VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The World Bank has projected Indonesia`s economic growth to reach 5.3 percent in 2018, lower than the target set at 5.4 percent in the State Budget 2018.

"We predict Indonesia`s economic growth to be 5.3 percent in 2018, up from 5.1 percent in 2017," a World Bank Senior Economist, Derek Chen, stated in Jakarta on Thursday ( April 12 ) 

According to Chen, Indonesia`s economic growth this year will be driven by investment, as well as household consumption, considering the general elections of administration heads, which will be held across the nation this year.

"The investment is very strong, and we see that the household consumption will rise slightly in line with the election," Chen remarked.

He added that the elections in 2018 and 2019 will not interfere with domestic economic activity. After the elections, investment will grow faster because political uncertainty will begin to subside.

"Now, investors may be waiting for what will happen in 2018 and 2019 and assume it is not too surprising. Investment will then flow again because of the reduced political uncertainty. This not only happens in Indonesia but also in other countries," he revealed.

In a report titled World Bank East Asia and Pacific Economic Update April 2018: Enhancing Potential released on Thursday, the economic growth of developing countries in East Asia and Pacific regions is expected to remain strong and reach 6.3 percent by 2018. The outlook for a broad global recovery and strong domestic demand supports this positive projection. However, emerging risks to stability and sustainable growth require serious attention.

The World Bank underscores that even with favorable prospects, policy makers in the regions are advised to recognize and address challenges. Tighter monetary policy and larger fiscal buffer are required to face short-term risks, which are associated with rising interest rates of developed countries that rise faster than expected, and the possibility of an escalation of trade tensions. According to the World Bank, increasing public and private investment, productivity growth, and human resources are the keys to promoting long-term growth. ( antara ) 

Ethiopian Airlines is set to operate a direct flight to Jakarta, a move expected to boost trade between Africa and Indonesia.

"Soon after we have finalized its regulation, we will start operating a direct flight to Jakarta," Ethiopian Airlines President Director Tewolde Gebremariam noted on the sidelines of the Indonesia-Africa Forum held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center here on Wednesday.

Taking into account the fact that Indonesia is a promising and potential market, Gebremariam expressed optimism about prospects of operating a direct flight. By operating a direct flight, business agents and tourists, particularly those from Indonesia, will have easy access to African countries, now that Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is a flight hub in Africa, he pointed out.

"Hence, Indonesian tourists will be able to land in Addis Ababa aboard a direct flight. Addis Ababa connects 58 destinations in Africa," he noted.

The airline company is awaiting a time slot to start a direct flight to Jakarta, he revealed.

"We have secured a permit and will seek a time slot, which is important," he stated.

To date, Ethiopian Airlines has served direct flights to Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and India.

Through the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Executive Board`s membership for 2017-2021 period, Indonesia looks to improve its role to be more beneficial for UNESCO, Culture and Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy stated. The minister made the statement on the sidelines of the UNESCO Executive Board Session at the organization`s headquarters in Paris where Coordinating Minister Puan Maharani conveyed the Indonesian government`s view on UNESCO on Tuesday. Maharani conveyed Indonesia`s view on the government`s policy in the field of cultural and human resource development as part of the country`s duty in UNESCO.

On the occasion, Maharani conveyed an official statement from the Government of Indonesia, including the country`s commitment to providing assistance to UNESCO. She noted that being elected as one of the members of the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2017-2021 period, Indonesia is keen to increase its role for the benefit of the organization.

The inclusion of Indonesia into the Executive Board of UNESCO is expected to have a mutual influence, and Indonesia`s presence can also be felt by all members of the organization, especially in various forms of cooperation that have been established and also assistance sought by other countries. In addition, the UNESCO Executive Board membership can be useful for Indonesia in the context of development of culture and human resources. ( antara ) 

The governments of Indonesia and Ghana have agreed to cooperate against the negative campaign on palm oil commodity.

"I have met the vice minister of agriculture and food of Ghana. We discussed about a lot of negative campaigns against oil palm. The palm oil-producing countries should unite against the negative campaigns," Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi stated here on Wednesday.

She met the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Food of Ghana Kennedy, Osei Nyarko, at the bilateral meeting that was held on the sidelines of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) at Nusa Dua Bali Convention Center. Indonesia and Ghana discussed extensively about the palm oil industry as they are among the countries that produce the commodity. Marsudi added that the Ghana government has expressed willingness to jointly face the challenges of the negative campaign.

"Ghana has expressed its readiness to cooperate with Indonesia in order to handle the negative campaigns against oil palm industry," Marsudi revealed.

Additionally, Indonesia has also invited Ghana to join the association of palm oil-producing countries, Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), which was established on the initiative of Indonesia.

"The government of Ghana must consider their participation in CPOPC. There are already some Indonesian palm oil companies in Ghana. Ghana has asked Indonesia to help the development of its palm oil industry," the foreign minister remarked.

Some negative campaigns against palm oil have occurred in EU countries, where a resolution entitled "Palm Oil and Deforestation of the Rain Forest" was proposed by the European Parliament on the basis that the development of the palm oil industry has become the major cause of deforestation and weather changes. The action is considered contrary to the stance of the EU that embraces the principle of fair trade. ( antara )