VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Research and Technology Minister Bambang P. S. Brodjonegoro believes that the virtual Indonesia Innovation Expo 2020 will boost the downstream of research and innovation products for the development of the nation.

"This event is aimed at encouraging the downstreaming of research and innovation products to realize the nation's self-sufficiency," Brodjonegoro stated at the launch of the virtual exhibition on Tuesday.

During the exhibition, the minister noted that buyers can purchase various innovative products from the innovators.

President Joko Widodo virtually opened the expo that was attended by some ministers.

The exhibition showcased a plethora of innovative products involving all stakeholders in Indonesia's research and innovation ecosystem.

On the occasion, the minister also opened the Artificial Intelligence Summit 2020 and conferred the Indonesia Innovation Award and the Habibie Prize 2020.

The Indonesia Innovation Expo 2020 is a virtual exhibition marking the conclusion of the commemoration of the 25th National Technology Awakening Day.

The event is divided into two categories: an interactive exhibition on November 10-13 and a static exhibition to be held from November 14 to December 10.

"At this event, we can see various innovative products from research, development and application institution, ministries, as well as universities, industry, public, and international partners," the minister stated.

Brodjonegoro affirmed that the expo was a testament to the close integration between the research institution and the community in Indonesia, as it had pooled various activities, including the Artificial Intelligence Summit 2020, Nuclear Expo 2020, and Indonesia Science Expo 2020.

The Indonesia Innovation Expo 2020 is also enlivened by a seminar, workshop, and discussions with researchers and innovators, virtual tour to laboratories and research facilities, virtual consultation, and innovation competition. (Antaranews)

The 2nd Indonesia-Latin America and Caribbean (INA-LAC) business forum, which was held from November 9 to 11 this year, resulted in business deals worth US$71.02 million (around Rp1 trillion).

"The value of this transaction is double compared to the achievements of the 2019 INA-LAC," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said during a media briefing, here on Tuesday.

A number of products were covered in the business transactions, including furniture, handicrafts, souvenirs, tires, food and beverages, coconut charcoal, and products made by Indonesian MSMEs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with several other ministries and agencies, organized the INA-LAC forum to facilitate interaction between Indonesian businessmen and their counterparts in the Latin American and Caribbean regions, which have so far been considered remote due to their geographical distance.

"This activity is part of economic diplomacy to diversify Indonesia's export markets, especially during the pandemic," Marsudi remarked.

Several cooperation agreements were inked during the series of INA-LAC meetings, including an MoU on Halal Product Guarantee between Indonesia and Chile, an MoU on cooperation between PT Sarinah (Persero) and Dufry International AG and Grupo Industrial Omega SA de CV, an MoU on cooperation between Naza Art Furniture and CAMCO Rattan Muebles, an MoU on cooperation between PT INUKI (Persero) and ININ Mexico, and an MoU on cooperation between the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) with AHORA of Peru.

The virtual event also facilitated 31 business meetings between company representatives, the signing of a cooperation agreement between Brazil's BADAX and the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI) for the opening of an Indonesian Outlet (Indonesia Trading House) in Brazil, as well as a business agreement between BADAX and Kokola Group from Indonesia.

At the forum, which was attended by more than 500 Indonesian and Latin American and Caribbean businessmen, the Indonesian Foreign Minister also launched the official website of the INA-LAC Business Forum.

The website provides business information and details of potential export products for Indonesia as well as 108 investment projects in several provinces

"Through this activity and the launch of a digital platform, interaction between entrepreneurs will continue to be facilitated. Hence, it would increase the value of Indonesia's trade with 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean," Marsudi said. (Antaranews)

The 2nd Indonesia-Latin America and Caribbean (INA-LAC) business forum, which was held from November 9 to 11 this year, resulted in business deals worth US$71.02 million (around Rp1 trillion).

"The value of this transaction is double compared to the achievements of the 2019 INA-LAC," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said during a media briefing, here on Tuesday.

A number of products were covered in the business transactions, including furniture, handicrafts, souvenirs, tires, food and beverages, coconut charcoal, and products made by Indonesian MSMEs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with several other ministries and agencies, organized the INA-LAC forum to facilitate interaction between Indonesian businessmen and their counterparts in the Latin American and Caribbean regions, which have so far been considered remote due to their geographical distance.

"This activity is part of economic diplomacy to diversify Indonesia's export markets, especially during the pandemic," Marsudi remarked.

Several cooperation agreements were inked during the series of INA-LAC meetings, including an MoU on Halal Product Guarantee between Indonesia and Chile, an MoU on cooperation between PT Sarinah (Persero) and Dufry International AG and Grupo Industrial Omega SA de CV, an MoU on cooperation between Naza Art Furniture and CAMCO Rattan Muebles, an MoU on cooperation between PT INUKI (Persero) and ININ Mexico, and an MoU on cooperation between the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) with AHORA of Peru.

The virtual event also facilitated 31 business meetings between company representatives, the signing of a cooperation agreement between Brazil's BADAX and the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI) for the opening of an Indonesian Outlet (Indonesia Trading House) in Brazil, as well as a business agreement between BADAX and Kokola Group from Indonesia.

At the forum, which was attended by more than 500 Indonesian and Latin American and Caribbean businessmen, the Indonesian Foreign Minister also launched the official website of the INA-LAC Business Forum.

The website provides business information and details of potential export products for Indonesia as well as 108 investment projects in several provinces.

"Through this activity and the launch of a digital platform, interaction between entrepreneurs will continue to be facilitated. Hence, it would increase the value of Indonesia's trade with 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean," Marsudi said. 

Pfizer Inc's PFE.N experimental COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective based on initial trial results, the drugmaker said on Monday, a major victory in the war against a virus that has killed over a million people and battered the world's economy.

Scientists, public health officials, and investors welcomed the first successful interim data from a large-scale clinical test as a watershed moment that could help turn the tide of the pandemic if the full trial results pan out. However, mass roll-outs, which needs regulatory approval, will not happen this year and several vaccines are seen as necessary to meet massive global needs.

Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE 22UAy.F said they had found no serious safety concerns yet and expected to seek U.S. emergency use authorization this month, raising the chance of a regulatory decision as soon as December.

If granted, the companies estimate they can roll out up to 50 million doses this year, enough to protect 25 million people, and then produce up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021.

“Today is a great day for science and humanity,” said Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla, noting the data milestone comes with “infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen.”

Experts said they wanted to see the full trial data, but the preliminary results looked encouraging.

“This news made me smile from ear to ear. It is a relief to see such positive results on this vaccine and bodes well for COVID-19 vaccines in general,” said Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases at the University of Oxford.

There are still many questions, such as how effective the vaccine is by ethnicity or age and how long immunity may last.

“But the bottom line is, as a vaccine it’s more than 90% effective, which is extraordinary,” top U.S. infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN.

Pfizer expects to seek U.S. emergency use authorization for people aged 16 to 85. To do so, it will need two months of follow-up safety data to assure no side effects crop up. That is expected to be available in the third week of November.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said it would take several weeks for U.S. regulators to receive and process the data before a potential approval. (Reuters)

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan emphasized that the mangrove ecosystem rehabilitation program will be carried out in a measured and integrated manner and will involve multi-parties, both strategic partners in the country to international institutions abroad.

The Indonesian government, according to Luhut, in a written statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, has committed to rehabilitating 600,000 hectares in the next four years, namely 2020-2024 by involving multi-stakeholders.

Based on the presentation from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia currently has a mangrove area of ​​3.31 million hectares, of which 637,624 hectares are in a critical condition, so it is necessary to restore the ecosystem.

Mangrove ecosystem restoration is very important to do because the area of ​​mangroves in Indonesia has reached 20 percent of the total distribution of mangroves in the world.

"Management of this mangrove ecosystem must be measured and integrated, including rehabilitation and intensive mangrove labor programs," said Luhut in a virtual coordination meeting regarding the program, Tuesday.

"The mangrove management program will focus on building a mega mangrove project in three locations including for mangrove nurseries," Luhut added.

The plan is for mangrove rehabilitation to be carried out in mangrove ecosystems with rare and very rare canopy densities.

The rehabilitation will use various sources of funding, including increasing the state budget allocation through funding assistance from the World Bank, support from strategic partners such as the governments of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Germany, as well as the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds and the Green Port program for SOEs.

"Funding for the mangrove ecosystem management program needs to be supported by multi-stakeholders, including from international institutions and Indonesia's strategic partners," said Luhut in a virtual coordination meeting regarding the program, Tuesday.

Luhut also emphasized the importance of integration and coordination between related ministries and agencies to make the mangrove rehabilitation program a success.

"Everything must be integrated, so everyone moves together. We will continue to monitor it, and I hope that in the next week we can see the progress," added Luhut.

The virtual meeting was also attended by the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Head of LAPAN, Minister of Home Affairs represented by Director General of Bina Bangda, Minister of Finance represented by Director General of Financing Management. (Antaranews)