VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - The Ministry of Youth and Sports has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Microsoft-powered Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC) to enhance Indonesia's sports achievements through industry development.

The signing of the MoU took place on Monday, with Surono, the Deputy for Sports Achievement Improvement at the ministry, and Iris Cordoba, the General Manager of GSIC, signing the document.

"GSIC, directly from Microsoft's headquarters, has come to digitally develop the sports industry and sports science in Indonesia," stated Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo in a statement.

He expressed his hope that the incorporation of sports science would support Indonesian sports in reaching global-level targets, as well as contribute to the growth of the sports industry in the country.

GSIC, a leading sports innovation center in Europe, focuses exclusively on bringing the latest technological advancements to all aspects of the sports industry.

The collaboration between the ministry and GSIC aims to promote the sports industry and innovation in Indonesia, with a particular emphasis on education, innovation, and transformation.

The agreed-upon scope of cooperation primarily centers around the development of Indonesia's sports industry through educational programs.

It also includes the establishment of an experience center to encourage the adoption of sports technology, as well as the facilitation and support of the sports ecosystem's development and digitalization in Indonesia. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Nusantara National Capital (IKN) Authority is planning to establish a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) and Cultural Arts Center in Indonesia’s future capital Nusantara, East Kalimantan, to strengthen the local economy and culture.

"The MSME and Cultural Center will be located in a rest area near Point Zero of Nusantara, thus visitors can buy souvenirs," the deputy for social, culture, and community empowerment at the IKN Authority, Alimuddin, said on Monday.

At first, the center will exhibit cultural arts from 10 districts/cities of East Kalimantan province, he informed.

Later, various cultural arts from other areas in the Kalimantan region will be showcased at the center, he added.

His party is also planning to invite other regions across Indonesia to exhibit their own cultural arts to help preserve the national culture as well as improve the local economy.

Regarding the cost of accommodating other regions in a cultural show, Alimuddin said that the issue has been discussed by his party.

However, he assured that the IKN Authority, as the host of the event, will support the regions well.

In the near future, he said that his party will also conduct several competitions in Nusantara with a theme that highlights Indonesia’s national motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).

Alimuddin said that the IKN Authority has continued to coordinate with several parties in Nusantara to carry out competitions since currently, a number of development projects are still being implemented there.

He added that his party is also developing a number of strategic tour packages in collaboration with several travel agencies to draw visitors to Nusantara.

Earlier, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) assured that the development of the IKN will continue regardless of whoever wins the 2024 presidential and vice-presidential general election.

The IKN Authority is the executive institution established by the Indonesian government to manage and govern Nusantara. It works directly under the President of Indonesia.

  (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Arsjad Rasjid assured that the ASEAN region is a promising investment destination for South Korea.

This was conveyed by Rasjid, who along with the ASEAN-BAC delegation, conducted a roadshow in Seoul, South Korea, on June 7-9, 2023, within the framework of Indonesia's leadership in the ASEAN-BAC 2023.

"ASEAN has many advantages as compared to other regions. ASEAN's geographic location is very strategic. We also have competitive human resources, abundant natural resources, and a broad market," he noted in a statement in Jakarta, Monday.

Rasjid said that South Korea, as an ASEAN-BAC dialogue partner, continues to increase bilateral cooperation with ASEAN countries.

In fact, the Country of Ginseng views Southeast Asia as one of the regions with huge potential for economic growth as well as attractive markets for products and services, especially in the information and technology, manufacturing, renewable energy, infrastructures, tourism, and consumer sectors.

"We are on the same path and goal to continue to promote increased investment and trade in ASEAN. One of them is in terms of EV and also the use of digital transactions, such as QR codes," the Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated.

Rasjid also commended the strong support from the South Korean Government in the efforts to create an electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia, which was marked by the launch of the limited edition Ioniq 5 electric vehicle in March 2022. Currently, Hyundai is also building a new EV-specific battery system factory, namely Hyundai Mobis, which is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2024.

"Hyundai Group has invested US$60 million to build a factory as the basis for the Hyundai Mobis business, which is focused on the ASEAN market. It is very proud that the Genesis G80 and Ioniq 5 electric vehicles were designated by the Indonesian Government as official vehicles at the G20 Summit in Bali in 2022," he remarked.

Furthermore, while in South Korea, Rasjid also met several government officials and prominent businesspersons.

He also specifically invited them to attend the 2023 ASEAN Business & Investment Summit (ABIS) and the 2023 ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) in Jakarta on September 3-4, 2023.

In addition, at the meeting with South Korean businessmen, Rasjid offered various investment opportunities in Indonesia, especially in the areas of energy transition, health, digital economy, and the construction of Nusantara's National Capital (IKN) mega project.

Rasjid said Indonesia is the only country that has a special strategic partnership with South Korea among ASEAN countries.

He noted that this special partnership had led to an agreement to create an electric vehicle (EV) and battery ecosystem.

Likewise, ASEAN-BAC Deputy Chair Bernardino Vega revealed that Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) is around 80 percent of South Korea and the total stock market capitalization in Indonesia is only some 30 percent of that in South Korea.

"This is an opportunity that we must make the most of. Indonesia currently has around 4.6 million stock investors, which account for less than two percent of the total population. This shows that there is still considerable growth potential," he affirmed. (Antaranews)

Taiwan's air force scrambled into action on Sunday after spotting 10 Chinese warplanes crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as the island's defence ministry said four Chinese warships also carried out combat patrols.

This is the second time in less than a week that Taiwan has reported renewed Chinese military activity, after 37 Chinese military aircraft on Thursday flew into the island's air defence zone, some of which then flew into the western Pacific.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has over the past three years regularly flown its air force into the skies near the island, though not into Taiwan's territorial air space.

In a short statement, Taiwan's defence ministry said that as of 2 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Sunday it had detected 24 Chinese air force planes, including J-10, J-11, J-16 and Su-30 fighters, as well as H-6 bombers.

It did not specify where the aircraft flew but said 10 had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates the two sides and had previously served as an unofficial barrier. China says it does not recognise that and has been routinely crossing it since last year.

Four Chinese naval ships were also engaged in "joint combat readiness patrols", the ministry added, without giving details.

Taiwan sent up its own fighters and deployed ships and land-based missile systems to keep watch, it said, using typical wording for how it responds to such Chinese activities.

China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It has not commented on Thursday's flights.

China has previously said such missions are to protect the country's sovereignty and aimed at "collusion" between Taiwan and the United States, the island's most important international backer and arms seller.

In April, China held war games around Taiwan following a trip to the United States by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.

Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan, which is gearing up for presidential and parliamentary elections in January, under its control.

In a Sunday video address to supporters on the Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands close to the Chinese coast, Taiwan's Vice President William Lai said he would do his best to "stabilise the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait" if he wins the presidency, his campaign office said.

Lai is running as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's candidate. Tsai cannot run again due to term limits.

Tsai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed as Beijing views her and her party as separatists.

Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, which manages the unofficial relationship between Washington and Taipei, visited Taiwan last week and meet all three presidential candidates. (Reuters)