VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Thursday (29/10/2020), paid a visit to Indonesia and immediately met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. During the meeting of the two foreign ministers, the South China Sea (SCS) was one that was raised.

Mike Pompeo praised Indonesia's courage in rejecting China's claim to territory that was claimed to be part of its country's sovereignty or is often known as the nine-dash line (nine-dash line).

"Many countries reject China's claims regarding some parts of the SCS. This is clear and bold, including what Indonesia is doing as a subject within Asia and the United States. That is what we have achieved in a multilateral relationship, and the President Trump administration is very supportive of this," he said.

Pompeo when giving a press statement after a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Thursday (29/10/2020), at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta.

Pompeo also appreciated Indonesia's maritime power, which safeguards the country's sovereignty in the Natuna Islands.

"As an example of the maritime power (TNI AL-red) to safeguard the country's sovereignty in the Natuna Islands," he added.

According to Pompeo, the United States wants to strengthen cooperation in the context of security in the SCS area with Indonesia, to protect one of the world's busiest trade routes.

"I look forward to working together in new ways, to ensure maritime security by protecting one of the world's busy trade routes," Pompeo stressed.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized that Indonesia is committed to continuing to make the SCS a peaceful and stable area.

"We also discussed the conditions in the SCS and for Indonesia the area must be maintained as a peaceful and stable water area," said Retno.

In front of her counterpart, Retno also emphasized that all parties must respect international laws, especially UNCLOS 1962 which regulates the SCS.

"International law in particular UNCLOS 1962 must be respected and implemented. Therefore, there must be international recognition, including UNCLOS 1962," he added.

He said Indonesia also hopes for investment from US businessmen in the Natuna Islands.

"I encourage American businessmen to invest more in Indonesia, including in the outer islands such as the Natuna Islands," said Retno.

Meanwhile, the bilateral meeting between the Indonesian and US Foreign Ministers also discussed the development of democracy, respect for human rights, Palestine, Afghanistan, and ASEAN.

During his second visit to Indonesia, Mike Pompeo is also scheduled to meet with President Joko Widodo and the Ansor Youth Movement. (RRI)

The Drug and Food Supervisory Board (BPOM) will supervise the circulation and use of COVID-19 vaccines in the community to ensure their safety and efficacy.

“The supervision will not stop when (the vaccine) secures a seal of circulation permit or approval from the BPOM and is used. In fact, when the vaccine is used there are a lot of things that should draw attention to ensure its efficacy, security, and quality,” director of drug registration at BPOM, Rizka Andalucia, said during a virtual seminar on COVID-19 vaccination here on Wednesday.

The BPOM will also provide an electronic reporting system where pharmaceutical firms and paramedics can report the side-effects of the vaccines, he informed.

The public is also expected to take an active part in monitoring and reporting any side-effects of the vaccines so we can further evaluate them, he said.

Before licensing any COVID-19 vaccine, the BPOM will consult the national committee for drug assessment, which comprises pharmacologists, public health experts, and internists, he informed.

The permit that BPOM will issue for the vaccines may come in the form of a circulation permit or an emergency-use authorization, he said.

Applications for emergency-use authorization would remain subject to a series of evaluations, though several stages may be scrapped without compromising the principles of efficacy, security, and quality, he said.

"The emergency is not about the approval, but about the condition in which we are now — in the state of emergency for COVID-19," he explained.

After securing a circulation permit, vaccines can be produced en masse and distributed to the public, he said. (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo affirmed that the government will endeavor to drive the development of the domestic sharia financial industry that he described as a sleeping giant.

"The sharia financial industry is a sleeping giant. The government is primarily concerned about awakening this giant," President Jokowi noted here, Wednesday, at the virtual opening of the Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) 2020.

Jokowi believes that one strategy to awaken the sleeping giant was to create an entity that will emerge as the largest sharia bank in Indonesia.

The president drew reference to the merger of three state-owned sharia banks: PT BRI Syariah Tbk, PT Bank Syariah Mandiri, and PT BNI Syariah.

Assets of the three sharia banks, as of the first semester of 2020, had totaled Rp214 trillion.

"Through a simple approach, all assets of state-owned sharia banks will be merged to deliver a giant sharia bank," he remarked.

The head of state highlighted the government’s continued endeavors to establish a micro endowment bank at several locations. The government has worked closely with Islamic boarding schools and religious-based organizations to drive the development of the sharia financial industry.

"We are optimistic that the sharia financial industry would emerge as an alternative to boost the people's economy," he stated.

Development of the sharia economy in the real sector, labor-intensive and halal industry can potentially absorb a significant workforce and create new businesses.

In the halal industry, Indonesia has offered various top products, including foods, cosmetics, and fashion.

"However, the halal industry’s potential had yet to be explored optimally for which integrated and comprehensive development of the sector is deemed necessary," the president emphasized. (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo opened the 7th Indonesian Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) in 2020. In his remarks, the President expressed his wish that Indonesia could become a center of excellence for the Islamic economy at the global level.

Islamic economics and finance still have vast potential for further development. In fact, Islamic economics and finance are not only in demand by countries with a Muslim majority population but also other countries such as Japan, Thailand, Britain, and the United States are interested in considering their potential.

For this reason, through his remarks at the opening of the 7th Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) in 2020, President Joko Widodo said that Indonesia must quickly grasp this opportunity and potential.

Insert: Indonesia with the largest Muslim population in the world must seize this opportunity by encouraging the acceleration, acceleration, economic development and national sharia finance as part of the transformation towards an advanced Indonesia and efforts to make Indonesia a reference center for the global sharia economy.

Domestically, Indonesia already has a National Committee on Sharia Economics and Finance (KNEKS) to welcome these opportunities by striving to accelerate economic growth and Islamic finance. A number of strategies are being taken to make this happen, including strengthening the halal value chain, strengthening Islamic finance, strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises, and strengthening the digital economy.

The President said the holding of ISEF could be momentum to further develop the economic and financial potential of sharia by making a clear and detailed road map and determining concrete steps that must be taken immediately.

Insert: The Islamic finance industry is a sleeping giant. Currently, the government has a great interest in resurrecting this giant.

Since some time ago, the government has developed the sharia economy and finance at the grassroots level, namely by developing micro-banks in various places in Indonesia in collaboration with existing Islamic boarding schools and religious organizations. In this way, the Head of State hopes that the Islamic financial industry can become an alternative financial instrument to advance the people's economy.

In addition, according to Jokowi, the development of a sharia economy based on the real sector, labor-intensive and the halal industry is also very potential to expand employment and open new business opportunities. Indonesia has a lot of superior halal products, some of which have gone global.

According to Jokowi, the great potential in the halal industry must be integrative and comprehensive by improving the sharia industry ecosystem. Besides that, according to him, the government will also simplify regulations to make it more effective, including preparing supporting human resources. (VOI)