Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to pay a state visit to Australia on February 8-10 to discuss economic cooperation, especially the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), currently entering the final phase of ratification.

During the visit, both nations are expected to launch a plan of action to implement the IA-CEPA, acting spokesman for the Indonesian Foreign Ministry Teuku Faizasyah revealed in Jakarta on Thursday.

Indonesia is expected to endorse the IA-CEPA into law after the government secured a seal of approval from the House of Representatives (DPR).

The president submitted a bill on the ratification of IA-CEPA to the DPR chairman on January 24 this year.

The two neighboring nations had inked the CEPA on March 4, 2019. Indonesia believes the agreement will be able to boost the competitive edge of its human resources, industry, and service sector.

Additionally, the agreement is expected to step up the access of Indonesian goods and services to the Australian market.

President Jokowi will visit Canberra to attend an annual leaders' meeting as well as to celebrate seven decades of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Australia.

During his visit to the Australian capital, President Jokowi will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, meet Governor General of Australia David Hurley, deliver his speech to the Australian Parliament, and attend a business meeting between both nations. (ANTARA)

Jakarta - Indonesia's airport operator PT Angkasa Pura (AP) I temporarily suspended 158 flights from and to China from Wednesday, (Feb 5), in accordance with the government's policy to thwart the entry of coronavirus into the country.

"In accordance with the president's directives on the temporary suspension of flights to and from China since this February 5, several Angkasa Pura I airports have temporarily closed down flight operations to and from China as a matter of fact since the end of January," President Director of PT Angkasa Pura I Faik Fahmi noted in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.

Angkasa Pura I's airports that serve flights, with routes to and from China in 2020 include the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali; Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manador, North Sulawesi Province; and Adi Soemarmo Airport in Solo, Central Java.

The authorities of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali canceled 125 flights per week from 22 destinations in China. Seven airlines serving the routes to and from China are China Eastern, with 14 flights per week; China Southern, 10 flights per week; Citilink, 11 flights per week; Lion Air, 29 flights a week; Xiamen Air, 14 flights per week; Garuda Indonesia, 22 flights per week; and Sriwijaya Air, 25 flights per week.

At the Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado, 28 flights a week were canceled from 10 destinations. Five airlines serving the routes are China Southern, with three flights per week; Citilink, four flights per week; Lion Air, 15 flights per week; and Xiamen Air, four flights per week.

In the meantime, since January 30, 2020, the Adi Soemarmo Airport in Solo has temporarily suspended chartered or unscheduled flights from and to China, Kunming. On January 29, a total of 174 Chinese tourists, who had visited Solo, returned to Kunming.

Angkasa Pura I has actively participated in raising awareness of the dangers of coronavirus and its prevention among all passengers at 14 airports. Angkasa Pura I has also set up a coronavirus handling post including one at the Yogyakarta International Airport.

Faik stated that Angkasa Pura I had also diverted its focus on the condition of airport officials, so that they could serve with the best conditions and safely.(ANTARA)

Bank Mandiri's Director of Finance and Strategy, Silvano Rumantir assessed that Indonesia has large capital, a stable economy to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). During a press conference in Jakarta, Wednesday (5/2), Silvano said that one of the factors that may drive the economy is investment growth. He added that in 2018, investment grew strong at 6.64 percent. Although in 2019, it slowed down, as the political year ends, economic and political stability would improve. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that Indonesia's economy in 2019 grew 5.02 percent. This achievement slowed slightly compared to the economic growth in the 2018 period of 5.17 percent and in 2017 of 5.07 percent. In 2019 Gross Fixed Investment grew 4.45 percent lower than the previous year. (Ant)

Singaporean President Halimah Yacob arrived in Yogyakarta province on Wednesday (5/2). She was welcomed by Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and his wife, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas at Yogyakarta Palace. President Halimah Yacob and Sultan Hamengkubuwono X held a closed meeting. Director for Southeast Asia of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Denny Abdi explained that President Halimah Yacob's first visit to Indonesia was to further boost cooperation between the two countries, particularly in education and culture.

"This is the first time for Singaporean president's visit since she became president.  Yesterday, she was received by President Joko Widodo at the presidential Palace. Her visit is to further enhance relations between the two countries.  The focus of her visit was for people to people contact, education, culture, G-to-G. She visited Jogja and she was hosted by Sri Sultan and tomorrow, she will visit several locations, including Gajah Mada University to see educational cooperation between Singapore and Indonesia," said Director for Southeast Asia of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Denny Abdi.

Meanwhile, the eldest daughter of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Mangkubumi explained that President Halimah really liked the wealth of Javanese culture at the Sultan's Palace.  President Halimah visits   Gajah Mada University and held dialogues with students on Thursday (6/2) (Munarsih/TRANS:AF)