still wrapped in plastic," explained Alimuddin.

Alimuddin is grateful that the existence of mobile libraries is strongly supported by the National Library. And of course it really provides motivation for mobile literacy activists.
However, he hopes for concrete support, for example support from regional libraries to facilitate writers in Polman regarding manuscript reviews and ISBN management.

"So that science can continue to produce through the literacy ecosystem that is being built," concluded Alimuddin.

The talkshow session also presented academic speakers from Al Syariah Mandar University, Ahmad Al Yakin, and National Library Main Librarian Abdullah Sanneng.

On the same occasion, Regent Andi also confirmed Jumriah Ibrahim as Mother of Literacy for Poliwali Mandar Regency for the 2022-2023 period//VOI

VOINews, Jakarta - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir has unveiled the Indonesia Incorporated website, which provides information for foreign partners in conducting business with SOEs.

"This website serves as the official source of information for doing business with Indonesia Incorporated," he stated in a release issued on Thursday.

Indonesia Incorporated is a joint office set up for state-owned companies operating abroad, aimed at fostering cooperation and enhancing their competitiveness.

The launch of this website follows the opening of the first Indonesia Incorporated joint office in Hong Kong in June 2023.

He expressed hope that the website will facilitate SOEs in expanding their global reach.

Visitors to the website will have easy access to the SOE business ecosystem and its performance, he said.

The website provides a breakdown of state-owned companies by business sector and offers the consolidated annual report of SOEs. It also provides links to the official website of each SOE.

Furthermore, the website furnishes information on the services provided by Indonesia Incorporated.

These include business matching of companies, investment centers focusing Indonesia's key sectors, and international financial products and services.

"SOEs operating abroad will continue to collaborate in order to ensure that the implementation of these services can provide comprehensive solutions for customers," Thohir said.

The website also has a "Contact Us" feature, enabling visitors to directly communicate with the website's staff.

The feature is designed to allow visitors to get more information on business matching, potential investment sectors in Indonesia, as well as international banking services from the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara).

In an earlier statement, Thohir underscored the government's commitment to positioning Indonesia as a leader in the global industry and services sector.

It has expressed its eagerness to establish a strong and healthy investment ecosystem for both foreign and domestic projects. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Directorate General of Village Government Development at the Ministry of Home Affairs has emphasized the importance of commitment from all stakeholders to accelerate sustainable village development.

The development must not only be in terms of infrastructure, but also the quality of village human resources, Mohammad Noval, the Ministry's Director of Village Development Evaluation, said in a statement issued on Thursday.

"Excellent resources and human resources will be able to manage natural resource constrains, leading to community prosperity and enhanced village economies," he added.

Noval said that Law Number 6 of 2014 on Villages aims to elevate the prosperity of village communities while also fostering democratization within villages.

This, he noted, aligns with President Joko Widodo's third Nawacita (nine development priorities) goal, namely developing Indonesia from the periphery by strengthening regions and villages within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

As part of its commitment to village development, the government has been allocating village funds, serving as a source of financial support for villages. From 2015 to 2022, a total of Rp468.9 trillion (around US$30.14 billion) in village funds were disbursed by the government.

There has been a consistent increase in the disbursement of village funds year by year, Noval stated.

The allocation of village funds amounted to Rp20.67 trillion (around US$1.32 billion) in 2015 and surged to Rp68 trillion (around US$4.37 billion) in 2022.

The quantum of village funds received by each village also climbed from Rp280.3 million (around US$18,029) in 2015 to Rp907.1 million (around US$58,347) per village in 2022.

"It is hoped that the government's great attention to villages will enhance services to village communities and narrow the gap between villages and urban areas," Noval said. (Antaranews)