VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said that the cocoa processing industry contributed significantly to foreign exchange amid the pandemic, with an export value of US $549 million in January-June 2020, an increase of 5.13 percent compared to the same period last year.

"Of the production of the cocoa processing industry, we intend 80 percent of the output for the export market. In 2019, processed cocoa products contributed more than the US $1.01 billion in export value," the Minister of Industry after the virtual inauguration of the Pasuruan Cocoa Technical Center Mondelez International, as written in the official statement, Thursday (8/10/2020).

As reported by ANTARA, the Minister of Industry said that the cocoa processing industry has produced various variants, such as cocoa liquor, cocoa cake, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder with the main export in the form of cocoa butter which has spread to countries such as the United States, Netherlands, India, Estonia, Germany, and China.

"For that, we need to continue to spur performance and development to be more competitive in the global arena. We are also working to expand market access for processed cocoa products, and encourage innovation through the use of technology and research activities," said the Minister of Industry.

He is optimistic that the cocoa processing industry can develop well because it is supported by Indonesia's potential as the third cocoa bean processor in the world with a total installed capacity of 800 thousand tons per year from 13 companies.

"We rank the Indonesian cocoa processing industry 3rd in the world after the Netherlands and Ivory Coast," said the Minister of Industry.

Another potential, according to a report by the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) in 2018/2019, is that Indonesia's cocoa bean production is 220 thousand tons, which places Indonesia in 6th place as the largest producing country after Ivory Coast, Ghana, Ecuador, Nigeria and Cameroon.

With the characteristics of Indonesian cocoa beans, which have a high melting point and are rich in fat content, the cocoa processing industry can produce high-quality products in terms of taste, aroma, and even health benefits.

The Minister of Industry welcomed the establishment of the Cocoa Technical Center by Mondelez International in Pasuruan, East Java, with an area of ​​5 hectares and an investment of US $13 million

Executive Vice President and President of Asia, Middle East and Africa of Mondelēz International Maurizio Brusadelli said that sustainable supply of cocoa is the key to long-term growth for Mondelez International in Asia and throughout the world.

"People want delicious snacks and feel comfortable eating them, knowing where the raw materials are obtained and produced in a way that has a better impact on the environment and community," concluded Maurizio. (RRI)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the abundant water in the food estate irrigation area or Central Kalimantan food estate will be used for fish farming in cages.

"Because the water is abundant in every existing irrigation, we are also starting to cultivate fish in cages," President Jokowi said in a press statement while inspecting a food estate in Central Kalimantan, Thursday, virtually.

President Jokowi said that the government will see the results of fish farming in the next 3-4 months. He hopes that in this way farmers' income will increase, not only from planting rice, shallots, and oranges but also from raising fish, including ducks.

"We will try this business model combination first. If it's successful and good, we will copy the business model in other places per 1,000 hectares of land, there will be business models that we will build," said President Jokowi. (Antaranews)

Controlling climate change in Indonesia requires a national and international process that is iterative and synergistic. The handling of climate change at the international level is discussed through the framework of the climate change convention (UNFCCC) which is produced through the negotiation process of the parties that have ratified the UNFCCC agreement, which currently totals 194 countries, and is binding. Indonesia has a target of 41 percent of greenhouse gas emissions with international assistance. 

In a press conference on Wednesday (07/10/20) virtually in Jakarta, Director General of Climate Change Control, Ruandha Agung Sugardiman said that Indonesia is exploring the possibility of cooperation with Britain, Germany, Denmark, and other countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 41 percent.

"There are several countries that we can explore to be able to support this cooperation, for example from the UK, then from Germany, then from Denmark and several Scandinavian countries, we also explore to be able to contribute to support the reduction of Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions," Ruandha said.

Ruandha hopes that bilateral and multilateral cooperation will increase the awareness of all parties on climate change issues so that more and more components of society will take an active role in realizing the commitment and targets for controlling national climate change.

In the National Determined Contribution (NDC), Indonesia focuses on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in five sectors, namely forest, and land including peat, waste, energy and transportation, industry, and agriculture.

Implementation of the NDC in collaboration with local governments, businesses, and communities, as well as development partners who are an important part of the overall implementation of climate change policies in Indonesia. (VOI)

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, on Wednesday, echoed its preparedness to build Indonesia's own anti-doping laboratory whilst affirming the government's anti-doping enforcement commitment.

"The main rationale behind building the laboratory is that all this time we need to deliver samples for anti-doping tests overseas, and it was quite expensive, so it affects the test number across Indonesia," Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali told the press.

"I am optimistic of a significant improvement in the test numbers once we build the laboratory," Amali remarked after holding a virtual meeting with President of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Witold Banka.

Pursuing the targets of increasing test numbers and building the laboratory, the ministry’s budget plan for the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI) "is up for about 500 percent in the next 2021". These also show the government's preparations on the bid for hosting the 2032 Olympic events.

Some 30 anti-doping laboratories are located across the globe, while only two are in Southeast Asia in Penang, Malaysia, and Bangkok, Thailand, Chairperson of LADI Zaini Khadafi Saragih pointed out.

"For the test, we have to send the samples to either India, Qatar, or Thailand," he revealed.

WADA's Banka lauded the plan as he called on all parties to play a role in the doping-free campaign during sports competitions.

"This discussion is important for WADA, and I would like to express my gratitude for the cooperation forged with us. The key ideas comprise encouraging more public sectors on the anti-doping campaign," Banka stated. (Antaranews)