VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Tourism Minister, Arief Yahya along with Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas launched Banyuwangi calendar of event "Majestic Banyuwangi Festival 2019" at Balairung Soesilo Soedarman, Sapta Pesona building Jakarta on Tuesday night (30/1). Met after the event, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya explained his consideration to make Banyuwangi as a tourism special economic zone.

"There were 77 events in Banyuwangi last year and Tourism Ministry has stated Banyuwangi as the best festival city in Indonesia. Now we are having a survey to know how much the impact for the people's economy. The case is the more festivals are held in Banyuwangi, the more prosperous the people of Banyuwangi will be. There are also foreign investors present here tonight. They will invest in Banyuwangi. We also hope Banyuwangi will be one of better and more developed tourism special economic zones.” said Arief Yahya.

The decision of making Banyuwangi as the best festival city is in accordance with the development of events in Banyuwangi which grows rapidly and involves whole elements of society so that it increases the people’s welfare. Banyuwangi Regent, Abdullah Azwar Anas said according to a survey conducted by Bank Indonesia, 76 percents of foreign tourists visited Banyuwangi last year. The number becomes a measure for the regional government to continuously improve tourism facilities needed by the tourists. (VOI/NK/AHM)

Majestic Banyuwangi Festival 2019 will perform 99 and top 3 events that include in the 100 Events Wonderful Indonesia. The performance is  aimed at increasing tourists’ visit and setting Banyuwangi as the best city in Indonesia. Indonesian Minister of Tourism, Arief Yahya  in his welcoming speech at  the launch of Banyuwangi Calendar of Event  at  Sapta Pesona Building, Indonesian Tourism Ministry in Jakarta, recently, said that besides the festival, the best way to attract tourists is by setting Banyuwangi as the UNESCO Global Geopark.    

“If there is UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG) to attract one million tourists, it is relatively  easy and to get UGG is not easy. But it is more difficult if Indonesia does not have it. Therefore, Banyuwangi must fight  to obtain UGG and it has been National Geopark. The question is whether we want to build world main class destination. So, the attraction must be world class.  Common people will say, who says Banyuwangi as the world class? So, the certification of UNESCO is the strong brand for the world, including Borobudur which obtained certification from UNESCO. Thus, it is easy for Indonesia to promote it. Then, Banyuwangi must have world class attraction and it must be acknowledged by UNESCO,” said Arief Yahya.

Banyuwangi has world class natural tourism destination called ‘Kawah Ijen’ which is popular with Blue Fire,  Baluran National Park, and  G-Land beach which is loved by foreign tourists. Geographically, Banyuwangi is close to Bali and it makes Banyuwangi go international. (VOI/NK-AF/AHM)

For the first time, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center –OJK as an Indonesian financial intelligence institution, was chosen as the host of the annual meeting of the Egmont Working Group. Egmont Group is an international organization that brings together the Financial Intelligence Units throughout the world. Head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, Kiagus Ahmad Badarudin said in Jakarta on Wednesday (30/1) that through the annual meeting of the Egmont Group, Indonesia hoped to enhance its major role in preventing money laundering.

“So Indonesia wants to enhance its major role in the international world in terms of preventintion and eradication of money laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing. Besides, we are also trying to put our officials in international organizations to increase their international exposure," Kiagus Ahmad Badarudin said.

The Egmont Group annual meeting took place in Jakarta from 28 to 30 January. Head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (OJK) Kiagus Ahmad Badarudin said, this meeting was attended by 300 participants from 89 countries. In addition, this meeting was also attended by a number of international organizations that have a common interest in the prevention and eradication of criminal acts of terrorism funding throughout the world. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)

Chairperson of  Egmont Group, Hennie Verbeek-Kusters in Jakarta on Wednesday emphasized the importance of international cooperation in a bid to fight against money laundry and transnational terrorism fund. He also said that Egmont Group is appointed to fight against the crime. Both money laundering and transnational terrorism tend to facilitate the crime in the world.

“What I really always like to stress is why it is so important the work we do. If we look at the threats that our society face today, terrorism, transnational crimes, organized and serious crimes, then I have to stress that all these crimes are facilitated by money laundering and terrorism financing. And that is in the core mandate of the Egmont Group to fight. And since all these crimes are transnational in essence no single agency no single business or no single organization or jurisdiction can do it by itself. We need one another to really fight it strongly,” Hennie Verbeek-Kusters said.

Moreover, Hennie Verbeek-Kusters appreciated the role of Indonesia through Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center -PPATK. She also said that the report has become a part of financial intelligent unit under Egmont Group, and since it was incorporated in  2004, PPATK has played a major role in fighting against money laundry and terrorism fund in the region. Hennie also pointed out that Indonesia along with Australia has consistently held meeting of contra for terrorism fund since 2015. Hennie added that the effort has contributed in overcoming money laundry and terrorism fund obviously in the region. (VOI/Ndy-TRANS:AF/RHM)