VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said to push the export of halal products to Islamic countries that are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"We need to encourage the export of our halal products by taking advantage of Indonesia's membership in the OIC Islamic state organization forum," she said at the FREKS Islamic Economics Expert Association (IAEI) event in Jakarta, on Monday.

Sri Mulyani, who is also the IAEI Chairwoman said that the export of halal products to the OIC countries in 2018 was $45 billion or 12.5 percent of Indonesia's total trade, which reached $369 billion.

Sri Mulyani said Indonesia could increase exports of halal products to OIC countries because they have a large Muslim population and their demand for goods and services is continuous.

"We can also improve and enter the non-OIC countries," she said.

Sri Mulyani said that the total expenditure of the Muslim population in the world, which amounts to 1.8 billion people or 24 percent of the world's total population, is roughly $2.2 trillion. 

The number includes purchases of food, medicine, lifestyle, and various other things according to the Islamic teachings.

"This expenditure also has a sizeable growth of 5.2 percent," she said.

She added stated that Indonesian halal products have a large international market share.

"With this rapid growth, the Islamic economy is actually an important part of the global economy," she said.

The Finance Minister expects the exports of halal products can continue even during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite challenges such as potentially reduced demand.

"COVID-19 affects the economic performance of countries in the world. So it will definitely affect their capability and demand for Indonesian export goods," she said. (Antaranews)

World leaders will come together, virtually, on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, as the deadly coronavirus pandemic challenges the effectiveness and solidarity of the 193-member world body.

As COVID-19, which emerged in China late last year, began to spread around the world, forcing millions of people to shelter at home and dealing a devastating economic blow, countries turned inward and diplomats say the United Nations struggled to assert itself.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Reuters that the pandemic has exposed the world’s fragilities. He plans to tell world leaders on Monday that they need to work together at a time when there is a surplus of multilateral challenges and a deficit of solutions.

The 15-member Security Council took months to back a call by Guterres for a global ceasefire - to allow countries to focus on fighting COVID-19 - due to bickering between the world’s biggest powers: China and the United States.

The 193-member General Assembly only adopted an omnibus resolution on a “comprehensive and coordinated response” to the pandemic earlier this month and it was not by consensus. The United States and Israel voted no.

A $10.3 billion U.N. appeal to fund fighting the pandemic in vulnerable and low-income countries is only a quarter funded. Guterres now has taken a lead in pushing to make sure any vaccine for the coronavirus is made available to everyone globally.

A senior European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the General Assembly should have acted months ago, but “we were all hampered by, and hit, by the COVID-19.”

‘MOMENTS OF DISAPPOINTMENT’

The United Nations headquarters is in New York, which was hit hard by the coronavirus. U.N. member states had to decide how to work virtually, which they did for several months before resuming some in-person meetings recently.

“We all suffered from the fact that we couldn’t meet ... A lot of attention was paid to process more than substance, unfortunately,” said the European diplomat. “I wouldn’t put the blame on the U.N. as an organization, it’s the member states that have to be more assertive and positive.”

A U.N. report released on Monday found that six out of ten people believe the United Nations has made the world a better place, but looking ahead three-quarters see the world body as essential in tackling global challenges.

“However, at the same time, over half still see the U.N. as remote from their lives and say they don’t know much about it,” the report said.

The one-day special event on Monday comes ahead of the annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations, which starts on Tuesday with no presidents or prime ministers physically present in New York. All statements have been pre-recorded and will be broadcast in the General Assembly hall.

The United Nations was created when countries came together after World War Two to prevent another such conflict. While there has not been World War Three, leaders will adopt a statement on Monday acknowledging “moments of disappointment.”

“Our world is not yet the world that our founders envisaged 75 years ago. It is plagued by growing inequality, poverty, hunger, armed conflicts, terrorism, insecurity, climate change, and pandemics,” the statement says.

“All this calls for greater action, not less,” it says. (Reuters)

Wisma Atlet Hospital for Covid-19 has so far discharged a total of 13,757 patients recovering from the novel coronavirus disease since the makeshift hospital was set up on March 23, 2020.

Spokesman of the Wisma Atlet Hospital, Colonel Aris Mudian said in a press statement on Sunday that the hospital has recorded a total of 16,501 COVID-19 patients and 13,757 of them are recovered during the March 23 to Sep. 20.

The hospital initially only used Tower 6 and 7 to treat COVID-19 patients at the Wisma Atlet, but starting from Sep. 15, the hospital also used Tower 5 for the isolation of asymptomatic patients.

As of Sep. 20, Tower 5 has accommodated a total of 1,727 patients, and 525 of them have been discharged. (VOI)

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin hopes that the Korean Pop, popularly known as K-Pop, trends would inspire Indonesia's youth to be more creative and active in promoting national culture to the international stage.

"The popularity of K-Pop will inspire the emergence of creativity among youth in Indonesia for them to create and introduce the cultural diversity of Indonesia to other countries," Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said in a statement on the commemoration of a centennial of Koreans arriving in Indonesia.

The love of many Indonesians for K-pop shows that the musical taste of the country has a place in Indonesia. The Korean wave also carries the influence of Korean culture in Indonesia. Aside from pop music, there is also food, drama, film, and fashion.

Apart from the entertainment industry, the VP said that it also strengthened bilateral relations between Indonesia and Korea in the economic, social, and cultural sectors. Hence, he hoped the trend can increase cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic field.

"Young people in Indonesia are getting to know K-pop artists and watch Korean dramas. Indonesian people's interest in Korea has also stimulated the increase of Indonesian tourists to Korea. I hope that more Korean tourists will also come to Indonesia," he added.

With the 100th anniversary of the first Korean tourist visit in Indonesia, Ma'ruf Amin wishes to strengthen the good relationship between the countries.

"A good relationship is increasingly beneficial for the citizens of the two countries. The 100th-anniversary is an important moment to further enhance good relations and cooperation between the two countries," he said. (Antaranews)

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin hopes that the Korean Pop, popularly known as K-Pop, trends would inspire Indonesia's youth to be more creative and active in promoting national culture to the international stage.

"The popularity of K-Pop is hoped to inspire the emergence of creativity among youth in Indonesia for them to create and introduce the cultural diversity of Indonesia to other countries," Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said in a statement on the commemoration of a centennial of Koreans arriving in Indonesia.

The love of many Indonesians for K-pop shows that the musical taste of the country has a place in the Indonesia. The Korean wave also carries the influence of Korean culture in Indonesia. Aside from pop music, there is also food, drama, film and fashion.

Apart from the entertainment industry, the VP said that bilateral relations between Indonesia and Korea were also strengthened in the economic, social and cultural sectors. Hence, he hoped the trend can increase cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic field.

"Young people in various parts of Indonesia are now also starting to get to know K-pop artists and spend time to watch Korean dramas. Indonesian people's interest in Korea has also stimulated the increase of Indonesian tourists to Korea. It is hoped that more Korean tourists will also come to Indonesia," he continued.

With the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Korean citizens in Indonesia, Ma'ruf Amin hopes that the good relationship between the countries can be strengthened and lead to benefits for the people of both countries.

"This good relationship is increasingly beneficial for the citizens of the two countries. The 100 year arrival of Korean citizens in Indonesia is an important moment to further enhance good relations and cooperation between the two countries," he added.