VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono has said he wants to develop Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, as a lobster cultivation center so that, in future, it can serve as a model both nationally and internationally.

"I want to make Lombok the center of lobster cultivation. Even to (ensure it meets) world class (standards). The spirit must be like that," Trenggono said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The minister said he has held dialogues with baby lobster catchers and lobster breeders in various lobster cultivation centers and directly observed floating net cages.

To support the productivity of domestic lobster cultivation, the bureaucratic process for cultivation licensing would be made easier, he informed.

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, he added, will also support setting up of facilities and infrastructure, provide assistance to cultivators, and prepare markets.

Minister Trenggono emphasized his commitment to fighting the smuggling of baby lobsters to markets abroad, and urged fishermen to not sell baby lobsters to individuals involved in illegal trade.

"If anyone wants to export baby lobsters to enrich foreigners, I will fight it. But for cultivation here, I support it to death," he remarked.

Earlier, to support the sustainability of national marine and fisheries resources, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) had declared war on the practice of smuggling baby lobsters.

"We have received directions. The point is we will take firm action against the smugglers of baby lobsters. Without compromise," acting director general of marine resources and fisheries supervision (PSDKP) at the KKP, Antam Novambar, said.

The war on the smuggling of baby lobsters includes following up on a meeting between Minister Trenggono and the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy on the issue, he added. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. The rupiah's exchange rate to the US dollar traded at the Jakarta interbank market on Wednesday morning is projected to be stable following The Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell's comments last night.

The Indonesian currency opened two points higher, or 0.01 percent, at Rp14,409 per US dollar, from Rp14,407 during the previous trade’s closure.

“Increase of the dollar index and the fall in treasury yields will potentially lift the rupiah up to its stable position. The Brent crude price dipped six percent following growing concerns on renewed lockdown in Germany. This condition will make the rupiah stable today,” Samuel Security Analyst Ahmad Mikail remarked here on Wednesday.

Mikail projected the dollar index to possibly strengthen to 92.5 today over rising concerns on a renewed lockdown in Germany and weakening euro to the US dollar. Moreover, COVID-19 daily cases are rising in Europe on account of limited vaccines.

Meanwhile, the yield on the 10-year US treasury note will potentially nosedive to 1.58 percent. Similarly, the US bond yield will decrease over rising concerns on escalating number of COVID-19 cases in Europe despite its efforts to bring about an economic recovery.

The US bond yield is currently stable at 1.6 percent, although it tended to slide after increasing over 1.7 percent, he noted.

The statements of Powell and US Finance Minister Janet Yellen at the US House Committee on Financial Services last night drove the rise of US bond yields, Mikail pointed out.

Powell stated that economic recovery in the US was already on the right track, though recovery of economic sectors impacted by COVID-19 was far from complete in addition to the persistently high number of unemployed.

“Powell’s statements pulled through the increase of US treasury,” Mikail remarked.

The rupiah’s exchange to the US dollar at the Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate (JISDOR) is projected to be stable to Rp14,400 per US dollar.

On last Tuesday (March 23), the rupiah closed 10 points higher, or 0.07 percent, to Rp14,397 per US dollar as compared to Rp14,407 per US dollar at the previous trade’s closure. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Vice President Ma'ruf Amin emphasized that the tuberculosis (TB) eradication program in Indonesia should move forward in spite of challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Commemoration of World TB Day amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a key reminder for us that TB eradication should not retreat despite the pandemic," Amin stated here on Wednesday in his speech to commemorate World TB Day.

The VP affirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic had made it tougher to eradicate TB.

"Our resources are drained to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, and this has reduced sharply the capacity to handle TB," he emphasized.

Citing a report of the World Health Organization (WHO), Amin noted that the TB case report in Indonesia has declined 25-30 percent during the January-June 2020 period.

"According to the WHO, the declining report can cause a dramatic increase in deaths due to TB," the VP stated.

The Vice President is optimistic of better coordination among all stakeholders, medical workers, and the public to thwart the spread of the disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TB is a communicable disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria that infects the human body through the respiratory tract.

The infectious disease especially affects the lungs and can also infect other body parts, such as bones and the gland.

According to the Health Ministry’s data, TB cases in Indonesia in 2020 were estimated to reach 845 thousand, though only 350 thousand cases were reported. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the passenger terminal of the Kuabang Airport in North Halmahera District, North Maluku Province.

"In the name of God, I inaugurate the passenger terminal of the Kuabang Airport in North Halmahera District, North Maluku Province," President Jokowi stated at the Kuabang Airport, North Maluku, on Wednesday.

President Jokowi made the statement after directly reviewing the development of the passenger terminal building of Kuabang Airport.

During the observation, President Jokowi was accompanied by Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Governor of North Maluku Abdul Gani Kasuba, and other related officials.

The head of state expressed belief that the airport’s construction was not only for building infrastructure but also for building civilization.

"Now, we must be disciplined to arrive on time since we come to the airport to fly to another city, and the time has been determined. If not, we will miss the flight. It also develops a new sense of discipline and builds civilization," President Jokowi emphasized.

In addition, Kuabang Airport is expected to offer economic benefits to the community.

"Hence, I warmly welcome, thank God, this passenger terminal at the Kuabang Airport that is ready to support the activities of the people of North Halmahera and its surroundings, and we hope that new centers of economic growth will emerge around this airport," the president added.

Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi noted that the Kuabang Airport had a runway length of 2,400 meters.

"The length of the runaway spanning 2,400 meters is quite big and adequate for connectivity to boost tourism and economic activity. This airport is complementary to the Sultan Babullah Airport in Ternate," Sumadi stated.

With a runway measuring 2,400 meters long and 30 meters wide, the Kuabang Airport can accommodate narrow-bodied aircraft.

The Kuabang Airport’s passenger terminal, built with the state budget worth Rp50.82 billion, has an area of 3,500 square meters that can accommodate up to 160 thousand passengers annually.

The airport also has a 100 x 23 meter taxiway and a 157 x 72 meter parking runway (apron) that can accommodate three ATR aircraft and one Boeing aircraft.

Kuabang Airport functions as an alternative to the Sultan Babullah Airport in Ternate that is located close to Sofifi, the capital of North Maluku Province.

The Sultan Babullah Ternate Airport, located in proximity to the active Mount Gamalama and Mount Dukono, often experiences operational disruptions owing to frequent eruptions of the two mountains.

The Kuabang Airport, located 85 kilometers from Sofifi, is considered strategic and not affected by the eruption from the two mountains, so the Ministry of Transportation considers this airport to be feasible to be developed.

Kuabang Airport is one of the entrances by air into North Halmahera District deemed crucial to open accessibility and connectivity from and to North Halmahera District that has several mainstay natural and marine tourism destinations, such as Luari Beach, Tupu-Tupu Marine Park, Tagalaya and Pawole, Kakara Island, Bobale Island, the small islands of Loloda, and Panamboang Beach.

Moreover, this airport has the potential to serve people and goods as well as to support gold mining operations in the Gosowong area, North Halmahera District, which is managed by mining company PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals. (Antaranews)