VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta: The United States Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Yohannes Abraham promotes growth and prosperity of people on both sides.

"Under Indonesia's leadership, we are pursuing growth and prosperity for all of our people while promoting ASEAN centrality and its critical role in the regional architecture," Abraham stated at an event marking the 274th Year of American Independence, here on Tuesday.

He believes that under Indonesia's leadership, the US-ASEAN partnership will be able to overcome challenges and opportunities in the 21st century, from climate change to health security and the economy.

The partnership is also expected to support a free and open Indo-Pacific, the rule of law, and a rules-based regional and global architecture that stands up for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity for all nations.

He considered the past year to be a very positive one for the US-ASEAN partnership. Hence, he was grateful to be able to work with Indonesia and other member countries in the region.

"We are particularly pleased and grateful to be able to have elevated our already long-standing relationship with ASEAN to a comprehensive strategic partnership last year," he affirmed.

Abraham underscored the importance of people-to-people contacts, both between people of the U.S. and Indonesia or with people throughout the region.

Abraham also said he was highly pleased to be able to establish relationships with youth across the region through the Southeast Asia Young Leaders Initiative (YSEALI).

Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN for the Political-Security Community Robert Matheus Michael Tene stated that the US-ASEAN partnership had contributed to community building and ASEAN centrality through the existing mechanisms.

Hence, the ASEAN looks forward to further cooperation to realize a strategic and comprehensive partnership.

"The Secretariat stands ready to work closely with the US mission to ASEAN and all ASEAN member states in our efforts to deepen our ties for mutual benefit," he remarked. (antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta: Ambassador of the United States of America Sung Yong Kim accentuated a stronger partnership with Indonesia in keeping with the celebration of the 247th Year of American Independence on July 4, 2023.

"For me, the most exciting part of our partnership is the enormous potential for us to do much more together," Ambassador Sung stated while giving a speech at the event here on Tuesday.

The theme of American Independence for this year is "Red, White and Bluegrass, Celebrating the 247th Year of American Independence and Our Culture of Diversity" that shows unity and diversity as the greatest strengths of the U.S., according to Sung.

The commemoration reminded him of the importance of the foundations of democracy that are built through tolerance, freedom, and diversity.

The commemoration also aims to celebrate the strategic partnership between Indonesia and the U.S. for prosperity of the two countries.

"Together, we are advancing inclusive economic growth and environmental protection," he affirmed.

The partnership is also to enhance regional security and jointly protect the common goal of realizing a free, prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Indo-Pacific.

However, Sung believes there was still vast potential for cooperation that could be explored between the U.S. and Indonesia. Hence, the ambassador expects a stronger partnership between the two countries.

"I want to convey my sincere wishes for an endless partnership for the increased mutual benefit of our governments," he affirmed.

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated that the U.S. was one of Indonesia's most important partners for decades.

Hence, ahead of the 75th anniversary of Indonesia-U.S. diplomatic relations, he emphasized the importance of strengthening relations in order to overcome dynamic political and economic situations and to lay a solid foundation for current and future developments.

"Both Indonesia and the U.S. should explore innovative means to enhance our partnership to a new level," he concluded. (antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta: Indonesia strives to preserve the nation’s downstreaming policy despite the dispute over its nickel ore export ban, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Tuesday.

The executive directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have asked Indonesia to consider phasing out export restrictions and not extending the restrictions to other commodities.

In a statement released on June 25, 2023, IMF said it welcomed Indonesia’s ambitions to increase value added in exports, attract foreign direct investment, and support the transfer of skills and technology.

However, the agency also noted that policies should be informed by further cost-benefit analysis and designed to minimize cross-border spillovers.

The European Union (EU) had earlier filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Indonesia's policy banning nickel ore exports, starting early 2020.

The WTO's dispute settlement body announced that Indonesia had violated the regulations.

"We will continue to appeal (the WTO ruling against the nickel ore export ban)," Hartarto told mediapersons in Jakarta.

He added that Indonesia's efforts to appeal the WTO ruling will not only seek to strive for the nation's right to downstream, but also to liberate Indonesia from new types of colonialism.

According to him, the IMF's recommendation to continue nickel exports is a form of "imperialism," adding that no country should force their will on other countries.

He emphasized that he will continue to defend Indonesia's right to obtain added value from commodities and phase out nickel exports. (antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia's marine economy has a lot of room to grow and the country could become a high-income country in the next few years, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut B. Pandjaitan has said.

According to Pandjaitan, in 2045, the contribution of the marine sector to the national economy would rise by twofold and continue to grow.

At the opening of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum here on Tuesday, he said that given the current trend, he believes that Indonesia would become a high-income country in 10 years.

If this continues, within the next three decades, Indonesia could become a developed country, he added.

One of the marine results that can be developed is seaweed cultivation, which is being pursued in Buleleng, Bali, he informed.

The development of seaweed is important because it can serve as a biofuel, fertilizer, and food. It can also clean the sea and capture carbon emissions.

Moreover, Indonesia has more than 200 seaweed species, but only three species are currently being developed.

According to Pandjaitan, this is where entrepreneurs in the marine and maritime sector can play an important role.

This is because they can act as the main drivers of economic growth in the blue sector, create new jobs, and contribute to the income and prosperity of shoreline residents.

In addition, to achieve that goal, a conducive system for innovation and investment in the blue sector needs to be created.

Meanwhile, one of the main topics discussed at the AIS Forum was plastic waste in the sea. Pandjaitan said that within the next 3 years, Indonesia will process almost 30 thousand tons of waste per day.

According to the minister, this is an extraordinary step from Indonesia to remove plastic waste entering the sea.

This will put Indonesia at the forefront of sea clean-up efforts. So far, the country has managed to reduce the volume of plastic waste entering the sea by 27 percent, he informed.

In addition, 600 thousand hectares of mangroves are also being restored and 400 thousand hectares of them have already been replanted.

This serves as a good example for fellow island states, especially countries in the Pacific that may be affected by the 1.5 degrees rise in the earth’s temperature, which has caused the sea level to rise.  (Antaranews)