VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia and Africa both share common interest in several important topics, such as economic sovereignty, government reform, and solidarity. In addition, the two sides support each other in various multilateral forums and international organizations. Minister of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Eko Putro Sandjojo in his remarks at the 2019 Africa Day in Jakarta, Saturday (05/25). On this occasion, Minister Eko Putro welcomed progressive steps towards the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“We also welcome the progress of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Oncethe agenda runs, it will serve to promote intra African trade and economic integration as well as strengthen Africa's trading position in the global market,” said Eko Putro Sandjojo.

Meanwhile, the Algerian Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdelkader Aziria, who is also the Dean of the 54-member African Ambassador group, said that the existing cooperation between Indonesia and the African continent could increasingly improve the African countries themselves. Africa Day is also commemorated as the day of the establishment of the Organization of African Unity which became the forerunner of the African Union. (VOI/AHM)

The Minister of Religion Lukman Hakim Saifuddin today reviewed the supervision post for the departure of special Umrah and Hajj pilgrims at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport , Cengkareng.

In addition to the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah ( PHU ), the Minister of Religion had a dialogue with the celestial parties, immigration, airport authorities, and also a number of Umrah pilgrims who were going to the Holy Land.

"This program is very cool, a concrete form of cross-sectoral cooperation. It's just a matter of technical improvement, "said the Minister of Religion after conducting a review, in Cengkareng, Sunday (5/26).

Improvement needs to be done, said Minister of Religion, because this surveillance post is still in the socialization period. Ministry of Religion makes this integrated monitoring post in order to optimize supervision in the form of completing the examination of Umrah documents and receiving complaints from the Umrah and special Hajj pilgrims.

"The Ministry of Religion, specifically the Directorate General of PHU, wants to take a preventive, preventive approach so that there are no problematic Umrah or special pilgrimages so that when they are in the Holy Land facing problems, especially those related to incomplete travel documents and so on," said the Minister of Religion.

"So it is necessary to have an integrated check, not only from the Ministry of Religion but also immigration, and other related Ministries,  Agencies so that every special Umrah or Hajj pilgrimage gets assurance of their departure and return," he continued.

Because the supervision posts currently available are still in the socialization period, upgrading needs to be done. Minister of Religion expressed his appreciation to Angkasa Pura 2 for providing space for service counters. The Minister of Religion hopes that the Ministry of Religion can get a more permanent counter.

In addition to counters, service upgrades also need to be done on system aspects. Minister of Religion hopes that the service will soon be integrated with the Integrated Umrah and Special Hajj Service System (SIPATUH) so that supervision can also be done online.

Moreover, the Ministry of Religion's supervision system is also integrated with immigration so that the Ministry of Religion's supervisory output becomes one of the indicators in immigration checks, in addition to tickets, passports and visas.

Soetta Airport Immigration Officer, Tessa, who was present at the occasion welcomed the Minister of Religion's hopes. According to him, the mechanism is even better and will be taken into consideration by the immigration authorities.

To the Minister of Religion, the representative of Angkasa Pura 2 Heru Karyadi explained that his party was preparing the Umrah and Hajj terminal. Angkasa Pura has also conveyed to the development planner to include the technical supervision of the Ministry of Religion Umrah in the flow. After the security check, there is integrated supervision from the Ministry of Religion.

"Now in the basic stages of designing. It's Possible in 2021 will start operating, "he said.

This Umrah and Special Hajj Surveillance Post was released the first time by Arfi Hatim in early May 2019. Present accompanied, Director of Umrah and Special Hajj ( PHU ) Arfi Hatim, Secretary of DG PHU Ramadan Harisman, and Director of Domestic Hajj Services Muhajirin Yanis. (Ministry of Religion Public Relations / EN)

To support food production in Garut, the Government through the Ministry of PUPR builds the Copong Dam to raise and maintain the water level of the Cimanuk River so that it can be channeled to irrigation channels until the dry season.

In addition, the construction of a primary irrigation network along the 13 kilometers (km) and rehabilitating 3 km of existing primary irrigation networks.

Construction of weirs and irrigation networks in the Leuwigoong Irrigation Area will irrigate rice fields in 11 sub-districts in Garut covering an area of ​​5,313 hectares (ha). With the existence of a reliable irrigation network it can increase the Garut farmers' crop index from 176% now, to 250%. This means that you can plant rice twice and once a crop.

After the flash floods that occurred in the City and Regency of Garut in 2016, the Ministry of PUPR has normalized the Cimanuk River and the Cimanuk tributary for 5 km.

The Ministry of PUPR also set up a Cimanuk River flash flood memorial to commemorate and increase public awareness to maintain watersheds. That way the settlements around the Cimanuk River are safer from the threat of banjir bandang. (Public Communication Bureau of the Ministry of PUPR / EN)

The National Modificator Aftermarket Association (NMAA) believes that the Indonesian modification market can be as large as markets in Japan and the United States if all automotive elements are united and support each other in developing a growing vehicle industry.

"With the collaboration and support of all parties, we believe our modification industry can be as big as America and Japan," said NMAA Leader Andre Mulyadi in a statement received by national news agency Antara on Saturday.

To that end, NMAA will again hold a modified venue for the Indonesia Modification Expo (IMX) 2019 on a larger scale in September 28-29 2019 at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, following the first implementation in 2018.

With the support of the government, the aftermarket industry, brand holder agents, modifiers, and automotive lovers, IMX 2019 will bring the theme "Power of Collaboration", which was chosen to unite all elements in the automotive industry in the country.

"Modification of Indonesia should be a major part of the world car tuning industry, especially having the largest automotive market in Southeast Asia," he said.

IMX 2019 has been running a series of promotions since the beginning of 2019 by traveling to several cities, as well as participating in automotive exhibitions abroad by bringing several original Indonesian aftermarket products.

Andre explained, the aftermarket brand that joins IMX will automatically be integrated with several similar modification exhibitions in America and Japan.

IMX 2019 is also committed to bringing original aftermarket products to the country abroad. IMX will present the invited guests as well as the best curators from the three modification centers of the World, America, Japan and Australia.

Local exhibitors who have ordered platforms at IMX 2019 include KARMA Bodykit, Yoong Motor, Gear Head Monkey, Tom Airbrush, Black Retail, Speed Z, Pro 7, Autovision, Frontier, AirPride Air Suspension, and APForce.

"Some of the products launched at IMX last year, such as KARMA, Bitelblack, Yoong Motor, etc., have proven successful and even penetrated the world modification market," said Andre.

There are also world-class names including Pioneer, Mooneyes Japan, Osaka Automesse, Bendpak, Dynacorn, Edelbrock, Socal Speed Shop, Alpine, and Air Lift Suspension.

IMX 2019 works with the Indonesian Ministry of Industry in encouraging the automotive industry, especially modifications to be more developed so as to open opportunities for domestic automotive entrepreneurs. (ant)