VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

State airliner Garuda Indonesia recorded more than 50 percent occupancy during the long weekend holiday, on August 19-23, with the highest mobility to tourist destinations.

"More than 50 percent depart to holiday getaways such as to Bali," said Garuda CEO Irfan Setiaputra on Thursday, August 20.

The passenger traffic this weekend is higher than regular days during the pandemic, which usually saw no more than 50 percent daily. The company set the maximum occupancy to 70 percent as regulated by the Transportation Ministry.

Garuda Indonesia has reactivated several flights that were forced to be halted temporarily due to the Covid-19 social restriction (PSBB). However, Irfan has yet to detail the exact number of the fleet.

The airliner also offers various discounts and promotions to attract more passengers. (TEMPO.CO)

Director General of National Export Development of the Indonesian Trade Ministry Arlinda (left), Indonesian Ambassador to China and Mongolia Djauhari Oratmangun (second left), Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Panjaitan (third left) witnessed the signing of a trade contract between Indonesian and Chinese businessmen in Shanghai, China, Tuesday Nov 6, 2018). (ANTARA/Ahmad Wijaya)

Indonesia curbed its trade deficit with China by nearly 46.08 percent in the first half of 2020, with exports surging 11.74 percent and imports plunging 11.86 percent, from that during the corresponding period last year.  

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated at a virtual press conference held after attending a bilateral meeting with the Chinese government in Sanya City on Thursday night.

Indonesia's exports to China rose by 11.74 percent to US$13.77 billion in the first semester of 2020 as compared to $12.32 billion during the corresponding period last year, she noted.

With imports from China recording an 11.86-percent drop, Indonesia was able to curb its trade deficit by up to 46.08 percent, the minister noted.

In connection with efforts to intensify trade cooperation between both nations, Marsudi spoke of having put forth a suggestion to form a joint working group for Indonesia-China trade at the meeting.

"Indonesia proposed a joint working group for trade to cope with various trade barriers and facilitate greater access to the Chinese market for Indonesian products," she expounded.

China is currently ranked second next to Singapore in terms of investment in Indonesia.

The minister noted that China's investment in the first semester of 2020 increased by nearly nine percent to reach $2.4 billion, from $2.2 billion during the corresponding period last year.

The Indonesian delegation to the meeting was co-chaired by Marsudi and State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, while the Chinese delegation was led by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The bilateral meeting discussed a broad range of issues including the efforts to boost cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, health, and security.

"At the bilateral meeting, (we discussed), first, the commitment of the two countries to forge bilateral cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual benefit; second, the commitment of the two countries to maintain regional stability and security; and third, the commitment to enhance cooperation in the field of vaccines," she added. (ANTARA)

Minister of Research and Technology and head of the National Research and Innovation Agency, Bambang PS Brodjonegoro, speaking at an online seminar at the 12th International Symposium of the Global Indonesian Students Association, from Jakarta on Tuesday (August 18, 2020). (ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Research and Technology/ac)

Minister of Research and Technology and head of the National Research and Innovation Agency, Bambang PS Brodjonegoro, has called for using artificial intelligence to build innovative excellence in Indonesia in the future.

"We have to make innovation a spirit, a passion that emerges among our people. Only once we become innovative people, can we head towards (becoming) a developed country," said Brodjonegoro in a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.

The minister said that artificial intelligence can benefit the Indonesian people, lead to economic efficiency, and serve as the foundation for Indonesia's innovation excellence in the future.

He made the statement at an online seminar organized by the Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Association on Wednesday. It was themed 'Strengthening Research & Innovation with AI to Foster Economic Recovery’.

The Ministry and the Agency appreciate every initiative taken to infuse artificial intelligence in every sector of the Indonesian economy, the minister said.

Artificial intelligence can be one of the tools for Indonesia to not only become a market, but also a player in the 4.0 industrial revolution, he remarked.

"Indonesia should not only be a part of the market in the 4.0 industrial revolution, but it should also have the capability to become a player, (through focusing on certain areas) one of which is the artificial intelligence sector," he said.

Brodjonegoro said that with science and technology, as well as innovation, Indonesia would be able to create added value from the natural resources it owns.

"Our economy should not only be dependent on the extraction of natural resources, (in terms of) both agriculture and mining products; but with the touch of technology and science, we have to create added value from the natural resources we possess," he explained.

He also said that innovation is the engine for the advancement of a nation, and it can only be made possible through the efforts of innovative people. (ANTARA)

Three books on the handling of COVID-19 from the University of Indonesia. ANTARA/HO-University of Indonesia.

The University of Indonesia launched three books on handling COVID-19 in Indonesia under the efforts to document the entire process of handling the pandemic in the country.

The books, titled “Indonesia's Experience in Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic”, “Indonesia's Experience in Handling COVID-19 Pandemic in 17 Provinces and Lessons Learned from the International Community”, and “Indonesia's Experience in Handling COVID-19 in 17 Provinces,” are expected to serve as sources of reference for stakeholders in Indonesia.

"We hope they would also be read by the people, especially stakeholders and decision makers," Head of the University of Indonesia's Disaster Research & Response Centre (DRRC), Fatma Lestari, noted in a statement received in Jakarta, Thursday.

Lestari further remarked that the books were the result of collaboration between the university and National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and covered several programs based on local wisdom that can be learnt and applied in other areas in handling COVID-19.

"These books are one of the forms of the university's contributions to spread inspiration and creativity, and to showcase Indonesia's hard work in handling the global pandemic," Head of the University's Board of Trustees, Saleh Husin, stated.

BNPB Head Doni Monardo noted that in a bid to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has urged the people to apply health protocols to ease the burden of medical workers.

"Our approach is not directed towards the medical side, taking into account the limitations on hospitals and medical workers. To this end, we think of ways to ease the burden of medical workers by urging people to abide by health protocols," he added. (ANTARA)