VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The governments of Indonesia and the United States (US) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on infrastructure and trade funding worth US $ 750 million.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Indonesian Ambassador (Ambassador) to the US Muhammad Lutfi representing the Government of Indonesia and President of Exim Bank AS Kimberly Reed, witnessed by the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC, Wednesday (18 / 11) local time.

Ambassador Lutfi explained that the RI-US bilateral relationship is based on shared values ​​in realizing prosperity for the people of the two countries, advancing democracy and regional stability.

"This MoU will further strengthen the RI-US economic partnership to expand the fields of investment cooperation and procurement of goods and services," Ambassador Lutfi said in a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC which received in Jakarta, Thursday.

The MoU affirms the commitment of the two countries to strengthen economic cooperation, especially in the field of investment and trade development funding with a value of up to 750 million US dollars.

This figure is an increase from the previous agreement value of US $ 500 million in 2017-2018.

Coordinating Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who witnessed the signing of the MoU, expressed his optimism for bilateral relations between Indonesia and the US, with latest achievement including the extension of the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) facility for Indonesia, and the commitment of US participation in infrastructure development in Indonesia.

While the President of the US Exim Bank, Kimberly Reed, emphasized that the agreement is a significant achievement to strengthen the participation of Uncle Sam's country in Indonesia's development in the energy, infrastructure, transportation, information technology and communication, health services, and the environment.

"This MoU reflects how important Indonesia is to the US government," said Kimberly.

The MoU is also considered to expand opportunities for Indonesia and the US to work together in the procurement of goods and services for government projects.

In addition, it is also expected to encourage business development opportunities, including in the infrastructure, transportation, energy, mining supply chain infrastructure, environment, communication and information technology, safety and security, health services, and geospatial information sectors. (Antaranews)

The foreign policy that is being carried out by Indonesia means that this country has no difficulty in establishing communication and negotiating the COVID-19 vaccine with various countries, according to officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The head of the COVID-19 Task Force at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Tumpal, said that so far Indonesia could freely carry out diplomacy for vaccine procurement in the midst of a number of large countries that were in competition for vaccine development.

"Free and active politics is not a figment, for example, for this vaccine we are now talking to the United States, Britain, China, and others, I don't see any problems. We are very comfortable moving anywhere," said Daniel, in a discussion event at Jakarta, Wednesday.

Indonesia has secured access to the COVID-19 vaccine from several parties, for example, from China and the United Arab Emirates - which was obtained through direct visits by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and BUMN Minister Erick Thohir in the middle of this year.

"And in the end, our national interest [...] is that we learn about technology transfer through this pandemic," said Daniel, who also serves as the Director of Africa of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The effort to procure the COVID-19 vaccine under the current pandemic situation is one of the three points of refocusing the work priorities of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indonesian Representatives abroad, especially to help the government manage the outbreak through health diplomacy.

"In the short and long term, three issues - diagnostic, therapeutic, and vaccines - will color our diplomacy on health issues," said Daniel.

Diagnostic capabilities, such as procuring PCR tests or rapid tests, have previously been Indonesia's first step in handling pandemics.

And in this case, according to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as of November 17, 2020, his party has facilitated 120 international supports worth 135.28 million US dollars (around Rp1.9 trillion).

"In the future, for the long term (health diplomacy), we will target the issue of medicinal raw materials," said Daniel. (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is optimistic that COVID-19 vaccines would arrive in late November or December this year.

"Regarding the vaccines, we are upbeat about these vaccines arriving at the end of November. We will try. If it cannot be done, then they will come in December," Jokowi remarked during a visit to Tanah Sareal Puskesmas, or community health center, here on Wednesday.

Accompanied by Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto and Mayor of Bogor Aria Bima, the president remarked that the vaccines, expected to arrive, could be in the form of finished vaccine or raw materials to be processed at state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma Bandung.

The head of state emphasized that all vaccines to be administered must be registered on the vaccine list at the World Health Organization (WHO). "This is mandatory," he affirmed.

The vaccines are purchased from companies, whose brands are registered with the WHO, he pointed out.

"I did not mention the brands, but they must be on the WHO list," he stated.

After the arrival and receipt of vaccines in Indonesia, they will undergo several stages in the Indonesian Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) prior to being allowed for administration.

"An emergency user is still needed, and this stage will take about three weeks," he remarked.

Only after obtaining permission from the BPOM will the vaccination be conducted.

"However, I have also mentioned that these scientific principles must be followed," he noted.

The president emphasized that implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination must prioritize the factors of safety and security of people. (Antaranews)

The process of developing Indonesia's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, named after the national flag of Red and White, is being expedited and is expected to be ready for production by the end of 2021.

The research and development team for the Red and White Vaccine has been accelerating the development of the vaccine by working in parallel, Deputy for Fundamental Research of the Eijkman Institute Prof. Herawati Sudoyo Supolo stated during a discussion of Merdeka Barat 9 Forum, monitored online here on Wednesday.

"We do not do it one by one, as usually people develop vaccines, but everything is done in parallel," she noted.

Supolo explained that the Red and White Vaccine was being developed using a recombinant protein platform from a part or sub-unit of the SARS CoV 2 virus.

The team conducted genome sequencing from the virus and thereafter extracted the genes from the spike protein present in the virus to be reproduced and used as vaccine seeds.

Her team is using a recombinant protein platform for vaccine production since they are accustomed to using it to speed up the working process.

"Vaccine development involves a very complex process. It has to go through a preclinical phase in the laboratory after which the vaccine seeds are given to the industry, which is actually a lengthy process. However, due to the acceleration, we can overlap. What we have done together is done as quickly as possible but is safe and effective," she remarked.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Ali Ghufron Mukti, chairman of the COVID-19 Research and Innovation Consortium of the Ministry of Research and Technology/National Agency for Research and Innovation, noted that development of the Red and White Vaccine is being conducted jointly with several universities and other research institutions in Indonesia.

This aims to expedite development of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Indonesians, so that the country could become self-reliant.

"Not only the Eijkman Institute, but also LIPI, Unair, IPB, UGM, and UI can develop the Red and White Vaccine with different platforms," he stated.

Development of the Red and White vaccine is expected to be completed by Indonesian researchers at the end of 2020 or early 2021. Furthermore, the phase one, two, and three clinical trial process until the issuance of Emergency Use Authorization by BPOM, the Drug and Food Control Agency, will be conducted throughout 202. (Antaranews)