VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Japanese government conferred the star of service 2018 awards to two figures in East Java for their contribution as a friendship link for years between Japan and Indonesia, especially East Java and Japan.

The Japanese Consul General in Surabaya, Masaki Tani, through a broadcast in Surabaya on Monday, said that the Japanese Government had announced the recipients of the star of service awards for the Autumn of 2018 period on Nov 3, 2018.

"The two leaders in East Java are Mr. Tetsuro Okano, who has played an important role in the Japanese community in East Java for more than 30 years, and Mr. Ali Indranegara, who has served at the Japanese Consulate General in Surabaya for more than 40 years," he stated.

According to him, Okano had actively participated in various East Java Japan Club (EJJC) activities since he first lived in the city of Surabaya in 1988.

In addition, he was also involved in various activities that emphasized the importance of interaction and harmonization between the Japanese community and the local community in Indonesia, he added.

"He also has played a big role in improving education facilities for Japanese children in Surabaya," he remarked.

In recognition of Okano`s dedication to the welfare of the Japanese community in East Java, he was awarded the star of service "The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Ray."

Indranegara is a resident of Surabaya City who served as a local staff at the Japanese Consulate General in Surabaya from 1970 to 1997 and as a legal advisor to the Japanese Consulate General in Surabaya from 1997 to 2017.

Overall, he has supported the duties of the Japanese Consulate General in Surabaya for more than 40 years. In recognition of his contribution and dedication to Japanese diplomatic activities, he was awarded the star of service "The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon."

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) also gave awards to 16 leaders and four organizations in Indonesia. Of the 16 figures, there were three figures in East Java, namely the Deputy Chairperson of Trustees, East Java Japan Club, Joshie Halim, for having been instrumental in designing the construction of the Surabaya Japanese School (SJS) for four years.

In addition, the award was also given to the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Cooperation of Surabaya State University, Prof. Dr. Djodjok Soepardjo. Soepardjo is known as a pioneer in Japanese Language research in East Java that has contributed to disseminating and developing Japanese language education in East Java.

The next award was given to deceased Mrs. Tomiko Oetoro for her services during her life in the East Java Japanese Association (PJJT) or what is now better known as "East Java Japan" Club (EJJC). (ANTARA)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo reminds the village fund provided by the government for the people to be used effectively. It was remarked by President when attending a socialization on the 2019 Village Fund’s Usage Priority and Evaluation of Banten Province Development Policy and Rural Empowerment, in Tangerang, on Sunday (11/4). On the occasion, President encouraged village apparatus and all parties to cooperate in a bid to ensure the effectiveness of village fund. Besides being used for building infrastructure, village fund can also be utilized to establish people’s economy.

“To village apparatus and all related parties, let’s supervise the use of village fund, so that it can be used effectively and provide benefits for our society especially for village society. The application of village fund has attracted other countries to implement the program. The World Bank told that a number of countries would like to apply the village fund program. They would like to know how it is applied, transferred, and used. Therefore, in the future, we hope village fund can be used not only to develop infrastructures, but also to empower rural economy and support village’s innovations,” said Joko Widodo.

Furthermore, President Joko Widodo pointed out that the village fund program has been allocated since 2015 and it has successfully repressed the number of poverty and stunting cases in society. Meanwhile, Indonesian Villages, Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Minister, Eko Putro Sanjoyo told that the government successfully disbursed more than 99% of the total village fund to society in 2018. According to him, the achievement reflects the better management of village fund and the progress of rural development. (VOI/Ndy/Trs: Amanda/DP)

Indonesian President, Joko Widodo said that the government is responsible for maintaining the stability of basic commodity prices in the market. According to President Joko Widodo, the government must be able to keep the balance between the profits of the merchants and the affordability of people to purchase the commodities in the market. The President remarked that currently Indonesia’s inflation is low. Therefore commodity prices in the market are not supposed to increase significantly.

“The Government is responsible for maintaining the stability of commodity prices. We have to ensure how people can afford the commodities and farmers can also get their profit. It is not easy to maintain their balance. I bought numerous commodities. I checked their prices and bought them. I want to prove that the prices are stable because our inflation level is below 3.5, meaning commodity prices are stable,” said Joko Widodo when speaking before santris (Islamic boarding school students) and public at Darul Hikmah Islamic Boarding School, Pamulang, Banten on Sunday (11/4) .

In addition, President Joko Widodo hopes there will be no sides spreading issues on hiking prices in the market to the public as it is a misleading thing and it will impact the stability in the society.

“We must not believe the misleading information. It is a normal thing if some prices are hiking because commodity prices are fluctuationg. Therefore, we must not let such issues disrupt the stability of the society,” said Joko Widodo.

President Joko Widodo told that he had observed commodity prices twice in different regions, so that he could clarify the issue regarding the increase of commodity prices in the market. On the other hand, President admitted, he did not find any significant hike in the markets he had visited. (VOI/NDY/Trs:Amanda/AHM)

President Joko Widodo invited all young entrepreneurs in Indonesia to emigrate from pessimistic to optimistic business behavior. He also invited young Indonesian entrepreneurs to emigrate by not doing a market monopoly but prioritizing cooperation between entrepreneurs in order to promote the economy more evenly. This was conveyed by Jokowi on Saturday in Jakarta.

“Young entrepreneurs migrate pessimism to consumptive to productive optimism, from those who are angry to move to patience. Patient but hard work. HIPMI features there. From the happy division split to unity. Move from monopoly to competition. Feature progress there. Don't be happy to be given facilities and monopoly rights. Individualistic migration to collaboration, work together,” said Joko Widodo.

Furthermore Jokowi also encouraged young entrepreneurs in Indonesia to be good at utilizing existing business opportunities. According to him, Indonesia has opportunities that can be utilized by young Indonesian entrepreneurs to advance the domestic economy, especially if young entrepreneurs can take advantage of opportunities from business opportunities from small things to products that have added value. (Ndy trans by PUTRI)