VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The spread of COVID-19 infections in Indonesia is relatively under control, with the percentage of active cases remaining below the global average, said spokesperson for the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling, Prof. Wiku Adisasmito.

"If we look at the national level, our number of active cases is 12.52 percent, while in the world, the active cases are 26.79 percent. So, we are lower and the difference is 14.27 percent," Prof. Wiku said during a dialogue organized by the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling at Graha BNPB, Jakarta on Monday.

According to Wiku, Indonesia has reached this figure after an increase in infections following several long holidays and after adding over four thousand cases per day in September this year.

The number of active cases, or patients who are still undergoing treatment due to COVID-19, have continued to decline over time, Wiku, who is also the coordinator of the task force's expert team, said.

This has been achieved due to good cooperation between all parties, especially the government and society, he added.

"This is a joint national achievement. It turns out that the community and government can jointly control cases," the University of Indonesia (UI) academic remarked.

In addition to the trend in active cases, Indonesia has seen a significant increase in the number of recovered patients, with the recovery rate reaching 84.14 percent to date, compared to the global average of 70.71 percent, he informed.

"So, the difference is 13.4 percent. Our recovery cases are higher than global cases, while our death cases are at 3.34 percent; with (the figure pegged at) 2.5 percent for the world, we are still slightly above global (average), namely 0.84 percent, "Prof. Wiku said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia clocked in 3,881 new recoveries from COVID-19 in the 24 hours ending Sunday, taking the total recoveries to 368,298, according to data from the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling.

With 3,880 more people testing positive for the virus as of Sunday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to 437,716. The country reported its first cases in March, 2020.

Data also shows the number of COVID-19 fatalities have climbed by 74 to reach 14,614.

As of Sunday, 54,804 COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment and conducting self isolation, the task force reported.

COVID-19 cases have been reported from all 34 provinces in the country.

In the past 24 hours, five provinces have reported a high number of new cases, with 826 cases recorded in Jakarta, 640 cases in Central Java, 479 cases in West Java, 282 cases in East Java, and 201 cases in East Kalimantan.

Jakarta is still leading in terms of the number of people testing positive for COVID-19, with 112,027 cases recorded so far. However, nearly 90 percent, or 101,707 patients have recovered, while 2,365 patients have succumbed to the infection.

North Maluku has been the only province to report no new cases on Sunday. (Antaranews)

The Indonesian Embassy in Germany (KBRI Berlin) together with Indonesian coffee distributor entrepreneurs, namely My Bali Coffee and PT Nabu Kopi Ranah Indonesia, are promoting coffee in two of the largest supermarkets in Germany, namely Edeka and Rewe.

Indonesian Ambassador to Germany Arif Havas Oegroseno to Antara London, Monday, said Edeka and Rewe sell various types of Indonesian coffee in supermarkets in their network.

"They are not only selling coffee but also introducing the taste of coffee through the coffee tasting in the building lobby and in the parking lot," said Ambassador Havas.

Interestingly, this coffee was packaged with a classic VW combi car from the 1960s, which was transformed into a coffee combine.

Currently, there are 330 Edeka and Rewe supermarkets selling Indonesian coffee and they have even ordered thousands of tons of Indonesian coffee.

According to Ambassador Havas, there are similarities between the Indonesian and German people. Both are coffee fans. The difference is, the Germans drink 5.2 kg of coffee per person per year. Meanwhile, Indonesians only drink an average of 1.3 kg of coffee per person per year.

"It is not surprising that Germany is the largest importer of coffee beans in the world after the United States," said Ambassador Havas.

Several types of coffee with a geographic indication of Arabica from Indonesia entered Germany, including Gayo, Lintong, Mandailing, Preanger, Bajawa, and Bali which are included in specialty coffee.

The Indonesian Embassy in Berlin has developed a coffee promotion strategy in several ways including taking courses on coffee and training to become a barista at the largest coffee roastery in Berlin.

Ambassador Havas and several staff have been certified by the SCAE or the Specialty Coffee Association Europe as baristas. "Selling coffee with an understanding of coffee will provide value in itself," he said.

In addition, the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin held a virtual meeting between the coffee association and German importers and the Indonesian coffee and exporter association.

Buyers and sellers can meet in person to discuss the export-import plan. In addition, the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin is promoting coffee through German jazz radio.

Radio DJs were treated to Indonesian coffee and continued with interviews about Indonesian coffee.

The Indonesian Embassy in Berlin also promotes coffee together with a German coffee roastery which has its own market share in Germany as well as coffee promotion at the Hannover Messe 2021 industrial exhibition, an international class industry exhibition is expected to be attended by around 200,000 people at one time Sunday.

The promotion of coffee is also being carried out in the German cruise ship industry. Promotion requires a separate approach and strategy which is currently being developed with various parties.

"It is important for us to link directly the taste habits of the German people with the availability of Indonesian coffee in German supermarkets," said the Ambassador.

Education to the German public, such as direct marketing of Indonesian coffee in supermarkets in this unique way will provide added value to be able to change. the taste of coffee in Germany.

A husband and wife who taste Bali and Gayo coffee admit that they will change their habit of drinking coffee, which has only been drinking Brazilian coffee from now on to drinking Indonesian coffee.

“The right branding like My Bali Coffee is also an important factor in the marketing of Indonesian coffee. This aggressive coffee marketing effort will be carried out continuously, ”said Ambassador Havas, who now has a barista certificate.

He hopes this pandemic will not interfere with coffee marketing in Germany. The survey conducted by Deutscher Kaffeeverband said 72 percent of Germans consume coffee at home, 21.8 percent enjoy a coffee while working or in a cafe, and the remaining 5.7 percent enjoy coffee with relatives and friends.

This is why the coffee trade in Germany was less affected by social restrictions during the pandemic. Sascha Bayu Handojo, the owner of the MyBali Coffee brand, said that online sales of Indonesian coffee had actually increased during the pandemic.

Indo-German Sascha targets 1,000 new coffee outlets by 2021 so that Indonesian coffee will be increasingly recognized by German consumers. (Antaranews)

The interbank rupiah exchange rate (exchange rate) in Jakarta is predicted to continue strengthening following Joe Biden's victory in the US presidential election. The rupiah moved up 53 points or 0.38 percent to Rp 14,157 per US dollar compared to the previous day's Rp 14,210 per US dollar.

Head of Research and Education at Monex Investindo Futures Ariston Tjendra said that Biden's victory seemed to have been greeted positively by the price of risky assets in Asia this morning.

"The Asian stock index looks strong, the US dollar index looks depressed, the emerging market exchange rate looks stronger against the US dollar," said Ariston in Jakarta, Monday (9/11/2020).

Ariston further revealed that the market expects Biden's policies will be friendlier to other countries than its predecessors and this could help boost economic growth in developing market countries.

It is known that Biden won over Trump with 273 electoral college votes compared to 214 through state by state that determines the winner of the election.

This was achieved after Biden won Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes to place him above 270, the number needed to secure the presidency, according to Edison Research.

Ariston estimates that today the rupiah has the potential to strengthen in the range of Rp. 14,150 per US dollar to Rp. 14,300 per US dollar.