VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Moazzam Malik said the Southeast Asian region or ASEAN is the engine for the world’s economy in the 21st century. The reason is that last year, the economic growth in the region was around 5.2 percent. Therefore, the United Kingdom (UK) wants relationship with ASEAN, a community that houses countries in the Southeast Asia region, can be deepened. During the recent UK-ASEAN Leadership meeting in Jakarta, Moazzam Malik said the future of the economy was not only talking about India and China but also ASEAN.

“So, the ASEAN is a very important region for the future of world economy. And If the ASEAN comes together and succeeds, then Indonesia got succeeded. The future of the world economy will depend not only on India and China, but also on the ASEAN and Indonesia. So for the UK, we see Indonesia and the ASEAN as really one of the engines of the global economy over the 21st century, Moazzam Malik said.

Furthermore Moazzam Malik believes that ASEAN's economic potential in the future is based on several elements, including the population, which is very large, and the level of economic growth, which is good. Therefore, to strengthen cooperation between the UK and ASEAN, Moazzam invited young Southeast Asian leaders to discuss in the UK-ASEAN Leadership program. The UK-ASEAN Leadership Program is one of the activities carried out by the British Government in collaboration with an international non-profit organization from Singapore, Common Purpose to produce cross-border leaders. (VOI/Rezha/AHM)

Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Rini Soemarno delivered her remarks before the participants of the 35th United Nations - International Council of Women (UN-ICW) General Assembly and the National Gatherings of Thousand Indonesian women's organization in Yogyakarta, Thursday, September 13th, 2018. On this occasion, Rini mentioned that women are the supporters of various development programs in Indonesia, including in SOEs as one of the national development agencies. Rini stated that her side would continue to provide space for women with their achievements to contribute to SOEs. Therefore, he wants women to occupy important positions such as directors in each SOEs.

“We also see and target female talents and encourage them. We also encourage that in each company there is also a representation of women. Of course the directors, I hope there is at least one woman among them,” Rini Soemarno said.

Furthermore, in addition to providing space for women to contribute in SOEs, Rini said that her ministry also encouraged various SOEs programs that had been implemented aiming at improving women's ability, especially in the business sector. The program includes community business credit (KUR), SOEs Creative House, and Fostering a Prosperous Family Economy (Mekaar). The series of t the 35th United Nations - International Council of Women (UN-ICW) General Assembly began with the ICW Board of Directors Meeting on 11-12 September 2018, the opening of the 35th ICW General Session on 13 September 2018, the National Meeting of Thousand Women's Organization on September 13-14 2018. (VOI/Rezha/AHM)

The 35th United Nations International Council of Women (ICW) General Assembly and the National Meeting of Thousand Indonesian Women's Organizations in Yogyakarta kicked off on Thursday, September 13, 2018, among others listening to the speech of ICW president Junhook Kim, chairwoman of Indonesian Women Congress (Kowani) Giwo Rubianto Wiyogo and Indonesian Minister of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Rini Sumarno. President of ICW hopes that in the future they will participate more in the economic activities. Therefore, ICW is expected to encourage women to have wider access to economic development.

“Empowerment of women can bring about to transform to changes in society to a better world for our next generation. For now only a half of women globally participate in economic activities. Only 17 nations in today’s world are led by women, said Junhook Kim.

Indonesian Minister of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Rini Sumarno said that women play a role in encouraging economic growth in countries in the world.

“One of the most important factors that drives the economic growth is the empowerment role of women. World Bank research shows that women business ownership ratios are higher than the average world, especially for small, medium and micro enterprises. Data from international Labor Organization has shown an increase in the ratio of female workforce participation rate in Indonesia from 35 percent in 1990 to 38 percent in 2017, Rini Sumarno said.

On that occasion, the manager of the Indonesian Record Museum handed the award to the chairwoman of Indonesian Women Congress for the achievement of inviting the most women's organizations and Minister Rini Sumarno as an Indonesian female figure. (VOI/Munarsih/trs Rezha/AHM)

Indonesia and Malaysia are jointly learning the strategy to handle terrorism in Marawi City, Mindanao, the Philippines, in order to handle terrorism comprehensively.

"We can learn the operational and technical strategies carried out in the field to handle terrorism and terrorists in a comprehensive way, including its psychological impact on the community," Indonesian Ministry of Defense`s Training and Education Agency head Maj. Gen. Ida Bagus Purwalaksana stated at the Philippine Armed Forces 103rd Brigade Headquarters in Marawi on Thursday.

Abu Sayyaf militant group based in the southern island of Mindanao has kidnapped hundreds of Filipinos and foreigners since the early 1990s in order to get ransom. The US has named the group as a terrorist organization. Observers have stated the Abu Sayyaf, Maute, and other extremist groups claim to create a south-base Islamic caliphate for ISIS.

"This will certainly have an impact on Indonesia. Therefore, we need to work and learn together to handle them," Purwalaksana noted.

Malaysian Defense Minister Mohammad bin Sabu noted that eradicating terrorism could not just rely on a militaristic approach. The militaristic approach is only suitable to eradicate terrorists and not terrorism, he stated. In fact the eradication of terrorism requires awareness to counter such harsh ideology.

"For example, some teachings in religion are misunderstood. In Islam, there are teachings of jihad and martyrdom, which are considered to justify violent acts of terrorists. It is our duty to correct such wrong understanding," Sabu remarked.

Western Region Mindanao Military Command Lieutenant General Arnel B. Dela Vega remarked that fighting terrorism requires cooperation.

"We need to work together to counter terrorism. It is impossible for the military to face terrorism alone, we need cooperation from all parties," he explained.

The joint training program between Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia will continue to be carried out with expanded scope in the future. (ant)