VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir emphasized that the government and the Indonesian people must have great optimism to bring Indonesia out of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

"There must be optimism that Indonesia can get out of this crisis," he said at the HSBC Economic Forum in Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Erick said that currently, Indonesia is experiencing an improvement in mortality rate, from eight percent in April to 3.99 percent.

"Indeed the global rate is still better [3.18 percent], but with hard work and mutual cooperation we are sure that we can continue to suppress this fatality figure," he said.

Not only that, Erick said that Indonesia have a very good trend of the economy when compared to G20 countries such as India, France, and the UK.

"We are better, therefore President Jokowi's decision not to lock down is the right decision," he said.

Indonesia is better when compared to countries in Asia such as Singapore and Malaysia, but still below Taiwan and South Korea.

"Yesterday, an observer informed us that compared to several countries in the world we are still in an optimal condition," he said.

In addition, he explained that Indonesia has a large market share from a demographic perspective, namely the number of middle-class people continues to grow from 7 percent to 20 percent or 52 million of the total 237 million population.

"If our total population is 273 million, then our middle income will grow by a third, which is approximately 90 million," he explained.

Erick said that the growing middle class brings great potential to the market, even bigger than some of the big countries in the world.

"Compared to other countries such as the population of South Korea, 55 million is almost the same, South Africa 56 million, and even Spain 46 million," he said. (Antaranews)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said 143 companies plan to reallocate investment to Indonesia, including from the United States (US), Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and China.

"Data from The Capital Investment Coordinating Board [BKPM] shows that 143 companies have plans to reallocate investment to Indonesia with the potential to absorb more than 300 thousand workers," he said at the HSBC Economic Forum event in Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Airlangga stated that the reallocation plan indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic had provided valuable lessons that supply chains of goods can't be centralized in one country.

"Now many multinational companies are starting to relocate from China to other Asian countries, especially ASEAN," he said.

Airlangga said this was an opportunity for Indonesia to replace China's position as an investment destination for new supply chain relationships in the global market.

However, he realizes that the risk of uncertainty this year is still very high so that the Indonesian economy faces both external and internal challenges. He explained that pressure from the external side was a global uncertainty that had its roots in the COVID-19 pandemic, causing the global economy to be predicted to remain bad.

On the internal side, the economic growth for Indonesia in the second quarter contracted by 5.32 percent. Therefore, Airlangga confirmed that the government is preparing various policies in order to overcome these external and internal pressures.

He explained that the steps and policies that the government is pursuing include completing the discussion on the Job Creation Bill with the House of Representatives so investments can increase. They also compile a list of investment priorities that include the areas that will be provided with both tax and non-tax facilities.

"We belief that the Indonesian economy, through concrete and appropriate policies, will be able to overcome the challenges in 2020. Together we hope that in the future the Indonesian economy will be stronger and more successful," he said. (Antaranews)

The Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) amid the COVID-19 pandemic donated one million liters of clean water to residents of Gaza, Palestine who are hit by an economic crisis due to the lockdown in the region.

"The drinking water assistance comes from a philanthropist from Indonesia, namely from the Deputy Chairperson of the Central Indonesian Mosque Council who is also a former Deputy Chief of Police of the National Police, Comm. Gen. Pol. H Syafruddin,"

Abdillah Onim, an Indonesian volunteer who is also Chair of the Nusantara Palestine Center (NPC) Social and Humanitarian Institute said in Gaza, on Wednesday.

He said NPC as a philanthropic NGO that cares for the humanitarian sector in Palestine was entrusted with delivering the clean water aid from Syafruddin to Gazans.

NPC has a head office in Kramat Jati, Jakarta and has a working team in the center of Gaza City, in Gaza, Jordan, Jerusalem, and the West Bank.

Onim explained that the Gaza Strip covers an area of ​​367 square km, with a population of 2,000,000, of which 87 percent live below the poverty line. Their livelihood is reliant on help from donor countries, especially assistance from the Indonesian people.

Poverty has been rampant in the region since 2007 where the main cause is the blockade (siege) imposed by the Israeli authorities, plus the current COVID-19 pandemic. The situation of Gazans has worsened because of the lack of humanitarian assistance for them.

"The drinking water assistance from the Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Mosque Council, Mr. Syaruddin, is a breath of fresh air for Gaza civilians in every corner of the village," Onim said.

He explained that they share the donation to 550 households in Bait Lahiya North Gaza, Deir Balah, Central Gaza, Jabalia, North Gaza, Khan Yunis, South Gaza, and Al Mugraqa, Central Gaza.

Palestinian Muslim resident in Gaza Um Ahmad (57) from Deir Balah, Central Gaza expressed his gratitude for the aid of one million liters of drinking water.

"The water content in Gaza is 97 percent unfit for consumption. Thank God, we can drink clean water thanks to Mr. Syafruddin's generosity," he said. (Antaranews)

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin encouraged Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) students who are studying abroad to improve second-track diplomacy to contribute to world peace.

"Indonesian students, who have the potential and care about world peace, need to make their contribution through the second track diplomacy carried out by non-government actors," Ma'ruf Amin said at a webinar on Tuesday.

The diplomacy includes holding interreligious, intercultural, and intercultural dialogue that upholds moderate and tolerant Islam, Ma'ruf said.

"In the digital era, diplomacy is not only through direct communication but also through electronic and print media," he added.

With the presence of students abroad, Ma'ruf also hopes that the international cooperation that has been carried out by the government can be more optimal through dialogue that supports democracy and protection of human rights, including for minority groups. 

Ma'ruf also asked all students to take an active role in world peace missions, as the government has done, among others in supporting Palestinian independence, encouraging peace in Afghanistan, and helping to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State and the Southern Philippines.

"Students can play an active role in contributing to world peace. We need this role to strengthen the initiatives that have been carried out by the Indonesian government, which has been very active in contributing to world peace," he said. (Antaranews)