VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Minister for State Enterprises Rini Soemarno said state-owned PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA) will start construction of a rolling stock factory in Banyuwangi, East Java, by the end of this year.

The minister recently said in Jakarta that INKA has received growing orders both for domestic use and exports. Therefore, preparation for the construction of a new factory in Banyuwangi is speeding up. PT INKA is a state-owned railway manufacturing company based in Madiun, East Java, producing passenger trains and freight cars.

Rini said, the groundbreaking will take place before the end of 2018. She emphasized that Banyuwangi was chosen as the place for the new factory for the strategic location of the coastal district, which is growing rapidly over the past several years.//Antara 08.04.2018 Rezha

The Indonesian government said it was hoping to conclude negotiations on the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA CEPA) in August after failing to do so in December last year.

Indonesian Coordinating Economic Minister DarminNasution said recently in Jakarta that the two nations were still discussing some technical aspects regarding goods and services, making it clear that they were minor issues. He said, there are some matters that have to be finished.

Previously, Indonesian Trade Minister EnggartiastoLukita said Jakarta and Canberra have resolved 90 percent of the issues discussed in the trade agreement. He said Australia was asking for a higher tariff rate quota for beef. Canberra previously proposed that Indonesia impose a special tariff for its beef. Indonesia agreed to grant a special tariff, but the two nations have not yet agreed on the quota.//JP 08.04.2018 Rezha

President Joko Widodo hopes that the Bogor-Ciawi-Sukabumi (Bocimi) toll road project for Ciawi - Sukabumi Section 1 segment with Ciawi - Cigombong segment along 15.35 kilometers will be operational in July this year. This was revealed by the President when reviewing Bocimi toll road project in Sukabumi, West Java Province, on Sunday, April 8, 2018.

"We hope that this July from Ciawi until Cigombong we will open, and then to Cibadak, about 2019 will be completed until East Sukabumi 2020 is completed," said President.

The Bocimi toll road review by the President was made on the way back to Bogor from Cibadak Station, Sukabumi District at 16.05 WIB, after a working visit to Sukabumi. The President reviews the project site located between Cicurug Station and Cigombong Station. He said the main point of congestion was around Cibadak. Therefore, if this Bocimi toll has been completed, it will be able to unravel the congestion significantly.

"From Ciawi to Cigombong it is open it will unravel the congestion is quite large, especially when it comes to Cibadak because now it is most complicated in Cibadak, so if you get there 2019 will break the congestion very much," he continued.

Meanwhile, related to the issue of land acquisition, the President said that he did not receive reports on it. The construction of the Bocimi toll as a whole has been going well. ( release biro pers )

Indonesia as the world's fourth largest coffee producer has a chance in the South Korean market, although Indonesia's coffee still ranks 13th in the South Korean coffee market, under Vietnam and the United States. This was stated by Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea, Umar Hadi in an interview with Voice of Indonesia on Friday (6/4). He said that to boost Indonesia's coffee position in the South Korean coffee market, Indonesia is participating in the International Coffee Expo Seoul 2018 held at COEX Center in Seoul on 4th to 8th April 2018. Ambassador Umar Hadi also said that at the exhibition, South Korean people respond positively coffee from Indonesia. This is evidenced that there was transaction worth nearly $2 million dollars on the first day of the exhibition.

“Seoul International Coffee Expo is being held on from April 4^th – 8^th 2018. This is an annual event in which Indonesian Embassy along with the central ITBC and the Ministry of Trade always invites and facilitates for Indonesia’s coffee exporters to participate in the exhibition. Alhamdulilah, the first day of the event recorded transaction worth nearly $2 million dollars. So, it’s quite promising,” Umar Hadi said.

Furthermore, Ambassador Umar Hadi said that Indonesia's prospect to grab the South Korean coffee market is still very large. The diversity of the taste of Indonesian coffee is a main factor that attracts the importers and the people of South Korea. Korea ranks 11th in the world and second place after Japan as the highest coffee importer in Asia. (VOI/DEE/RHM)