VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The World Bank provides up to 1 billion US dollars in loans in the form of loans to the Indonesian government to complement relief and reconstruction efforts in affected areas, such as in Sulawesi and Lombok. Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva, at a joint press conference with Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in Nusa Dua, Bali, Sunday (10/14) said that this assistance was also intended to strengthen long-term resilience. The funding will be available upon request from the Indonesian government. It will be followed by a 5 million dollar grant for technical assistance for detailed planning, to ensure that reconstruction will last well and be implemented on a community-based basis. Kristalina Georgieva said, the World Bank's aid package could include cash transfer funds for the 150,000 families affected by the disaster. for a period of between 6 months to 1 year. Strengthening the existing social protection system is designed to support local economies and jobs during the recovery phase, and to avoid long-term damage to human capital.

"The World Bank is making up to 1 billion Dollars available to Indonesian authorities to use, once they get full understanding, what may be needed and prioritize treaties: one builds resilience for the future, not only in Lombok and Sulawesi but build resilience for the country because disasters will continue to hit and the climate change there would be more worse. 150,000 families that are in the two places, that are most severely impacted and that are most valuable. Last but not least, of course, we would support the direct reconstruction efforts. What we want to see is to build neighborhoods, not houses, not streets but neighborhoods so that strong resilience of the Indonesian communities can be protected and people can go together and value new hopes," Kristalina said.

The proposed US $ 1 billion aid package could also include a new independent emergency recovery program, to finance the rebuilding of public facilities and important infrastructure assets, such as hospitals, schools, bridges, and clean water. Assistance will also strengthen the monitoring system and early warning. (VOI/DP/AHM)

The National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) is holding the second Jakarta Geopolitic Forum (JGF) to be held on October 24, 2018 in Jakarta. This year, JGF raises the theme “Mapping Future Geopolitic Dynamic”. To the Media at the communication forum on Monday, October 15th, 2018 at The National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) Building Jakarta, Lemhanas Governor Letjen (Purn) Agus Wijojo stated that unlike the first JGF last year, this year JGF is in line with the process to organize synergy to 2045. At the first JGF, Lemhanas aimed to find information and ensembled it into Jakarta Geopolitic Forum.

"When the interest of big nations meets and forms a Geopolitic dynamic today. That’s what we will disscuss. And we will try to take the meaning for Indonesia. We try to predict where Indonesia’s position with such Geopolitic dynamic development when Indonesia celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2045," Agus Wijojo said.

Agus Wijojo added that the political condition development is in line with the tecnological advances that give easiness not only to get information but also to spread information.This is one of the reasons why The National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) holds the Geopolitic Forum especially when Indonesia will face political year in 2019. (VOI/NK/AHM)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received a courtesy call from Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad Al Maliki at the Merdeka Palace, in Jakarta, Monday. Jokowi was accompanied by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L. P. Marsudi while receiving Al Maliki, who was accompanied by Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Zuhair Al Sun. They held a discussion in the veranda of the Palace. On Sunday, Al Maliki took part in an event titled "Walk for Peace and Humanity: The Joint Walk to Independence for Palestine" as part of the Solidarity for Palestine Week organized by the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry in Jakarta. The "Walk for Peace and Humanity" activity was held to strengthen solidarity and deepen understanding of the wider community of Indonesia`s contribution and role in the struggle for Palestinian independence. Al Maliki noted that all support and solidarity shown by the Indonesian government and people were like a breath of "fresh air" for Palestine. The Solidarity Week for Palestine began in Bandung, West Java, by inaugurating the Palestine Walk, followed by a walk for peace and humanity in Jakarta. (ANTARA)

Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Ngurah Swajaya has promoted Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, to Singaporean investors participating in the 2018 IMF-WB Annual Meeting held in Nusa Dua, Bali.

"Ambassador Swajaya has been in Labuan Bajo since Saturday along with two investors, who will invest in Labuan Bajo," Deputy Head of the Bank Indonesia Representative Office in East Nusa Tenggara Muhammad Syarial informed Antara in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Monday.

Syarial explained that Ambassador Swajaya’s visit to Labuan Bajo along with investors, who had invested in Belitung and Jakarta, was a follow-up to the Leaders Retreat of President Joko Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday (Oct 11).

Syarial added that during the visit to Labuan Bajo, Ambassador Swajaya had met with several officials of the West Manggarai District Administration, Ministry of Tourism, and related stakeholders, including Bank Indonesia representatives in East Nusa Tenggara, West Manggarai Police Chief, state-owned enterprises, and business representatives in Labuan Bajo.

"They have seen first-hand the tourism and investment potentials in Labuan Bajo and visited Padar Island, Komodo Island, and Pink Beach," he remarked.

Labuan Bajo is one of the 10 New Bali launched by the president during the Leaders Retreat in Singapore in September 2017. The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore has promoted the tourism and investment potentials, especially of three tourist destinations: Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Belitung, and Labuan Bajo.

One of the investments promoted by the ambassador is the development of airports to enhance international direct connectivity to Labuan Bajo.

He added that Labuan Bajo and Komodo Island are attractive for visitors from Singapore, including foreigners, who live in the country. They can visit the tourist sites, with twinning destinations visits and cruise tours.

As a popular destination, Labuan Bajo had recorded some 130 thousand tourist arrivals in 2017 yet has limited accommodation, with only 1,250 hotel and homestay rooms.

In the first semester of 2018, Singapore’s investment value in Labuan Bajo was recorded at US$210 thousand for hotels and restaurants. This figure is significant, considering the fact that in 2017, there was no investment in this sector. Some leading international hotel operators plan to invest in Labuan Bajo.

Bank Indonesia representative in East Nusa Tenggara recorded that the realization of Singapore`s investment in the first semester of 2018 increased by 38 percent, from $5.04 billion recorded in the same period in 2017, thereby making Singapore the largest investor in Indonesia in the past five years. (ANTARA)