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PLN Gradually Recovers Electricity Supply (0)
State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has recovered electric power to Balaraja Extra High Voltage substation in Banten Province, and furthermore it will be channeled to Suralaya steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) to gradually recover its operation to reach its capacity of 2800 MW of electricity.
In addition, power supply from Gandul Extra High Voltage substations in Depok, West Java Province, will be channeled to Muara Karang gas and steam power plant (PLTGU) to supply electricity to the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta.
Acting President Director of PLN Sripeni Inten Cahyani said here on Sunday that the power supply to Jakarta was expected to recover within three hours.
"We apologize for the inconvenience today, and currently all efforts have been made to recover the Java-Bali power system, especially in the area of West Java, Banten, and Jakarta," Cahyani said.
The company has focused on power supply to PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Priok to recover the system in the capital city.
Previously, PLN has recovered the operation of hydro-generated power plant (PLTA) Saguling and PLTA Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer, and, at the same time, supply the electricity to PLTU Suralaya through Cibinong, Depok, Gandul, Lengkok, Balaraja and Suralaya extra high voltage substations.
PLTU Suralaya is expected to return to its normal operation within six hours to normalize power system in West Java and Banten.
Blackout that affected thousands of homes and public facilities in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten was caused by several troubles in the extra high voltage 500 kV transmission of Ungaran - Pemalang.
"PLN has taken its best efforts and will have evaluation to prevent recurrence of today's incident," Cahyani said.
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August
Minister committed to supporting Experience Indonesia 2022 held in UK
Written by Nur Yasmin
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno is committed to supporting the implementation of Experience Indonesia 2022 that was initiated by the Indonesian Embassy to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and IMO London.
In an audience with the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK, Ireland, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Desra Percaya, Minister Uno drew attention to an imminent potential market in the UK for Indonesian tourism and the creative economy.
"The United Kingdom is very strategic, and next, UK tourists will be an extraordinary potential," he remarked here on Wednesday.
The Experience Indonesia 2022 event, scheduled to be held on November 6-9, 2022, is expected to offer the right momentum for promoting the Indonesian tourism and creative economy sector in the UK market.
"Hopefully, this event would be a trailblazer for our way forward," Uno affirmed.
On the same occasion, Ambassador Percaya explained that the event is implemented as an effort to increase awareness of the British people to the Indonesian tourism and creative economy sector.
"The activity is held back-to-back with the World Travel Market. Indonesia is not well-known by the British public because it was not a British colony," he added.
The Experience Indonesia will feature "Indonesia Day" activities, including exhibitions of Indonesian cuisine and culture. Percaya also invited Uno to visit England to attend the activity.
Meanwhile, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the United Kingdom and Ireland passport holders are eligible for Visa on Arrival (VoA) to enter Indonesia through major ports or immigration checkpoints.
VoA is priced at Rp500 thousand, or US$35, and is valid for a maximum of 30 days, and can be extended once for another 30 days at the Immigration Office in the area where the foreign national resides. (Antaranews)
August
New Zealand a strategic market for national tourism sector: Uno
Written by Nur Yasmin
Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno has said that New Zealand is one of the most strategic markets that can support the growth of Indonesia's tourism sector.
"If we can exploit this opportunity properly, Indonesia's tourism and creative economy sectors can recover, and this will encourage the creation of 1.1 million new and quality jobs because the sectors have become the mainstay for some 40 percent of Indonesia's population," Uno highlighted during a meeting with the Ambassador of New Zealand to Indonesia, Kevin Burnett, according to a statement received here on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the minister and the ambassador discussed opportunities that the two countries can explore in the tourism and creative economy sectors.
They discussed cooperation opportunities in terms of increasing the flight frequency, strategies for developing quality and environmentally sustainable tourism, sharing of best practices at educational institutions in the two countries, digitization, and marketing strategies to enhance awareness of the tourism sectors of Indonesia and New Zealand, Uno informed.
"We hope we can enhance collaboration to develop the tourism and creative economy aspects in the two countries, as well as to help promote and present quality and sustainable tourism," the minister said.
He also called for New Zealand's support for making the Indonesian G20 Presidency a success during the meeting.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Burnett expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to discuss cooperation opportunities in the tourism and creative economy sectors with Uno.
"Our national border has been fully reopened for tourists on July 31, 2022, and we are gradually welcoming again tourists to New Zealand. We hope we can redevelop the tourism and creative economy sectors, (which have been) declining due to the pandemic, with the cooperation that we forged," Burnett remarked.
According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data, the number of tourists from New Zealand staying in Indonesia for 10–11 days rose by 14 percent to reach 128,325 in 2018. (Antaranews)
August
US-ASEAN Business Council praises Indonesia's COVID-19 handling
Written by Nur Yasmin
The US-ASEAN Business Council delegation praised President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) successful handling of COVID-19 pandemic at a meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.
"In general, they expressed their gratitude for Mr. President Jokowi's leadership in handling the COVID-19 pandemic," Minister of Investment and head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Bahlil Lahadalia, who accompanied the President at the meeting, said.
The delegation also thanked the Indonesian Government for supporting the ease of doing business, which allowed them tocontinue to run their businesses despite the global uncertainty due to the pandemic, the minister said in a written statement released by the State Palace.
"This is evident from our economy, which grew 5.4 percent, and inflation, which was below five percent (year-on-year in July 2022). In general, they lauded Mr. President's leadership although the global economic condition is not too good," he added.
During the meeting, President Jokowi invited the delegates to invest in green energy and industry projects that have become the focus of the Indonesian government's attention. In addition, he urged them to invest in other sectors, including health and digital sectors, he informed.
Lahadalia said the meeting also discussed the proactive steps that will be taken by the government in the event of technical problems in the field.
Jokowi told the delegation that the Indonesian Government will take comprehensive steps to maintain better investment conditions in the country.
He also lauded US investment in Indonesia, which has continued to increase.
"As per our data, (the US) is ranked fourth after China (in terms of investment in Indonesia),” he noted. (Antaranews)
August
Optimistic Indonesia will become global Muslim fashion hub: minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has said he is optimistic that Indonesia will become a hub of the world's Muslim fashion with the help of its cultural diversity, local wisdom, and human resources.
"A variety of traditional Indonesian fabrics with philosophical values have become sources of creativity for Indonesian Muslim fashion designers and business players that other countries do not have. This is the key to realizing Indonesia as the world's Muslim fashion hub by 2024," he said at the Road to Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week (JMFW) 2023 event here on Tuesday.
JMFW is a platform created by the Trade Ministry's Directorate General of National Export Development in collaboration with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).
According to Hasan, the market potential for Muslim and modest fashion is quite large. Thus, Indonesia's role must be even greater, considering that the world's Muslim population is equivalent to 25 percent of the total global population. Moreover, by 2060, it is predicted to increase to 30 percent.
In addition, purchases of modest fashion products have increased by 6.1 percent in the past four years.
At the event, the minister also held a dialogue with designers regarding the development of the Muslim fashion industry in Indonesia, the development of competence of designers and Indonesian Muslim fashion business players, as well as the support and role of the Ministry of Trade for realizing Indonesia as the world's Muslim fashion hub through JMFW 2023.
“The domestic market is important, but this is time to go global," Hasan remarked.
He affirmed that his ministry is ready to fully support efforts to turn Indonesia into a global Muslim fashion hub.
Based on data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the export value of Muslim fashion in the first half of 2022 reached US$2.85 billion, up 39.86 percent compared to the same period in 2021, when the figure was recorded at US$2.04 billion.
Meanwhile, in 2021, the country's Muslim fashion exports reached US$4.68 billion, an increase of 12.49 percent from US$4.16 billion in 2020.
However, Indonesia is still ranked 13th as the world's exporter of Muslim clothing, with a share of around 1.86 percent, which is lower than China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, the United States, Japan, Germany, Canada, and South Korea are the top five Indonesian Muslim fashion export destination countries. (antaranews)
August
Govt planning to roll out another COVID booster this year
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian Government is preparing to provide another booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in late 2022 to bolster community immunity and as part of anticipatory measures against the potential emergence of new coronavirus subvariants.
The decision on the provision of the additional booster was one of the results of the limited cabinet meeting on the evaluation of public activity restrictions (PPKM) chaired by President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin informed here the same day.
“So, we discussed with the President, at the end of the year, we will carry out vaccinations, especially for groups with low immunity," he said.
The determination of the targeted recipients for the provision of the additional booster dose will take into account the results of a serosurvey that will be held in November 2022.
“(It will determine) Which (are the) regions where immunity has decreased, then which people are at high risk. Later, we will provide vaccination to them to increase, prepare, and improve the immunity level of the community," he informed.
According to Sadikin, Indonesia must prepare to anticipate the potential emergence of new COVID-19 subvariants in Europe and the United States due to the high number of infections.
Even though currently, the seven-day moving average of daily cases is still 4,683, or relatively lower than other countries, Indonesia will face the challenge six months from now or around January–March 2023, the minister said.
"If we can face it (the challenge) like now, Indonesia will be a country that can handle the pandemic for 12 (months) in a row," he added.
For this reason, Indonesia must maintain the current level of immunity: 98.5 percent of Indonesian people have developed antibodies against COVID-19, based on the results of the serosurvey in July 2022.
He noted that the challenge of maintaining the level of immunity is different because the pace of vaccination is already sloping, and the infection rate is low.
As part of efforts to boost community immunity against COVID-19, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021.
According to data provided by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of August 23, 2022, as many as 203,146,408 Indonesians have received the first vaccine dose, 170,727,467 have been administered the second dose, and 59,658,577 have taken the third or booster dose. (Antaranews)
August
Govt preparing alternative scheme for fuel oil price: minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian Government is currently preparing an alternative scheme for adjusting the price of fuel oil, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has informed.
"(About) the scheme, the government has prepared several alternatives, and of course, we will report it to the President soon," he said at the Presidential Palace, here on Tuesday.
Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan had hinted at the possibility of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) announcing an increase in fuel prices, saying the government cannot continue to maintain the current price of diesel fuel and Pertalite (subsidized fuel).
"Because, we cannot maintain them (the prices) that way after all. To reduce the pressure on us (our state budget) due to the rising price of crude oil, we must be prepared," Pandjaitan emphasized during a public lecture on August 19, 2022.
Hartarto said the announcement regarding the fuel price adjustment is awaiting a decision on strategies.
"The announcement is waiting for the scenario taken later," he added.
For 2022, the government has set subsidies of Rp502.4 trillion for fuel, comprising energy subsidies of Rp208.9 trillion and energy compensation of Rp293.5 trillion. Currently, only 6 million kiloliters of subsidized Pertalite is left out of the 23 million kiloliter quota allocated until the end of 2022.
Furthermore, the government has estimated that Pertalite will run out in October 2022, so there is a need for additional volumes, including subsidized diesel fuel.
The National Energy Council (DEN) has suggested two ways the government can meet the fuel subsidy target: implementing a closed distribution scheme through the use of an application and providing direct cash assistance to needy people to maintain their purchasing power.
DEN has a long-term strategy to reduce fuel imports, which includes accelerating the conversion of cars from fuel-to electricity-based. (Antaranews)
August
Youth can contribute to energy transition through green suku
Written by Nur Yasmin
Chair of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) of the Finance Ministry, Dian Lestari, has said that the younger generation can contribute to energy transition efforts by investing in green sukuk (Islamic bonds).
"If you want to be involved in sustainable financing, since 2018, the Finance Ministry has issued retail green sukuk," she informed at the G20 Bank Indonesia Stronger Fest themed “Indonesia Towards Hybrid Sustainable Finance” here on Monday.
The number of youngsters investing in green sukuk has increased in recent years, she noted.
She said she is optimistic that the awareness of the younger generation in participating in climate change mitigation and maintaining environmental sustainability will improve.
"Considering the composition of the investors, there has been a special share which comes from the millennial generation, or Generation Y," she noted.
She informed that 4,830 young people -- or 33.7 percent of the total investors — invested in the retail sukuk (SR) series SR008, which was published in 2019, although they only accounted for 17 percent of the total SR investment.
Meanwhile, amid the issuance of the SR016 series earlier in 2022, the ministry noted that almost 50 percent of investors came from the younger generation.
Furthermore, Lestari invited the younger generation to invest in the SR017 series, which is being issued by the government from August 19 to September 14, 2022.
She said her party will continue to make efforts to encourage the younger generation to invest in sustainable finance instruments.
She plans to include a green economy development curriculum in schools across Indonesia, starting from elementary schools.
Furthermore, she said she expects that environmental and sustainability aspects will always be considered in every government policy.
According to the ministry, financing from the issuance of green sukuk has been used in various green projects, such as the construction of a 727-kilometer trans-Java double-track railway, 121 solar power plants (PLTS), mini-hydro and micro-hydro power plants, as well as proper waste treatment system, which has benefitted 3.4 million families. (Antaranews)
August
Epidemiologist urges people to remain alert for monkeypox symptoms
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian Epidemiologists’ Association (PAEI) has urged citizens to remain alert for the symptoms of monkeypox in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
"Because the first case of monkeypox has been found in Indonesia, the public must know the signs or symptoms of monkeypox," head of the professional development division of PAEI, Masdalina Pane, said when contacted here on Monday.
Thus, if there are family members who experience symptoms of monkeypox, they should be taken to the nearest health facility without delay, she added.
"In the health facility, it will be ascertained whether it is monkeypox or not, and then it can be immediately followed up and handled. This is important for initial treatment," she explained.
Pane, who is also a researcher at the Center for Public Health Research of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said that all parties, including the community, have a vital role in controlling the spread of disease.
"In an effort to control a disease, all of us play an important role," she stressed.
The epidemiologist added that dissemination of information and public education need to be intensified so that people can recognize monkeypox symptoms and play an active role in preventive measures.
"The incubation period is around 5–21 days, with symptoms that vary in each patient. However, similar to other infectious diseases, in general, the symptoms are fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and typical rashes on the skin," she informed.
According to her, people must increase vigilance against the transmission of the disease.
"The most important thing is that there should be no stigma associated with this disease because it is feared that stigma will make someone who experiences symptoms afraid to report or get checked," she said.
Earlier on Saturday (August 20, 2022), the Ministry of Health announced that Indonesia's first monkeypox infection had been confirmed in a 27-year-old man in Jakarta.
The ministry reported that the patient recently traveled outside the country and presented with symptoms such as fever and rashes on his body. (Antaranews)
August
Five G20 nations agree to build vaccine manufacturing center
Written by Nur Yasmin
Five G20 members—Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, India, and South Africa—have agreed to collaborate to establish a vaccine manufacturing, treatment, and diagnostic center to mitigate future pandemics.
"To prepare for the next pandemic and global health threats, every country must have access and capacity to develop vaccines, therapies, and diagnostics (VTD) regardless of their economic status and geographical (situation)," Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said at a press conference on the 3rd Health Working Group (HWG) Meeting here on Monday.
The collaboration aims to initiate the strengthening of health tool manufacturing centers as well as the development of a global research center.
The minister said that the implementation of the initiative, which will focus on building healthcare research and manufacturing capacity in middle-income countries, will involve all G20 member countries and international organizations.
The collaboration stems from the differences in the capacity of each G20 country to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are many vaccine platforms that will be developed under the collaboration, including mRNA, viral vector, adjuvanted subunit protein, and inactivated vaccines, Sadikin informed.
Hence, transfer of technology and knowledge among the G20 countries is required to improve global access through the development of pharmaceutical manufacturing centers, he added.
An example of this is the production of Molnupiravir as an oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 in lower-middle income countries by the Medicines Patent Pool’s (MPP’s) facility.
"Such a model is important to enable technology transfer to prepare for pandemic (in the future)," the minister remarked.
The 3rd HWG meeting discussed the expansion of global vaccine, drug, and diagnostic manufacturing centers in lower-middle income countries, as well as strengthening the global network of public health researchers.
The meeting also promoted equitable access to vaccines through strengthening research and development capacities, diversifying supply chains, as well as increasing collaboration between governments, public sectors, and private sectors.
"Currently, no vaccine is produced by the government’s industry. All of them are made by private companies," the minister noted.
Currently, the challenge faced by the G20 forum is to develop and implement safe and effective diagnostics, therapies, and vaccines for the international community within a maximum of 100 days, he added.
"It can only be achieved if all countries, whether high-, middle-, or low-income countries, have the capacity to produce or have equal access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics," he emphasized.
The G20 is preparing the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data Plus (GISAID+) platform to accelerate the mitigation and collection of data on highly infectious pathogens, he added. (Antaranews)
August
Indonesia to be largest digital economy in SE Asia by 2030: Minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki has asked noodle and meatball soup vendors to join online business given that Indonesia is expected to become the largest digital economy with potential reaching Rp4,500 trillion, in Southeast Asia by 2030.
"Hence, Mr. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) understands very well that our huge digital economy in Southeast Asia must also be enjoyed by meatball soup vendors," he said here on Sunday.
Masduki said the President asked him to guide meatball noodle soup vendors to enter the digital ecosystem to grow their businesses further.
By 2024, the government is targeting 30 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enter the digital market, including 19.5 million MSMEs in 2022.
Minister Masduki is optimistic that the target will be achieved especially by the participation of noodle and meatball soup vendors.
Chairman of the Association of Chicken Noodle and Meatball Soup Vendors (Papmiso) Bambang Haryanto said 1,200 out of the 50 thousand Papmiso members are already connected to the online businesses.
Meanwhile, GoFood accommodates 62,700 food vendors and Grab Food 120,000 food vendors to offer their food products using online application.
The minister hoped that all of the 50 thousand members of Papmiso will go online in the next two years.
The Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry is ready to help noodle and meatball soup vendors to obtain business registration numbers (NIB), to facilitate access to banks to obtain capital assistance under the people's business credit (KUR) scheme, and to obtain distribution permits, and halal certificates.
On the occasion, President Jokowi opened a virtual shadow puppet show organized by Papmiso.
The event was held to celebrate the 77th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, which was attended by hundreds of noodle and meatball soup vendors from 34 provinces.
It was also enlivened by a fashion show and a free meal of three thousand bowls of meatball noodle soups for the audience.
The President advised noodle and meatball soup vendors to use digital technology so that their businesses can grow faster and even can open up job opportunities. (Antaranews)