VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Darmin Nasution is buoyant of Indonesia's economic growth staying under control in the midst of global uncertainties arising from the US-China trade war.

"Since early last year, the global economy has faced several uncertainties and turmoil here and there, particularly owing to the trade war. We, however, remain capable of maintaining our economic growth," Nasution affirmed in his opening remarks during the Capital Market Summit and Expo (CMSE) 2019 held Jakarta on Friday.

The minister pointed out that Indonesia's economy has not only grown but also improved its growth quality, coupled with the national inflation rate that is controlled at a low level and a reduction in the poverty and unemployment rates.

"In fact, the Gini ratio, as an indicator of income distribution, has been improving," he stated.

Furthermore, Indonesia has clocked a better and higher credit rate, thereby indicating that the nation has been venturing ahead to become an investment state, he remarked.

"We can witness the journey of Indonesia's capital market over the last 42 years since it was reactivated on August 5, 1977. At that time, the market capitalization was only Rp2.73 billion, and after 42 years, it has grown 2.500 times to reach a value at Rp7,173 trillion," he noted, adding that the number of investors has also reached a record of 1,049,000, as of August 15, 2019.

In a bid to attract more investors, he has encouraged Indonesian capital market regulators to simplify policies to facilitate easier public access.

Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) Chairman Wimboh Santoso stated that the Capital Market Summit and Expo 2019 was organized as an initiative to expand the roles of capital market and capital market financing, including for increasing public awareness of equitable distribution of technology and development. (ANTARA)

The meeting and exhibition were organized to also celebrate the 42nd anniversary of the capital market

The Cooperative and Small-Medium Scale Enterprises Minister AAGN Puspayoga has called on the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) Indonesia to develop export-oriented small and medium-scale enterprises. "ICSB should focus on the export market, as it has an international marketing network," Puspayoga said in a statement Jakarta Friday.

The minister made these remarks at a limited meeting on SMEs and a working meeting of ICSB Indonesia in Denpasar, Bali.

Puspayoga recalled that the government had implemented a strategic program of Import Tax Waiver for Materials for Export Oriented Goods (KITE) that annuls import taxes and other tariffs for export-oriented small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"Zero percent of import taxes, and zero percent of export tariffs," he noted.

The minister quoted the example of SMEs in Bangli and Denpasar, and SMEs in Boyolali, Central Java which have already been developed into export-oriented enterprises.

"I hope that the ICSB and all SMEs in Indonesia can reap the benefits of KITE," the minister said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of ICSB Indonesia Hermawan Kertajaya said the council's special meeting brought the main agenda of the policymaker's brief, to gather information on ministries/institutions' policies to strengthen Indonesian SMEs.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministers appealed to regional economies to intensify efforts to promote food security through fostering sustainable food systems, incorporating technology, leveraging collaboration and trade, and boosting rural advancement.

At the fifth APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting in Puerto Varas, Chile, the ministers concurred on the importance of continuing cooperation to curtail practices that pose an impediment to achieving food security and enhance the integration of the region’s farmers and fishers into global value chains for food trade, according to a written statement issued by APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security and received Jakarta on Saturday.

"We have this great opportunity to shape the future of our food systems, essential for our people - the ultimate reason to be here and do what we do," according to Antonio Walker, Chile's agriculture minister, the host economy of APEC 2019.

At the meeting, APEC ministers held discussions on the Asia-Pacific region's significant challenges to cater to the needs of its growing population that has recorded an over one percent annual growth.

Millions of rural farmers and fishers, especially women, rely on food production and trade for income and survival, progressively apprehensive in the face of changing climate conditions and resulting habitat degradation.

The ministers pointed out that marine litter, including plastic pollution, affects food security owing to entanglement of ocean wildlife with waste. In the meantime, seafood consumption constitutes almost 22 percent of the region’s average per capita animal protein intake.

Hence, addressing food insecurity encompasses taking action to protect marine environments and tackling illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

APEC ministers also sought greater action to broaden access to finance and markets for small producers and the adoption of more technologies to enhance productivity in food production.

"The introduction of new technologies in each space of agriculture and food production can lead to more resilient productivity and sustainability in the agriculture production sector as well as in agri-food chains, with higher levels of traceability and transparency," Minister Walker stated.

Walker also highlighted the significance of predictable and open trade regimes to foster food security. "Trade, underpinned by transparent and non-discriminatory rules, leads to a greater flow of goods and integration of producers into markets," he stated.

Salahuddin Ayub, the minister of agriculture and agro-based Industry of Malaysia -- the host economy of APEC 2020 -- stated that trade policies that impact economies must be transparent and non-protective, and supported by evidence-based rules and regulation.

APEC has encouraged the development and application of integrated policies for agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries in a bid to enhance productivity, curb food loss and waste, and bolster the sustainable utilization of natural resources (ANTARA)

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Lampung Governor Arinal Djunaidi believes that the Krakatau Festival is a central event of Lampung Province to draw domestic and foreign tourists.

The 29th Krakatau Festival, held on Aug 21-25, 2019, was enlivened by an array of activities to endorse tourism in Indonesia, in general, and Lampung, in particular, Djunaidi stated here on Saturday.

The festival, which also aims to promote the culture and creative economy, is organized annually and included in the Tourism Ministry's 100 Wonderful Calendar of Events.

He affirmed that the tourism industry should aid in driving economic development in Lampung, boost public welfare, and preserve traditional culture.

Lampung’s strategic position practically makes the province as part of the bridge connecting Sumatra Island and Java Island, and it has abundant natural resources.

Other events supporting the Krakatau Festival comprise the Nusa Rasa culinary bazaar held on Aug 18-25, Sai Bumi Ruwa Jurai art and cultural show on Aug 23-24, Krakatau Expo on Aug 23-25, traditional children games on Aug 24, and Lampung Culture & Tapis Carnival showcasing traditional woven clothing on Aug 25.

The peak event was a boat trip approaching Mount Anak Krakatau in the waters of Sunda Strait on August 24, 2019.

A large part of the southern flank of Mount Anak Krakatau slid into the ocean in the evening of December 22, 2018, and triggered a tsunami that cause damage to houses along the coastal areas of the provinces of Lampung and Banten located around Sunda Strait. Anak Krakatau, situated between the islands of Java and Sumatra, had been undergoing a stuttering eruption since June 18, and an alert status was declared for it. The Sunda Strait tsunami claimed 430 lives. At least 1,495 people were injured, 159 people went missing, and 21,991 others displaced.

The Sunda Strait tsunami was the second major tsunami to have struck Indonesia last year following a deadly tsunami that was triggered by a powerful earthquake rocking Palu and several other districts in Central Sulawesi Province on September 28, 2018 (ANTARA)