The Japanese government will hold a public discussion on December 8-9, 2018 in Jakarta to provide reports to the public regarding projects and investments agreed upon by Indonesia and Japan ahead of Indonesia Gold 2045. The mega projects in various fields are included in the fields of infrastructure and investment has been discussed by President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Singapore some time ago.

“Two weeks ago, there was a bilateral meeting between President (Jokowi) and Prime Minister (Shinzo Abe) in Singapore, they discussed many things about infrastructure projects, investment, etc. In addition, they also discussed important projects in 2045, and the President stated high expectations related to the results of the project. We will hold a public discussion in early December, 8-9, we will report to the community regarding the 2045 project, and we hope to discuss it,” the Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Masafumi Ishii told RRI World Service in Jakarta on Thursday (22/11) on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the Japanese Emperor.

Furthermore, Ambassador Masafumi Ishii explained that Japan would continue to improve better partnership with Indonesia in the future, especially related to providing assistance for the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in several regions in Indonesia. The Japanese government hopes that the "Building Back Better" program for areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia can be implemented as soon as possible. (voi / viqran / edit r)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo invited all member the Ansor Youth Movement to continue to protect the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. He said this when attending the commemoration of the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad and Heroes' Day in Kajen Square, Pekalongan Regency, Central Java. In the event, the President reminded all GP Ansor cadres to always be close to the clerics and scholars in the life of society and the state. According to the President, to be close to the ulama as heirs of the prophet, the Indonesian nation will continue to move forward to become a better country.

“To all GP Ansor cadres, by following the path of the glory of the Prophet, our great nation will continue to move forward. Forward in our great work to bring social justice, to improve the quality of Indonesia's human resources. Advancing our great work to make Indonesia as the country of Baldatun Thoyibatun Warabun Ghofur (Prosperous country),” said President Joko Widodo.

The President also invited all GP Ansor cadres to participate in guarding the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. According to him, the Indonesian people must be protected especially from the entry of foreign ideologies that would destabilize Pancasila.

“We must dare to show that Pancasila is the ideology of the Indonesian nation and cannot be replaced by other ideologies, especially the ideology of imported results,” he added.

The Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad and Heroes' Day in Pekalongan district were attended by hundreds of thousands of cadres of Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser) who came from all regions in Central Java. In addition to First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo, President Joko Widodo was also accompanied by a number of working cabinet ministers and the Central Java regional government. (VOI/Ndy/DP)

The heads of National Medicines Authorities from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) announced the Jakarta Declaration during their first meeting in Jakarta, Thursday.

The declaration contains, among others, efforts to harmonize standards of vaccine and self-reliance in medicines for OIC members.

"Through this meeting, a network has been built to carry out regulatory functions to realize the availability of safe, qualitative, and useful medicines," Penny Lukito, head of Food and Drug Supervision Agency (BPOM), said.

Other parts of the declaration underline the importance of redefining views on "halal" (allowed by Islam) medicines and vaccines.

She said the definition of halal on foods was not a problem because a lot of choices are available.

"With regard to vaccines and medicines, the choices are few and so the terminology halal must be redefined," she noted.

Lukito spoke in the company of OIC Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Naeem Khan, CEO of Saudi Arabia FDA Hisham S Al Jadhey, Mustafa AM Alnafi, a delegation member from Palestine, Markieu Janneh Kaira from Gambia and Kamapradipta Isnomo from the Indonesian foreign ministry.

Penny stressed "emergency is one of the reasons halal for vaccines and medicines must be redefined."

The World Health Organization states 30 percent of the world population lack access to essential medicines, including vaccines.

This also happens in the member countries of OIC, and their problem is similar, which is the limited production capacity of their pharmaceutical industries, she remarked.

"A number of OIC countries are still fighting contagious disease epidemics, which are actually preventable using vaccines. This underlines the importance of widening access to vaccines, including cheap medicines," she maintained.

Penny emphasized the meeting would become the starting point for better cooperation in the future, which has been included in the work plan.

Indonesia, she added, could take an initiative to OIC member countries to extend their access by taking advantage of the country`s pharmaceutical company Bio Farma.

Bio Farma has been able to produce vaccines recognized by the WHO.

"We have set a target of being able to provide halal vaccine choices within five to six years, not only for OIC members but also other countries," she said. (ANTARA)

The Government of Britain offers visa free visits for Indonesian business people representing 23 selected companies.

"The most important criterion is that the companies have big contribution to the economic relations between Indonesia and Britain," says British Ambassadors to Indonesia Moazzam Malik in Jakarta on Thursday.

Indonesia is the third country in Asia Pacific receiving the "Selected Business Scheme" after China and India.

"This means we see it important the business potentials in Indonesia , beneficial to Britain and Indonesia," Malik said.

Dominique Hardy, the Director of British Visa Department for Asia Pacific said at present there are only 23 companies selected but it is not impossible that the number would increase as Britain would make regular evaluation.

"The 23 companies deserve to be included in the list as so far their staff and families have traveled to Britain regularly," Hardy said.

The companies to receive the SBS facility are British companies having branches in Indonesia and Indonesian companies having units in Britain such as PT Bank HSBC, PT Standard Chartered, PT Sinar Mas Grup, and PT Astra Zeneca Indonesia. (ANTARA)