VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Seminar and business exploration between Indonesia and Laos business player is hoped to be able to increase people to people contact between the two countries and to encourage Indonesian entrepreneur to invest abroad especially in Laos. This was stated by Indonesian Ambassador to Laos, Pratito Soeharyo while opening the Investment Forum attended by Indonesia and Laos entrepreneurs in Vientiane, on September 21, 2018. The event received good responds from Laos entrepreneurs and open an opportunity for business cooperation between the two countries. The Indonesian Embassy to Vientiane always facilitates the event to support economic diplomacy among the two countries. During the forum the two sides also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on buying and selling potassium chloride (KCL) between Lao Kaiyuan Mining Sole Co., Ltd., representing by You Mouyun and PT. Gresik Cipta Sejahtera, representing by Agung Setiya Budhi. It was expected the cooperation contract would worth US$ 5.2 million per year. 

For the first time, Indonesian consulate general in Nouméa, New Caledonia held a great performance entitled “Angklung pour l’Harmonie”. In accordance with the name, the event was aimed to strengthen relationship among all ethnics in New Caledonia. The first vice of Nouméa mayor, Jean-Pierre Delrieu, while opening the event said that Angklung has extra-ordinary philosophy. Angklung is an instrument which cannot be played alone, like human who must help one each other.The performance also involved dozen of artists not only from Indonesian community but also from Kanak, European, Walis, Chinese, and Vietnamese communities. The event which was held at Kiosque à Musique, city park was supported by Noumea hall, and great figures of Caledonia, such as Australian Consulate General, Honorable Consul of Japan, Honorable Consul of Vietnam, Head of Association of China, Representative of Directorate of Pacific Community, Vice Chairman of Congress, even French High Commissioner for New Caledonia.

Indonesian Embassy to Sofia  held Wonders of Indonesia 2018 which involved Indonesian designer, Ghea Panggabean. She was invited to perform in Sofia Fashion Week Autum 2018, by performing Regalia Nusantara fashion show which showcased various kinds of South Sumatera songkets, procession and cultural performance of Gending Sriwijaya,  and also collecting charity funds for earthquake victims in Lombok. The visitors of the event also could enjoy various Indonesian typical foods beginning from satay, rendang, yellow rice, pesmol fish, martabak, fried noodle, onde-onde until dadar gulung.The event which was held on September 21, 2018, was conducted to commemorate the 73rd independence of Indonesia and also the 62nd Indonesia – Bulgaria bilateral relation. Around 400 visitors including government, diplomatic representatives, businessmen, public and academists, showed their enthusiasmin witnessing the event. In her speech, Indonesian Ambassador of Sofia said that Bulgaria is one of Indonesia’s important partners in Balkan. Wonders of Indonesia 2018 did not only show the power of relation of the two countries but also open potential to increase better relation in the next future. Bulgaria DeputyForeign Affairs Minister also appreciated all promotion effortsconducted by Indonesian Embassy to Sofia all this time.

PT Pertamina distributed financial assistance to reconstruct some damage mosques due to earthquake in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara. This was stated by Head Terminal Operation of Pertamina, Ampenan, La Imbo, in Mataram, on Tuesday (25/9). La Imbo said the finance assistance was handed over to Head of Environment and Caretakers of mosques at Ampenan district, Mataram city. Pertamina hoped the assistance could used well and then reported in the form of document of mosque reconstruction process since it was collected by Pertamina’s workers. Communication and CSR Officer of Pertamina, East Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Edi Mangun, added that the distribution of the finance was in accordance with mechanism of state own enterprises which is regulated through direction of regent/mayor. Edi Mangun who also becomes Pertamina’s volunteer for earthquake in West Nusa Tenggara, said that currently, his party still focuses to provide assistance for the victims of the earthquake in North Lombok, and East Lombok regencies. Pertamina has moved fast to distribute the assistance one day after the earthquake shock the area. Pertamina also built 250 units temporarily homes which can be occupied by 500 families. Besides that, Pertamina also mobilized 80 volunteers in East Lombok and North Lombok.

Regional Disaster Management Agency of South Tapanuli said that the participation of all society’s element is important and really hoped in tackling every disaster. This was stated by Chief Executive of Regional Disaster Management Agency of South Tapanuli, Ilham Suhardi, to Antara in South Tapanuli on Tuesday (25/9). Law number 23/2014 on regional government, derivative presidential regulation number 2/2018, mention that National Disaster Management Agency / Regional Disaster Management Agencywere responsible to provide basic services. However, in implementing the regulation, his party tends to get constraints, beginning from limited facilities until budget. He reminded, South Tapanuli is was an area quite prone to disasters, beginning from land slide, flood, earthquake until forst and land fire.Therefore, Ilham Suhardihoped the disasters become attention of all parties. He also said sinergy among society, businesses, institution and other regional organizations have been appropriate in one step to face diaster.

District Attorney of Mamuju, West Sulawesi, guards the use of village funds in two regencies, namely Central Mamuju and Mamuju. Head of the regional Attorney, Andi Muhammad Hamka, said on Monday (24/9) that his party has conveyed to all Heads of the villages in the regions to manage their working program by asking input from the head of environment, head of neighborhood and local figure to make the finance can be used effectively in accordance with community’s designation and needs. Andi Muhammad Hamka added that all of the village finance in Mamuju and Central Mamuju have been spent well. He also said that had received report from the society on the irregularities in the use of the village funds. But, after doing investigation there was no evidence of the allegations. However, his party will keep doing supervision on the village funds management. Hamka also said the alleged corruption in Mamuju and Central Mamuju Regencies, have no strong evidence. He appreciated the people who reported the irregularities on the use of the village budget.

The Bantul Regency Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency -BPBD reported the tsunami detection radar would be installed in Parangtritis Beach area. Acting Head of Bantul BPBD, Dwi Daryanto said on last Saturday that some time ago, representatives of the Japanese Government and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had come to submit plans for installing the tsunami radar.He said, the tsunami radar whose shape is like a satellite dish would later be installed on the south coast. The place is in the west part of the Parangtritis Beach SAR Post. According to Dwi Daryanto, this radar has a sensor that is connected to the satellite. So, it can detect tsunami. He added that similar tools are also installed on the beaches of Purworejo and Cilacap. He also pointed out that the radar would detect earthquakes that could potentially cause a tsunami in southern waters. So, the information will be faster for the people to get to know, especially the early warning system.

Since 2014, the World Craft Council has established Yogyakarta as the World Batik City. Afterwards, every two years, the predicate must be reviewed whether Yogyakarta is still worthy of being the world batik city or not. This year, the WCC will review Yogyakarta as the world's batik city.Chairperson of the Yogyakarta National Craft Council (Dekranas), GKR Hemas after holding a meeting related to Jogja International Batik Biennale (JIBB) at Kepatihan Yogyakarta on Saturday said that to maintain Yogyakarta as a World Batik city, her side held JIBB which peaked from 2-6 October 2018. The activities will cover national and international symposiums and workshops on batik with the theme 'Batik for Sustainability'.According to Hemas, traditional batik must be properly inherited. She also said that many people do not understand the difference among printed batik, written batik and stamped batik. To distinguish them,, Hemas hoped that the local government has to make rules that along Malioboro, printing batik products are placed separately  in a bid to provide lessons to the community. So, batik may keep surviving. She added that next, the WCC will assess a number of aspects. Take for examples;  historical view is still strong; it’s education for young people related to batik, and batik conservation efforts. She hopes that the predicate of the City of Batik World does not move to another city.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said that Bali's revenue would increase by around Rp1.4 trillion from the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund -IMF and the World Bank.The meeting of two important institutions in the financial world has a significant impact by creating more than 30 thousand jobs.That is a very significant impact and creates around 32,700 employees. When inaugurating Tugu Ngurah Rai intersection underpass, in Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, on Saturday (22/9), Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said that the income would be obtained from expenses of accommodation, food and beverage and other needs to support the meeting. Minister Luhut, who is also Chair of the National Committee of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meeting, added that a study from the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) projects that the conference would increase economic growth in Bali. Regarding the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bali, Minister Luhut said that based on the latest data, the number of participants to be present is estimated to reach more than 19,000 people. The annual IMF and World Bank meetings will take place October 8-14 2018 at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) Nusa Dua, Badung. The participants who have confirmed to be present are finance ministers, central bank governors, entrepreneurs and investors to the media from 189 countries.

Minister of Public Works and Public Housing -PUPR, Basuki Hadimuljono attended Business Indonesia Roundtable Meeting in Madrid, Spain on Friday (21/9). The meeting is aimed at enhancing cooperation of Indonesia-Spain either at government-to-government level or business-to-business level, especially in infrastructure. One day before the meeting, Minister Basuki met leader of Duero industrial company to discuss cooperation potential in supporting supply of equipment of road safety. The result of the meeting will be followed up through more detail discussion along with related state-owned enterprises which before having cooperation with Duero in infrastructure of toll road at Balikpapan-Samarinda, East Kalimantan province and other national roads.

Indonesia still becomes the main investment destination country for Singaporean entrepreneurs. Because, it is supported by various backgrounds, such as the increase in the index of ease of doing business with a large market potential, and  a large number of available human resources. After meeting with Singaporean minister of Trade and Industry, on Sunday (23/9), Minister of Industry, Hartarto said that the government also has launched road map of Making Indonesia 4.0 as strategy and clear direction for preparedness to enter industrial revolution era of fourth generation. Therefore, the increase of Indonesia-Singapore’s cooperation is hoped to be able to get benefit each other and to be able to strengthen economy of the two countries. On semester One 2018, Singaporean investment value to Indonesia was recorded worth US$ 5.04 billion or increase 38 percent compared with similar period of the previous year. The government is active to attract Singaporean investors to industrial area of Kendal which is cooperation between Indonesian and Singaporean investors. Indonesian Ambassador to  Singapore, Ngurah Swajaya stated that  collaboration potential of Indonesia – Singapore for the next future will be established in the digital economy. One of the priorities is development of Nongsa Digital Park in Batam as concrete form of agreement of the two heads of the state to make Batam as digital bridge of Singapore to Indonesia.

The government of Indonesia and Suriname revitalized cooperation of the two countries through the 5th Mutual Commission Session of Indonesia-Suriname in Paramaribo on September 17-18, 2018. The session succeeded to revitalize not only historical and cultural attachments between Indonesia and Suriname, but also commitment of the two countries to strengthen and to encourage concrete result, especially in the field of economic and technical working. The governments of the two states are committed to enhancing cooperation in economy; one of them is through opening wider market access for products of the two countries. In addition, both countries explore form of agreement of free trade between Indonesia and Caribbean communities by using Suriname as center event in the Caribbean communities’ region. The two countries also intensify information exchanged in infrastructure and investment.  Meanwhile, in revitalizing historical and cultural attachments between Indonesia and Suriname, the both sides affirmed the need to  follow-up formation of Diaspora Institute which is initiated by Suriname, reminding that there is a major role of Javanese society descent in Suriname.