VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) along with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha discussed three issues in a bilateral meeting between Indonesia and Thailand at Athenee Hotel, Bangkok, Saturday (6/22).

In the bilateral meeting, the two leaders agreed to increase trade and investment cooperation and eliminate trade barriers.

At the meeting, the two leaders of the country also specifically discussed CPO and rubber. Indonesia, during the meeting, expressed its appreciation to Thailand for its support for Indonesia and Malaysia in combating discrimination against CPO.

Another thing that was also conveyed by the President was that Indonesia also appreciated Thailand's cooperation to jointly increase world rubber prices.

The Head of State also believes that Indonesia and Thailand can build good cooperation, not only for bilateral interests, but also for ASEAN and the world.

"I fully support Thailand's leadership in ASEAN this year," the President said in the release of the  Deputy for Protocol, Press, Media Palace, Presidential Secretariat Bey Machmudin.
President Jokowi also expressed his appreciation for Thailand's support of the ASEAN Outlook Concept on the Indo Pacific.
The last issue presented by President Jokowi was the development of Rakhine State that Indonesia conveyed the importance of the Preliminary Needs Assessment (PNA) report to be followed up immediately.
In addition, President Jokowi expressed the importance of a better security situation at the Rakhine State so that a voluntary, safe and dignified process of repatriation could be carried out.
Also present accompanied President Jokowi, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Special Staff President Ari Dwipayana, and Indonesian Ambassador for Thailand Ahmad Rusdi. (setkab)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) with First Lady Iriana departed from Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma Airport to Bangkok, Thailand to attend the 34th ASEAN Summit on Saturday morning (6/22).

In accordance with what was stated at the last Limited Meeting, through the ASEAN Summit, President Jokowi will invite ASEAN countries to unite in anticipating a trade war between the United States and China, so that economic stability in ASEAN is maintained.

"It is very important that we invite ASEAN countries to unite," President Jokowi said in the introduction to the Limited Meeting Wednesday (19/6).
In addition to the trade war issues between the United States and China, the President will also remind commitment to the completion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations which are important to be improved in responding to the development of the world economy. The issue regarding the acceleration of Rakhine State peace is also planned to be touched upon by President Jokowi.

In addition to attending the ASEAN Summit, President Jokowi will also lead the 12th Summit of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Summit and attend the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines meeting East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit 13.
President Jokowi is also planned to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders of ASEAN countries.
The Head of State is planned to be in Thailand until Sunday night on June 23, 2019.
Accompanying the President was on this agenda, Coordinating Minister for Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Wiranto, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, and Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita. (setkab)

Minister of Finance  Sri Mulyani Indrawati stated, until the end of May 2019, the realization of the State Budget (APBN) was still relatively good. The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) is still above 50 and state revenues have grown by 6.2% or Rp728.5 trillion.

"When viewed from economic activity, there are several indicators that show the economy is going pretty well. This can be seen from Indonesia's PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) 51.6. A reading above 50 means that it is still expanding. So there is a significant increase in production, especially manufacturing, "said Minister of Finance in the KiTa State Budget press conference (Performance and Facts), in the Djuanda Hall, Juanda I Building, Ministry of Finance, Jakarta, Friday (6/21).

For consumption, the Minister continued, the Consumer Confidence Index (IKK) rose 128.2. The business tendency index is also positive. In general, the implementation of the State Budget until May 31, 2019 is quite good. Meanwhile, in terms of state revenues, it grew by 6.2% or Rp728.5 trillion, higher than the previous month (mtm).

"From state revenues, the growth of state revenues is 6.2%. This is better than April at 0.5%. From tax revenue growth of 5.7%. This is also better than last April's 4.7% growth. So there is strong momentum. For PNPB (Non-Tax State Revenues) the growth is 8.6%. This also improved compared to April which experienced a contraction or negative growth of 14.8%, "explained Minister of Finance.

While in terms of state expenditure, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that there was a significant increase because the allocation of social assistance had increased compared to 2018. "For state expenditure, absorption until the end of May grew compared to last year's 9.8%," he said.

The deficit realization figure until May, according to the Minister of Finance, was negative 0.79 to GDP. While the primary balance is close to 0 or a deficit of Rp. 0.4 trillion. The position of government debt is still at the level of 29.72% of GDP. (MOF)

The Ministry of Industry continues to encourage the growth of industrial estates because of its strategic role in spurring regional economic growth to the national level. Industrial areas also provide efficiency for the company's operations in it because of the availability of integrated facilities so as to boost the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector.

"In fact, with the existence of this industrial area, it can also open up many jobs from incoming industrial sector investments," said Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto at the 2019 Group Groundbreaking Ceremony for Karawang New Industry City Tenants in Karawang, West Java, Thursday (20 / 6).

According to the Minister of Industry, with the increase in employment, the income of the community will also increase and have an impact on improving the local economy. In addition, the productivity of companies located in industrial estates can be boosted in an effort to create high added value.

The development of KNIC, which poured funds of up to USD300 million, was able to attract investment of up to USD100 million from six companies that have committed themselves to being tenants. These investors include China, Taiwan, Japan and Indonesia. This integrated industrial area is targeted to be able to create 4,000 new jobs.

On this occasion, there were groundbreaking of six companies that will operate, namely PT Wook Global Technology, PT Ikimura Indotools Center, PT Ruiyuan Karawang Industrial Innovation and Development, PT Wonderful Food International, PT Brightgene Biomedical Indonesia, and PT Binamitra Kwartasedaya. They are among others engaged in the food, pharmaceutical, packaging and precision industries.

KNIC is considered to have a strategic location because it is located 47 km east of Jakarta and is right in the middle of the economic path between the cities of Jakarta and Bandung. Moreover, it is supported by key infrastructure, such as the Cikampek toll road, Jabodetabek LRT, Bandung Jakarta fast train plans, elevated toll roads, Kertajati Airport, and Patimban Port.

"As an industrial estate manager, KNIC needs to continue to improve services to industrial companies and strengthen cooperation relationships with the government and other business sectors, including participating in increasing competent industrial human resources," said Airlangga.

Appreciate

The Minister of Industry expressed his appreciation for the development of KNIC as one of the fastest investments in developing industrial estates in Indonesia. "This KNIC investment is the result of the realization of the visit of President Joko Widodo in 2016 before the G20 in Hangzhou. CFLD International is a partner at a seminar in Shanghai, "he said.

According to Airlangga, the investment also shows that Indonesia is still the main destination for investment, especially in the industrial sector. "This is as expected by Mr. Jokowi that there needs to be an increase in investment, and in Karawang we can see that the industrial sector is still passionate. Moreover, later the fiscal incentive package will be issued to support the increasingly moving business climate, "he added.

The Minister of Industry also assessed that the infrastructure built at KNIC has a trademark design and global class quality. "We are happy, CFLD continues to believe in Indonesia, because they have built industrial estates in Tangerang, which are 10 times the size of Karawang," he said.

For Indonesia, the northern corridor of Java has a strategic location in the development of industrial estates. Because, the Karawang and Bekasi regions are considered to be the Detroit of Indonesia. "Many of the automotive sectors there make it one of their hubs at the regional level," Airlangga said.

Furthermore, the government continues to be determined to develop and improve infrastructure. One of them is the Patimban Port project which can support the needs of the automotive industry. "We hope that the port will become one of the benchmarks for industrial cities. Besides that, it also becomes a showcase of industrial city best practice, "he added.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said that the KNIC development in Karawang confirmed the position of West Java as one of the important industrial centers for Indonesia. As the 25th industrial zone in West Java, KNIC will create profitable jobs and facilitate knowledge-sharing from existing communities and will be a stimulant for the local economy. (kemenperin)