VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Minister of Foreign AffairsRetnoMarsudi held a bilateral meeting with the Dutch Foreign Minister StephanusAbraham Blok at Pancasila Building, Indonesian Foreign AffairsMinistry, Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 3rd. After the meeting,RetnoMarsudi said that she had asked the Netherlands as one of the EU member states to help Indonesia face discrimination against palm oil product which becomes one of its main export commodities.

“One of the largest component of Indonesia’s export to the Netherland is palm oil. Therefore, I raise the issue of discrimination against palm oil to the attention of Minister Blok. We have read the approve draftand remain very concern of its high potential on discrimination. The draft stipulate that it will use indirect land-used changed or ILUC as criteria which reflect more European view rather than an internationally accepted on,” Retno said.

Foreign Minister Marsudi further said the Government of Indonesia will continue negotiations with the EU to resolve one of the region's largest trade agreements, the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), although disputes between the two are related to palm oil still continue. He stressed that the negotiations to be taken should take into account the interests of both parties, including Indonesia's interest in palm oil trade. (VOI/Rezha/DP) 

The Government of Indonesia through the State Cyber and Codes Agency (BSSN) has signed a Letter of Intent in the field of cyber cooperation with the Dutch Government. The signing was done by BSSN Chairman DjokoSetiadi and Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, Stephanus Abraham Blok on Tuesday, July 3rd at Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta. In a press statement with Indonesian Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi, Foreign Minister Blok said that cyber security cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands is a media to enhance capability and exchange experiences between the two countries.

“Today, we also sign the letter of intent with Indonesia about cybersecurity. We agreed to launch the bilateral cyber dialogue to discuss ways of enchancing capabilities and to share experience about cyber legislation and protecting vital cyber infrastructure,” said Stephanus Abraham Blok.

The cyber security cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands is an important requirement for dealing various challenges in the digital era. The cooperation is equivalent to provide benefits for both countries. In this case Indonesia not only received one-way assistance from the Dutch Government. Indonesia has the opportunity to convey what Indonesia has in the field of cybersecurity as a tool in developing human resources capacity in the field of cybersecurity in both countries. (VOI/Rezha/DP)

Indonesian Foreign Affairs MinisterRetnoMarsudi held a bilateral meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister StephanusAbraham Blok at Pancasila Building, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 3. In this meeting, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to increase cooperation between the two countries in various fields. In a joint press statement with Foreign Minister Blok, Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi said that Indonesia and the Netherlands have agreed on cooperation in the field of timber trade through EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) mechanisms and security, including drug trafficking , terrorism, and cyber security.

“I also mentioned our willingness to work together in enhancing the implementation of FLEGT license to improve market access for the Indonesian legal timber. We also discuss effort to strengthen security cooperation, I specifically mentioned the need to strengthen cooperation to combat drug trafficking. We discuss also about the cooperation to combat terrorism. Indonesia will not allow its country to be a  market for drug traffickers. I welcome off course the signing of cooperation of cyber security,” Retno Marsudi said.

Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi further explained that Indonesia and the Netherlands in 2018 have entered the fifth year of the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). It certainly can be a momentum to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries. Currently, Indonesia is the second largest trading partner in the European region for Indonesia. The value of bilateral trade between Indonesia and the Netherlands in 2017 recorded reached five billion US Dollar which supported by palm oil as the largest export commodity. (VOI/Rezha/DP)

Governor of Bank Indonesia, Perry Warjiyo, said he hopes foreign investors would buy Indonesian state securities (SBN) to increase US dollar supply in the country and help stabilize rupi8ah.

"With the auction of SBN, foreign investors begin to enter and that will help stabilize exchange rate," he said after a meeting at the Finance Ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The meeting also attended by the chief commissioner of the Financial Service Authority (OJK) Wimboh Santoso, discussed the prevailing economic issue such as economic growth and stability.

Commenting on the sinking rupiah, Warjiyo pledged that the Central Bank would continue to stay in the market to take necessary steps to stabilize rupiah.

The Central Bank would intervene in the market including buying SBN in the secondary market, he said.

He said the central bank has raised its benchmark interest rate to lure in foreign investors to the Indonesian financial market especially the state bond market.

He said while waiting for large foreign investment to enter the Indonesian financial market intervention by Bank Indonesia will continue.

Bank Indonesia will buy SBN sold by foreign investors in the secondary market,"certainly at a market price," he said.

Bank Indonesia will also continue to strengthen coordination with the government and OJK to cope with rupiah instability in short term and to boost growth, he said.

Rupiah traded in interbank transactions at the level of 14,397 weakening from earlier level of 14,390 per US dollar. (ANTARA)