VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Second Ministerial Meeting of Palm Oil Producing Countries which took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday (Nov18) recommended several measures to be followed up. One of them is to continue to promote and expand biofuel consumption, in order to absorb more Crude Palm Oil (CPO) in the global market, including through Indonesia's efforts to implement the B30 program in December. Representative from Indonesia, Coordinating Minister for Economy Airlangga Hartarto said that the participating countries agreed to boost cooperation in developing strategies to increase the price of palm oil. He also said that Indonesia's policy in carrying out the bio-20 fuel program (B20) had succeeded in driving up world palm oil prices.

“Some of the results of the meeting are: firstly oil palm producing countries increased their cooperation to develop strategies to improve better prices. Professor James Fry and Paganini recognized that there has been increase in prices later this year due to Indonesia's policy of implementing B20 and will increase it to B30. Currently the price of palm oil is already above 600, so this step is really appreciated by other countries,” said Airlangga Hartarto.

Minister Airlangga Hartarto added that during the meeting Malaysia also conveyed its commitment to implement B20 in 2020. Meanwhile Thialndhas its commitment to increase B7 program to be B10. The policy is expected to be followed by other palm oil producing countries. It is also hoped the countries can accelerate the use of B30 bio fuel. Minister Airlangga Hartarto added that Palm Oil Producing member countries (CPOPC) will shortly oriented to Indonesia in applying B20 even B30 program// Lip.DP/Trs.AF

At least 300 of 10,900 runners who joined the 2019 Borobudur Marathon in Magelang District, Central Java Province, on Sunday, came from foreign countries, including Malaysia, Kenya, Singapore, Japan, and the United States of America, the organizing committee of this annual event has revealed.

According to Budiman Tanuredjo, the event organizer, the number of runners joining this year's Borobudur Marathon increased to 10,900 from 9,600 runners last year.

Encompassing the scenic beauty of surrounding areas of Borobudur Temple, one of Indonesia's popular tourist destinations, 4,300 runners competed in the half-marathon category while 4,300 others joined the 10K, he said.

Budiman Tanuredjo said the event organizer prepared everything needed to make this Borobodur Marathon successful. "Achievement is important but comfort and safety for the runners are also important," he said.

The Central Java provincial administration warmly welcomed this 2019 Borobudur Marathon, and would support the convening of this annual event, Head of Youth, Sports, and Tourism Office at the Central Java Provincial Administration Sinung Nugroho Rahmadi said.

As revealed in the Borobudur Marathon's official website, this event was a sport tourism which was expected to give positive economic impact on local community members, and provide tourists and runners with new experience of exploring Magelang in a unique way.

Through this event, the tourists and runners were also expected to feel local people's warm hospitality, genuine Javanese culture, and culinary delicacy. The Borobudur Marathon is expected to help create synergy and harmony between people, nature, and culture.

The Borobudur Temple has frequently been used as a place for convening big sport tourism events.

In August this year, the UCI category 2.1 international cycling race of Tour d'Indonesia (TdI) also kicked off from this ancient temple with 18 domestic and foreign participating teams.

The first stage began from Borobudur Temple and concluded in Ngawi, East Java Province.

The 18 teams comprised 90 cyclists from 22 countries, including France, Greek, Spain, and England.

Of the 18 teams, the four Indonesian teams were Indonesia's National Team, PGN Road Cycling Team, Custom Cycling Indonesia (CCI), and KFC Cycling Team. (ANTARA)

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto drew focus to the nation's commitment to building a tranquil, peaceful, and prosperous Southeast Asian region that will garner respect from other regions.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has extraordinary natural resource potential that has made it a magnet for the interests of global powers since the past, he stated while attending the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Retreat held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday.

Moreover, the ASEAN waters also serve as the lifeline of global transportation and trade, he remarked.

"However, we will find it hard to develop and utilize the potentials of the Southeast Asian waters optimally if each ASEAN member state does not provide protection, security, and safety guarantees," he pointed out.

In the face of the current global uncertainty, the ASEAN should constantly uphold its commitment and connectivity for ensuring common welfare, he emphasized.

To this end, the ASEAN should establish strong and reliable cooperation and uphold its commitment to the ASEAN charter in a way that no seasonal interest will easily tear them apart, he stated.

"The ASEAN must not be torn apart and polarized that will eventually lead to conflict and disintegration. Indonesia stands firm against any form of invasion of the ASEAN territory," he stated.

ASEAN’s self-confidence in its strength must be started from its self-reliance, particularly in the field of defence, including cooperation in offering sea border security, settling border disputes, and building the defence industry that prioritize ASEAN centrality, he noted.

ASEAN cooperation within the framework of ADMM-Plus, Malacca Strait Patrol Cooperation, Trilateral Indomalphi in Sulu and Sulawesi Territorial Waters, and Exchange of Strategic Information ASEAN Our Eyes through ADI (ASEAN Direct Communication Infrastructure) mechanism have demonstrated the ASEAN commitment to creating a strong, peaceful, and prosperous region. (ANTARA)

Indonesia, lying between the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, plays a role in determining the global climate, according to an Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) official.

"How we know the phenomenon of interaction between the two oceans and atmosphere is crucial knowledge in observing the climate," acting chief of the LIPI deep sea research center Nugroho Dwi Hananto stated in Jakarta on Monday.

Indonesia’s location can be used for climate anomaly analysis, such as dry season, with high-intensity rain, and rainy season, with excessive heat, El Nino, and La Nina, he remarked.

"Technically, that is about Indonesia’s role in determining the global climate," he stated.

The research to be conducted by LIPI in the waters off Java's southern coast, Bali Straits, to Makassar Strait on December 18-25 will benefit all sciences and the public, he remarked.

Moreover, the government, in this case, LIPI, has no accurate data on the El Nino and La Nina weather phenomena and climate change. Hence, in-depth research is required to observe how Indonesia’s location between the two oceans impacts the global climate, he explained.

The research on climate forecast can be conducted through the use of satellite technology. However, the result will not be as accurate as that of marine research conducted by taking real data on the field, he stated.

In the first stage, LIPI will conduct research from Jakarta to Banyuwangi on the eastern tip of Java by sailing through the Indian Ocean. The research will later be conducted in Makassar Strait and back to Java. (ANTARA)