VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

When opening the 2018 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show automotive exhibition on ICE BSD City today, Thursday, August 2, 2018, President Joko Widodo welcomed the presence of a rural vehicle called Rural Multipurpose Mechanical Transport (AMMDes). The multipurpose vehicle of the nation's work is designed to improve the economic productivity of rural communities.

"I welcome AMMDes, Rural Multipurpose Mechanical Transport, which we will launch today," said the President.

The presence of this rural vehicle will also have a multiplier effect on other industries. At least 70 domestic component industries are involved in the production of rural vehicles.

"This is a type of vehicle but there is a lot to do with the upstream industry. It is reported that more than 70 domestic component industries are ready to become suppliers of this AMMDes component," he said.

Basically AMMDes functions as a means of transportation and transport that can be combined with various post-harvest processing tools. In addition, this vehicle can also be combined with several supporting equipment such as generators for lighting, rice grinder, and water pumps for rural rice irrigation by placing the components in the back of the vehicle.

After officially opening the exhibition, the Head of State went straight to the booth where the multipurpose vehicle was exhibited and had boarded one of the AMMDes on display.

"In addition to increasing production and productivity in the villages, this can also solve many problems in the village both in the form of water, mobility, dryers and rice mills in a small form so that mobility in the fields and villages can be even better , "said the President commenting on the rural vehicle.

The development of the AMMDes has been monitored long ago by President Joko Widodo. During a working visit to Klaten Regency, Central Java, in September 2017, the President had visited the Kiat Motor factory which had been known through Esemka products. There, the President witnessed firsthand the development of rural vehicles which were then still called Mahesa.

"The government's task is to give encouragement so that ideas like this can enter the market," the president said at the time. ( biro pers ) 

The Indonesian government is formulating a number of strategies, including implementing a regulation immediately on the use of a 20 percent biodiesel mix (B20) to save foreign exchange earnings, a minister said. The government has adopted several programs to save foreign exchange earnings, Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto told the press, after a limited cabinet meeting held at the Bogor Presidential Palace, on Tuesday 

The meeting, led by President Joko Widodo, discussed several strategies to strengthen the country`s foreign exchange earnings.

"We will implement the regulation on the use of B20, as well as other programs, to make retrenchment through the use of local component," the minister stated.

The programs, which have been implemented, are considered capable of reducing the balance of payment. The programs include encouraging the use of B20, increasing the use of local components, and optimizing tourism services, he noted. The other similar program to save foreign exchange earnings includes reviewing the list of imported goods, he added.

The government believed the programs will be able to save billions of US dollars in foreign exchange earnings. Minister Hartarto predicted that the government will be able to save US$2 billion in foreign exchange earnings by increasing the use of local components. (ant ) 

President Joko Widodo reminded the Indonesian people of continuing to maintain the brotherhood and national unity during Dhikr and Prayer for the Nation.

"We often forget that our nation is a great and diverse one. We should also be grateful as it is the grace of God that unites us," the president, in his speech during an event held at the Merdeka Palace square, stated here on Wednesday night ( August 1st ).

According to the president, the diversity of tribes, traditions, religions, and cultures that exist in Indonesia is the wealth and asset of the nation that must be maintained. The head of state explained that the diversity of the nation will become a strength if Indonesia remains united.

The nation`s greatest asset is the unity and harmony of brotherhood. The greatest asset of our nation is unity. "Besides, we are blessed by Allah (the God) with abundance of natural resources," Jokowi remarked.

The president reminded people on the importance of maintaining Islamic Brotherhood and national brotherhood. The president asserted that the unity and cohesiveness of the nation should not be sacrificed because of differences in regional head elections and presidential election.

"Do not let the choices of regent, the mayor, the governor, and the president create disunity among us. We do not greet each other between brothers, neighbors, and villages. Do not let fellow humans vilify each other, mock each other, and reproach each other, " the president remarked.

The president went to the pulpit assembly along with Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council Ma`ruf Amin, accompanied by other scholars. A number of scholars who participated in the event include Ahmad bin Idrus Al Habsyi, Kyai Anwar, Kyai Haji Maimun Zubair and Mustofa Aqil Siradj, who is also as Chairman of the Council of Dhikr Hubul Waton, as well as the High Priest of Istiqlal Mosque Nasarudin Umar.

In addition, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Military Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Police Chief Tito Karnavian, and Chief of Staff for the President Moeldoko were also present at the event. ( ant )

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization held the Asia-Pacific Regional Strategic Coordination Meeting with the theme “Science to Enable and Empower Asia Pacific for the Goal of Sustainable Development” in Jakarta on Monday (30/7). Director and Representative of UNESCO in Jakarta, Shahbaz Khan, said that the two-day meeting tried to arrange the UNESCO scientific programs in Asia Pacific as a platform to effectively deliver the implementation of 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

"We have here 17 countries from Asia Pasific come here to discuss how science and technology can help us achieve better sustainable development. And especially for sustainable development goals, 17 of them. The goals like water for example. Water security, how can we eradicate poverty, how can we have better human health, how can we have this transparent system to better data and technology. So that’s the idea here," Shahbaz Khan said.

Furthermore, Shahbaz Khan explained that the Asia-Pacific Region has a significant role to ensure the Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved. Shahbaz Khan also said with an existing of 60% from the world population, the Asia-Pacific Region has immense potentials in developing various forms of cooperation among countries. In addition, Shahbaz Khan said that the Asia-Pacific Region has quite high vulnerability in dealing with several issues, such as natural disasters and equality. According to him, such issues can actually be overcome by the implementation of science and technology. (VOI/Ndy/trs Amanda/NT)