VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that Islamic economics has great potential at the global level, at the world level. Quoting the Minister of National Development Planning, the President said that the potential in 2023 would reach 3 trillion dollars or approximately Rp45,000 trillion.

"I can't imagine such numbers because what we manage our current state budget is around 2,000 fewer," said President Jokowi when delivering a speech at the launch of the Indonesian Islamic Economics Masterplan 2019-2024 in the Ministry of National Development Planning / Bappenas , Central Jakarta, Tuesday (5/14) afternoon.

According to the President, this is a great power that must be seen and begun to think about, to take on this huge economic opportunity.

But unfortunately, the President continued, according to the Global Islamic Economy Indicator, in 2018 Indonesia was still ranked 10th in the ranking of countries that implement Islamic economics. According to the President, Indonesia's position is still far behind Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Qatar, Pakistan and Kuwait.

"This is our big work together," said President Jokowi.

The President stressed, the time had come to arouse Islamic economic potential in Indonesia, and make Indonesia the center of the world's leading Islamic economy, because Indonesia is indeed the country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

President Jokowi believes that Islamic economics can also help alleviate poverty, improve people's welfare, encourage social justice, and also preserve the environment. This, continued the President, is also in line with the sustainable development goals carried out. For this reason, at the beginning of the year, according to the President, the government has formed executive management of the National Islamic Finance Committee, which will also oversee the implementation of the Indonesian Islamic Economics Masterplan in the future.

"So there are those who escort, so that every development, we can check every progress and we follow it," continued the President.

By launching the Indonesian Islamic Economics Masterplan 2019-2024, President Jokowi assessed that Indonesia made a big leap to strengthen Indonesia's Islamic sharia ecosystem, because building this ecosystem is indeed the most difficult.

"The master plan that will guide us all is carried out in its implementation, to monitor the progress of its development, to ensure that we ensure its achievements," said President Jokowi.

The President stressed that the government will continue to strengthen the halal value chain with a focus on the food and beverage sector, fashion, tourism, media, recreation and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. And as a supporter, the government will also strengthen Islamic finance. "We will continue to strengthen our MSMEs, we will strengthen our digital economy," he said.

On that occasion, the Head of State admitted that he was very happy to hear that there are now markets that not only offer 1-2 halal products.

"I think this is a step for us to market our many products. So that we not only become the largest consumer country of global halal products but also become the largest producer of products that will enter other countries, "said the Head of State.

According to the Head of State, many have now focused for example in Muslim fashion. He saw that in terms of design the class was really very visible, going into the upper middle class. Designed very neatly and nicely, according to the President, the price if seen is also very competitive.

"Things like this that I think we should give space so that we can display those products in the Indonesian marketplace and then put them into the global marketplace / global marketplace network," said the Head of State.

President Jokowi believes that when all are committed to running this Indonesian sharia economic masterplan, Indonesia will soon become the center of the world's leading sharia economy. (kemensetkab)

The Indonesian Government has decided to lower price ceiling for domestic airfare by 12-16% which will be effective from 15 May for Java routes as well as for flights to Jayapura.

“The Government takes this measure for the sake of both airlines and the passengers,” Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution said during Coordination Meeting on Airfare at the office of Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Jakarta, early this week.

The Government, Darmin added, has noticed an airfare surge among domestic airline companies since the end of December 2018 and the airfare has not dropped after 10 January 2019. The impact of airfare hike will affect the people, especially before the Eid homecoming season, he stated.

The Minister also said that the price ceiling for domestic airfare regulated in the Decree of Minister of Transportation Number 72 of 2019 has not changed significantly since 2014 and was suspected to be one of the reasons for high airfare.

According to Darmin, another factor to be calculated is aircraft fuel price increase. At the end of December 2018, aircraft fuel prices reached US$86.29 a barrel, the highest since December 2014, resulting in an increase in the operational expenses of airline companies so that they needed to be compensated by rising airfare.

“The decision to cut the price ceiling will be effective after the signing of Minister of Transportation Regulation on the expected date of May 15, 2019. This decision will be continuously evaluated based on applicable regulations to maintain airfare for domestic flights by considering a balance between consumer protection and business continuity,” Darmin said.

Darmin further said that collaboration between Ministries/Agencies and related business entities is needed for regular basis evaluation of the national aviation industry so potential problems or issues can always be identified earlier. “Thus, the aviation industry, especially air passenger services, can perform better and be more stable,” he said. (Coordinating Ministry for the Economy )

United Nations Security Council (UNSC), under Presidency of Indonesia, adopted Res. 2469 on the extension of the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), New York (14/5).

As the President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Indonesia read out the agreed Press Elements on Lebanon, which reaffirmed the Council’s strong support for sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence and security of Lebanon. (kemlu)

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has proposed two solutions to improve upon problems faced during Indonesia’s 2019 elections in which more than 450 polling station workers died.

"The two solutions are the separation of types of elections and developing a closed legislative election system. Therefore, the parties can choose good candidates," Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated at the Vice President’s Office in Jakarta on Monday.

Jusuf Kalla opined that the complexity of counting votes for legislative elections caused many polling workers to die.

Meanwhile, polling group (KPPS) officers should recount the votes for each legislative candidate at central, provincial and district levels.

"Unification of legislative elections from central, provincial, and district levels through open systems causes polling group officers to work for long periods," he explained.

In addition, the Vice President said that the numbers of political parties in the 2019 elections increased, compared to the 2014 elections. As a result, polling workers had to work extra hours to count the candidates’ votes.

"So, the main problem is not in the presidential elections, but in the legislative elections. The number of political parties in the 2019 legislative elections increased from 10 parties in 2009 to 16 parties this year," he added. (ant)

Therefore, a study of the 2019 election should be conducted to develop better systems for the next elections.