VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Countries joined in MIKTA's informal co-operation, namely Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia are considered to have significant contributions to the United Nations (UN) peace mission through the deployment of peacekeeping forces. The number of dispatch of peacekeepers  such as the sending of women peacekeeping troops continues to be increased by the United Nations. This was stated by Director of International Security and Disarmament of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Indonesia (RI), Grata Endah Werdaningtyas in MIKTA Panel Discussion on Women and Peacekeeping in Jakarta, Thursday (April 19, 2018).

“And if we look at the data, all five MIKTA countries currently have been contributing around 3500 peacekeepers around the world, with more than 100 female personnel. So,  this is good for us, especially Indonesia for MIKTA in peacekeeping and I think in line with the ambition of secretary general to increase the number of female peacekeeping personnel. I think it is important for MIKTA to cooperate and to discuss and try to find a solution,” Grata Endah said.

Grata Endah Werdaningtyas further said that female peace troops have several advantages compared to peacekeepers who are still dominated by men. She also said female peace troops are more easily accepted by local people who are experiencing conflict. In addition, they are also considered easier to win the hearts and minds of local people and more effectively in protecting local people from sexual exploitation and acts of violence. (VOI/Rezha/Trans by Rhm)

President Joko Widodo affirmed that Online Single Submission will be a large-scale change program in the business permit system in Indonesia. He views that the permit system will be applied in an integrated manner from the central to the regional levels. In the Limited Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java on Wednesday (18/4), President Joko Widodo said that the system of Online Single Submission will cut the bureaucratic chains of permit attempts, as it uses a modern registration model. In addition, President Joko Widodo also asked his staff to be able to ensure that Online Single Submission can be a friendly system for the users, considering that this program is a digital technology-based reform program.

“…This is a reform; this is a massive change to make all permits from the  central to the regional areas be really integrated into a unity. It’s by using a more modern, faster registration model with integrated data systems; there is no need to go through many bureaucratic chains. Because of this digital technology-based reform, I ask the system to be really carried out; it can directly be used and it’s friendly for its users,” said Joko Widodo.

Furthermore, President Joko Widodo hopes that the implementation of this program can be supported by human resources that are more responsive. The purpose of this system is to ensure that permit services at both central and regional levels can be further enhanced. In addition, the President also reminded that the reform of the permit system through Online Single Submission can be supported by simplifying the permit process to adjust the speed of the business process in accordance with the objective to implement the Online Single Submission. (VOI/Ndy/Trans by Rhm)

The Indonesian Ministry of Industry is seeking to increase the export of Muslim apparels by 10 percent this year.

"Indonesia must boost the export of Muslim fashion products to become the highest in the world, in order to be able to become a world Muslim fashion center," Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto noted in a statement in Jakarta, on Thursday ( April 19 ). 

Global Islamic Economy predicts that the world Muslim fashion market will grow to US$327 billion by 2020.

"In view of that, we will continue to encourage Muslim fashion industrialists and designers in Indonesia to continue making innovations by increasing their productivity and strengthening their brands to be able to penetrate the export market," he noted.

The minister remarked that he was optimistic that the Muslim fashion industry in the country will continue to grow to contribute significantly to the fashion sector and the national economy. At present, the Muslim fashion industry is projected to be able to absorb 1.1 million of the total 3.8 million fashion industry workers in the country.

The industry ministry has facilitated 12 Muslim fashion brands from various regions to participate in the the Muslim Fashion Festival (Muffest) 2018.

"I think the event has contributed quite much to the growth and development of the national Muslim fashion industry, especially in producing new, creative, and innovative designers and entrepreneurs, "he revealed.

Export of Muslim fashion products reached US$13.29 billion in 2017, up 8.7 percent from the previous period.

"As one of the countries with the biggest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia has a big opportunity to become the world`s Muslim fashion center by 2020," he added.

Indonesia, at present, is the fifth biggest exporter of Muslim fashion products among members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation after Bangladesh, Turkey, Morocco, and Pakistan. (antara)

 Indonesia and South Korea have opened a new round of bilateral ties, after President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and President Moon Jae-in agreed to elevate the partnership between the two countries into a special strategic partnership in November 2017. South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia, Kim Chang-beom, told Antara News Agency, in Jakarta on Thursday ( April 19 ), that the two countries have been natural partners since the start of the diplomatic relations in 1973.

"We have never been involved in issues or conflicts but just ideas of collaboration and collaboration," he stated.

Moon`s visit to Indonesia last year was considered as a prelude to a further jump in a more intensive and substantive strategic partnership. South Korea, he continued, has been working intensively with Indonesia, especially in industry, culture, and research and development.

Now, he believed that Korean businessmen show more interest in infrastructure development, consumer goods trade, lifestyle products, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, logistics, as well as cosmetics and beauty products.

"I think we are increasingly opening a new chapter in bilateral relations between Indonesia and South Korea," he noted.

South Korea and Indonesia agreed to strengthen cooperation in four specific areas, including the defense industry, increase in trade value, community exchange between both countries, and cooperation at regional and global level, during a meeting between Moon and Jokowi last year. Moon sees the cooperation between the two countries as being well at the moment, especially in areas of human rights protection, democracy, and economic growth.

"For future cooperation, we agree to enhance bilateral relations to specific strategic partnerships, in order to contribute to the ASEAN framework, as well as promote peace and prosperity throughout Asia," he pointed out.  ( antara )