VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati pointed to Indonesia's financial system remaining under control in the fourth quarter of 2019 despite the global economic turmoil and problems faced by the country's financial service companies.

"The Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK) has constantly monitored the potential risks of the global economy as well as the domestic ones," Indrawati, concurrently the chairperson of KSSK, noted during a press conference here on Wednesday.

The committee held a regular meeting on Monday (Jan 20), with the attendees comprising its members: Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Perry Warjiyo, Chairman of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) Wimboh Santoso, and Chairman of the Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) Halim Alamsyah.

Indrawati called to closely monitor Brexit that has geopolitical consequences.

She lauded the trade deal reached recently between the United States and China, as it lowered uncertainly and risks in the global financial market.

The developments also boosted foreign capital inflow into developing countries, including Indonesia.

Meanwhile, on the domestic front, the Indonesian economy has remained robust, with maintained economic growth backed by household consumption and investment, particularly in the construction sector.

"Exports are starting to increase although non-construction investment performance still requires attention," she stated.

Indrawati made assurance of steps being taken in a coordinated and comprehensive manner to handle problems impacting several domestic financial service institutions.

Hence, the KSSK will intensify coordination of both monetary fiscal and micro-prudential banking policies to maintain stability of the Indonesian financial system and also to sustain the momentum of Indonesia's economic growth. (ANTARA)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) unveiled their 2020 ASEAN Identity logo, Tuesday (21/01/2020). From September 2019, The ASEAN Secretariat, with the support of the ASEAN-German Cooperation (GIZ) held the 2020 Year of ASEAN Identity Logo Design Competition for ASEAN Youths to stimulate young people’s creativity in interpreting ASEAN identity. The logo design competition received 1,378 entries from the region’s population. 

The Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, Kung Phoak, in his welcome remarks at the launch of the 2020 ASEAN Identity logo at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/01) said the designation of 2020 as the Year of ASEAN Identity aims to create greater public awareness among ASEAN citizens especially the youth on ASEAN.

"The designation of 2020 as the year of ASEAN identities aims to create greater public awareness among our citizens, especially the youth on ASEAN and its activities and developments. Designating 2020 as the year of ASEAN identity is also timely, as ASEAN seeks to generate more discussions among the public on identity-building and awareness-raising on ASEAN," the Ambassador said.

The Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Kung Phoak added ASEAN held the logo competition to spread awareness of their work to young people, particularly those with less educational opportunities, about the benefits of the organisation.

Of 1,378  entries, the organizing committee has chosen 3 winners of The 2020 ASEAN Year of ASEAN Identity. The first winner is Joemari Manguiat from the Philippines, the second winner is Swumm Htet Naing from Myanmar and the third winner is Mohammad Firdaus from Malaysia. (VOI/SAYEE SHREE L.R/AHM)

Germany is very proud to be part of the ASEAN 2020 Year of ASEAN Identity, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Indonesia, Timor Leste and ASEAN, Peter Schoof said, at the launch of the 2020 ASEAN Identity logo at the ASEAN Secretariat Building, Tuesday (21/01). He added that ASEAN is trying to find its identity, and it had to face many challenges to work through it.

“ASEAN, just as the European Union, is trying to find its place and its way to work through this with many challenges, and of course these situations are always very good because normally they tend to bring people together, but it’s also important that then everybody who acts together is doing this on the basis of the common values and the common visions,” Ambassador Schoof said. 

Ambassador Peter Schoof gave his support for the ASEAN Logo Design Competition for Youths. He added Germany is committed to helping ASEAN in various important areas for the organisation and its citizens and he looked forward to an excellent and friendly relationship in the coming years and beyond.

The competition, launched in September 2019 by the ASEAN Secretariat with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), attracted 1,378 submissions from the youth across the ASEAN Member States. (VOI/LAURA GREEN/AHM)

Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries increases a seaweed production target in 2020 to 10.99 million tons, from 9.9 million tons in 2019, a director general said in a statement here, on Sunday.

The ministry has prepared initiatives and strategies for the next five years to raise seaweed production which covers 60.7 percent of the total fishery yield in the country, Director General of Aquaculture, Slamet Soebjakto stated in Jakarta, Sunday.

The strategy launched by the ministry aims to assure the quality and quantity of the seaweed yield this year, as the it has been part of the country's top export commodity.

"The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has committed to increase seaweed exports as an effort to support Indonesia's economy growth," Soebjakto remarked.

According to records of UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2019, Indonesia is the world's largest producer for Eucheuma or gusô (Eucheuma cottonii), a type of seaweed algae that commonly used as raw materials for carrageenan, an ingredient for cosmetics, food and drinks, as well as industrial manufacturing.

Indonesia also covers at least 80 percent of market share of seaweed trade in global market with China ranked first as top export destination for the product.

However, the ministry plans to increase added-value of Indonesia's seaweed by restricting export of raw seaweed this year, Soebjekto remarked.

He expounded the ministry will increase exports more semi-refined carrageenan and refined carrageenan by 50 percent this year, as for the past years the raw seaweed export to China had reached nearly 80 percent. (ANTARA)

Reporter: M Razi R/Genta Tenri Mawangi
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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