VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the countries affected by the strengthening United States Dollar (US). At present rupiah exchange rate against is still above Rp. 14,000 per US Dollar. The strengthening of the US Dollar exchange rate has affected business sector that relies on imports. However, on the other hand the strengthening of the US Dollar exchange rate has a positive impact on export-oriented business sectors. These impacts include increasing their profits which have implications to increase the country's foreign exchange reserves. This was stated by economist and capital market observer Lucky Bayu Purnomo in a discussion held by one of the private radio stations in Jakarta, Saturday, September 8, 2018.

“I think that is a logical and market opinion that when the US Dollar strengthens it becomes an opportunity for several sectors and there are also sectors that are under pressure. And mining is the most profitable sector,” Lucky Purnomo said.

Lucky Purnomo further explained that in addition to mining, other sectors that benefited most from the strengthening of the US dollar exchange rate were plantation sectors that were equally export-oriented and had trading partners based on US dollars. He also said the strengthening of the US dollar exchange rate should be used as a momentum to encourage exports and national logistics so that they will not compete with other countries which also affected by the strengthening of the US dollar exchange rate. (VOI / Rezha/DP)

Director of Asia and Pacific of Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Edi Yusuf has said in Jakarta recently that President Joko Widodo accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi will make state visit to South Korea on 10-11 September 2018. At the meeting, President Joko Widodo and South Korean President, Moon Jae-in will talk about economic cooperation and sign 6 memoranda of understanding and government-to-government -G2G.

“There will be memoranda of understanding. Firstly, it’s in the field of legislation between Indonesian cabinet secretary and South Korean Legacy  Ministry. Secondly, there is cooperation in the field of immigration. Thirdly, it’s an economic cooperation between Coordinating Economic Ministry and MOTIES. This will hold a regular meeting for economic ministry with Trade Ministry, Industry and Energy Ministry of Korea. Fourthly, there will be cooperation in the field of developing human resources between Ministry of Administrative Reform and Ministry of South Korea Management Personnel. Then, there will be MoU about maritime security between Maritime Security Agency and Korean Coast Guard. The last point is that there is MoU between Ministry of Environment and Forest and South Korean Environment Ministry,” Edi Yusuf said.

Moreover, Edi  Yusuf also said that the MoU in the field of immigration will make easier for Indonesian people enter South Korea, because it will shorten  time  and reduce the cost of making visa. Probably, the MoU will be developed  to be facility of free visa for Indonesian people who want to visit South Korea in the future. (VOI/Rezha/Trans by AF/RHM)

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi will leave Jakarta for Berlin, Germany to open Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) Chapter Berlin on 14 September 2018. The forum is the same with previous BDF Chapter Tunis. Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry,Arrmanatha Nasir  has said in Jakarta recently that the forum will talk about immigration issues.

“The theme to be discussed is democracy and migration. Maybe, it has been known about the focus of the forum and it is related to the previous forum in European regarding with the immigrant issues. Approximately, there will be 140 participants fromBali Democracy Forum Chapter Berlin,” Armanatha said.

Moreover, Arrmanatha explained that Indonesia has many experiences with democracy. It has  also handled about immigration so that Indonesia can share experiences to other countries. The output of BDF Chapter Berlin will be brought to the 11^th Bali Democracy Forum -BDF in Bali on November 2018. (Rezha/Trans by AF/RHM)

Citilink Indonesia, a subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia that focuses on low cost services (LCC) will officially make regular flights to China at the end of October 2018. President Director of Citilink Indonesia, Juliandra Nurtjahjo said in Jakarta on Friday that his side plans to open three routes of regular flights which expected to enhance the existence of Citilink Indonesia in China as a World Class LCC after previously successfully opening charter flight routes.

"So today, we start collaborating with Megacap as our partner and this is the first Citilink’s regular flight to China. So far, my friends have heard that Citilink flew to China, we flew charter. Thus, Citilink has operated only charter flight. Especially in the Chinese market, we are regular with partners and we  fly regularly to China on schedule. The existence of Citilink is increasingly seen in China. And, Citilink doesn't close the charter one; the charter keeps going on," Juliandra said.

Juliandra added that regular international flight routes to China are the ones from Jakarta to three cities: Xiamen, Kunming and Nanjang. He also remarked that the focus of Citilink Indonesia's expansion to China is secondary cities, which have considerable potential and have not been reached by many world airlines. Citilink Indonesia also sees the opening of this regular international route as a form of airline support for the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism program to get a target of 20 million foreign tourists to Indonesia before 2019. Citilink Indonesia's new routes to several cities in China is a realization of the expansion of regular international route services in Asian regions in addition to Denpasar flights - Dili and Jakarta - Penang. (VOI/Rezha/RHM)