VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The holding of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) which will bring together 7,000 delegates from 193 countries in Bali in 2022 is expected to restore the tourism sector on the Dewata Island after the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

"Another positive value for Indonesia as a host besides soft diplomacy, UN recognition, and will also revive the tourism sector, especially after COVID-19," said Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo after a virtual limited meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo at Presidential Palace, Bogor, Thursday.

Doni explained that in 2022 it is very likely that the COVID-19 pandemic will end. The international event is expected to assist the government in reviving the tourism sector and other service sectors in Indonesia.

"It is also mentioned earlier by several ministers (in a limited meeting), hopefully, the vaccine plan can run well so that by 2022 everything can be carried out safely," he said.

The biennial forum is planned to be held in May 2022 for five consecutive days. The Nusa Dua region, Bali, will be the main location for the forum which will bring together many of these heads of state.

"All hotels in Nusa Dua have been certified as hotels with standards that are ready to face potential threats," said Doni.

To organize this international forum, the required budget is estimated at 5.9 million US dollars. President Joko Widodo plans to issue a Presidential Regulation regarding the implementation of the 2022 GPDRR.

"The proposed theme has been reported, the proposed budget is 5.89 million US dollars, but it is outside the readiness costs for the UN group or team. Then the President agreed to have a legal law for a presidential regulation related to this event, including the organization," he said.

The GPDRR is usually used by heads of state and the United Nations to review various knowledge, various developments, and the latest trends in disaster management.

GPDRR is held every two years. The last event was held in Geneva, Switzerland. (Antaranews)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, expressed concern over the due diligence policy that is being prepared by the UK as a condition for the entry of several products from abroad.

This is because the plan to implement the policy will threaten seven Indonesian agricultural commodities, including oil palm, coffee, timber, and wood products.

"I convey that a policy like this has the potential to become a non-tariff barrier for Indonesia's exports to the UK," said Retno while briefing the media virtually from London, after she met with the British Foreign Minister, Dominic Raab.

Therefore, Retno suggested that the two countries sit together to discuss the possibility of making mutual recognition of policies that have been owned by each country regarding supply chain sustainability.

The due diligence policy requires producers who are going to export their products to the UK to include information or some kind of certificate proving that these commodities protect the ecosystem and are not planted on illegally deforested land.

If a manufacturer cannot comply with these rules, then the product may not be marketed in the UK or will be subject to fines if found to be violating.

In fact, Britain is listed as the fourth largest trading partner for Indonesia from Europe and is in the first rank of timber trade with Europe.

Therefore, by proposing mutual recognition, the Indonesian government hopes that a due diligence policy is unnecessary and there is no need to restrict products from Indonesia to England.

In addition to discussing trade issues, the two foreign ministers discussed the interest of several British investors in doing business in Indonesia in the renewable energy sector.

At least three British companies have expressed their desire to invest in Indonesia, Aggreko which plans its operations in Indonesia from gas and diesel supply to solar PVs supply, Orbital Marine Power which plans to build a tidal turbine project which will produce 10 MW of energy in eastern Indonesia, and Nova Innovation which plans to build an off-grid tidal turbine. (Antaranews)

The number of doctors who died due to COVID-19 has increased to a total of 136 people according to the latest data from the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Executive Committee Mitigation Team.

According to an IDI press release received in Jakarta on Thursday, in the past week, four doctors have died from infection with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

IDI said that the doctors who died due to COVID-19 consisted of 69 general practitioners including four professors, 63 specialists including five professors, and two residents or specialist doctors who were serving placement assignments.

Doctors who died because of corona virus infection were recorded as coming from East Java (32), North Sumatra (23), DKI Jakarta (19), West Java (12), Central Java (9), South Sulawesi (6), Bali. (5), South Sumatra (4), South Kalimantan (4), Aceh (4), East Kalimantan (3), Riau (4), Riau Islands (2), Yogyakarta (2), West Nusa Tenggara (2), North Sulawesi (2), Banten (2), and West Papua (1).

Deputy Chairman of the PB IDI Mitigation Team Dr. Ari Kusuma Januarto, SpOG (K) said that the deaths of medical personnel and health workers due to COVID-19 are still occurring and are increasingly worrying.

"There must be comprehensive cooperation from both the government and the public in implementing health protocols so that medical and health workers can continue their important work without risking their own lives," he said.

"Not only the people, but we also want this pandemic to pass quickly. This situation will never be finished if there is no full cooperation from the community as the frontline," he added.

The Head of the Guidelines and Health Protocols Team for the PB IDI Mitigation Team, Dr. dr Eka Ginanjar, SpPD-KKV, stated that there are still many residents who are half-hearted in implementing the health protocol.

According to him, this can be seen from the number of people who have not worn masks properly, gathered without wearing masks, rarely washed their hands, and neglected to change clothes after activities outside the home.

He emphasized the importance of adhering to health protocols to avoid the risk of transmission of the virus from people who have COVID-19 but do not experience symptoms or only experience mild symptoms.

"People who feel fine when actually carrying this virus usually have never tested for COVID-19, then carry out activities outside the home by ignoring health protocols, and then pass it on to other vulnerable people," he said.

"People who experience flu-like symptoms, even if they are mild, should not underestimate this. Avoid going out of the house or gathering and immediately doing testing. In many cases, people still find it difficult to believe the existence of COVID-19 at this time," said Eka. (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo asked related stakeholders to carefully prepare for implementing the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2022 in Bali, which will be attended by 5,000 to 7,000 delegates from 193 countries.

"I think we as hosts have a lot of experience to host various international conferences," said the President at the Presidential Palace, Bogor, Thursday, in a virtual limited meeting regarding the implementation of the 2022 GPDRR.

The President also stated that the GPDRR event held by the United Nations Agency for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction / UNISDR) should be used to promote Indonesia's national interests.

"The presence of (representatives from) 193 countries can be used as a momentum to promote Indonesian tourism," he added.

GPDRR is a global event that is held every two years to review the latest developments and trends in disaster management. The last event was held in Geneva, Switzerland. (Antaranews)