VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mar. 18 - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) branch in Papua Province handed out relief aid to the people of Sugapa in Intan Jaya District to placate their burden following terror acts by armed groups.

Day-to-day chief of the PMI branch Zakeus Degei in the company of Chief of the PMI branch in Intan Jaya, Agus Tapani, distributed relief assistance in the form of basic necessities to the residents of Sugapa.

"The PMI is cooperating with ICRC (the International Committee of the Red Cross) (in distributing the relief aid). The ICRI provides the relief aid, while PMI distributes it to the residents," Degei noted in a written statement released on Wednesday .

Degei affirmed that the PMI did not discriminate against tribes and races in distributing relief aid.

The Social Affairs Ministry had earlier also offered aid packages worth Rp172.3 million to the people of Irtan Jaya. The aid constituted 660 packaged food boxes, 420 kid food packs, 100 folding tents, 200 folding mattresses, and 300 blankets, she added.

The Papua provincial administration is working relentlessly to restore normalcy in Intan Jaya that has borne witness to a spate in violence against civilians and security personnel in the past two years.  (Antaranews)

Mar. 18 - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, met with the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Shri Manoj Kumar Bharti, to discuss plans for reopening tourism in Bali.

“We discussed the plan for reopening tourism in Bali by facilitating direct flights from India. Currently, we are finalizing our preparations towards that plan and for some other potential cooperations, including those in terms of investment, trade, as well as tourism and creative economy,” Uno said in Badung district on Wednesday.

Trade and investment have been included in the scope of tourism and creative economy as part of attempts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and to raise spirits and spread hope, he remarked.

Uno further pointed out that bilateral relations between Indonesia and India must be strengthened to help citizens move forward. The two nations have enjoyed friendly relations since the early post-independence era, he said.

“This cooperation potentially promotes chances for tourism in Bali to rise, so Indonesia’s economy can be recovered,” he remarked.

During their meeting, Uno and Bharti also discussed the preparation of a travel bubble under strict health protocols; provision of mass vaccinations, especially in the three green zones of Nusa Dua, Sanur, and Ubud; and, emphasized testing, tracing, and treatment.

“Mr. Ambassador Bharti has expressed confidence to start direct flights through a travel corridor arrangement concept,” Uno revealed.

Meanwhile, Indian envoy to Indonesia, Shri Manoj Kumar Bharti, said the discussion with Minister Uno was intended to examine any possibilities for aiding a recovery in Bali’s economy, which still depends heavily on the tourism sector.

He also welcomed Indonesia’s COVID-19 vaccination program, particularly in Bali, where President Joko Widodo has also paid a visit and set the target of inoculating two million Balinese people by the middle of this year.

“I expect Indian citizens are confident enough to start visiting Bali after this Island of God is reopened to welcome international travelers,” the envoy remarked. (Antaranews)

Mar. 18 - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir targets PT Bank Syariah Indonesia Tbk (BSI) to rank among the world's top 10 Islamic banks, as its assets surpassed Rp240 trillion.

"Owing to this merger, Bank Syariah Indonesia has assets of more than Rp240 trillion and is targeted to be included in the top 10 Islamic banks in the world. Hence, we pray for and continue to support the management of BSI to be able to realize the noble ideals in order to create a comprehensive sharia ecosystem not only in Indonesia but also in the world," Thohir noted in a discussion at ISEI Jakarta, Wednesday.

Although in comparison with other nations, Indonesia began implementing the Islamic financial system rather late, but as a country, with the largest Muslim population, it has its own advantages.

"Indonesia is projected to have a population of 184 million Muslim adults, of which over 50 percent are from the upper middle class and most work in the private sector," he expounded.

The general chair of the Sharia Economic Community also expounded that Islamic financial services are growing at a swift pace even as the pandemic ploughs on.

Islamic banking assets in 2020 grew by 10.9 percent, while conventional ones only clocked a 7.7-percent growth.

Likewise with third-party funds, Islamic banking recorded an increase of 11.56 percent, slightly superior to conventional banks that registered a rise of 11.49 percent.

"In terms of financing, Islamic banking recorded the largest growth of 9.4 percent, far ahead of conventional banking that only grew by 0.55 percent. In addition, market share of the Islamic capital market has reached 17.39 percent, and the number of cooperatives for savings and loans and sharia financing reaches 4115 units," the minister noted.

On the other hand, Thohir believes that the development of Islamic economics and finance in Indonesia also drew accolades from the international community during 2020.

This was apparent from the Islamic Finance Development Report 2020 that placed Indonesia in the second place globally and the Global Islamic Economy Indicator 2020 that placed Indonesia in the fourth position globally.

To achieve this target, the minister highlighted the importance of strong coordination between all stakeholders, including with communities and religious groups.

Furthermore, strengthening the halal value chain, Islamic finance, MSMEs, and digital sector are the four key strategies of the digital economy society.

"As a country with the largest Muslim population in the world coupled with the determination to work with morals, God willing, we will be able to respond to all challenges and be able to turn opportunities into prudent and sustainable growth," he affirmed. (Antaranews)

Mar. 18 - The Indonesian economy must grow between 6-7 percent for the nation to escape the middle-income trap, Minister of National Development Planning and head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Suharso Monoarfa, said.

"Economic growth must average at least 7 percent starting 2022 so that we can escape the middle-income trap," he said during a working meeting with Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Wednesday.

If economic growth averages 6 percent, Indonesia will escape the middle-income trap, with per capita income projected to reach US$12,535 in 2020, he said.

An economic growth of 5 percent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be enough for Indonesia to escape the middle-income trap before 2045, he projected. Accordingly, the unemployment rate will not be able to return to the pre-crisis level, he added.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decline in the per capita gross domestic product (GDP), he said. The GDP fell to US$3,927.26 in 2018, moved up to US$4,174.53 in 2019, and then dipped to US$3,911.72 in 2020.

Meanwhile, per capita gross national income (GNI) declined to US$3,810.23 in 2018, then climbed to US$4,047.62 in 2019 before falling to US$3,806.37 in 2020.

Looking at these figures, Indonesia is expected to return to the category of lower-middle income country, the minister remarked.

With the Indonesian economy expected to grow 5 percent after contracting 2.07 percent, the nation will be able to return to upper middle-income country status in 2022, he added.

Indonesia’s 2.07-percent economic contraction is relatively small compared to that in the US (minus 3.5 percent, China (minus 6.1 percent), Mexico (minus 8.3 percent), and the Philippines (minus 9.5 percent), he noted.

The key to higher economic growth is controlling the spread of COVID-19 until the country can achieve herd immunity, he said. (Antaranews)