VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah attended the opening ceremony of the 13th Worldskills ASEAN competition in Singapore to motivate the Indonesian delegates competing in the event.

"Hopefully, my presence here will encourage our nation's best young talents contesting at this biennial event," she said in a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday.

The 13th WorldSkills ASEAN contests a total of 22 vocational fields and draws participation from delegations of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This year, Indonesia sends two delegates to compete in 18 contested fields.

They are mechatronics, electronics, mobile robotics, refrigeration and air conditioning, industrial automation, automobile technology, fashion technology, restaurant service, beauty, hairdressing, mechanical engineering CAD, IT software solutions for business, web technologies, IT network system administration, graphic design technology, CNC maintenance, Internet of Things, and rapid transit system.

Minister Fauziyah further noted that Indonesia is eyeing to become the overall champions of the international-level skills competition being held from July 23 to July 27.

"We are optimistic that Indonesia will clinch the title of overall champions, like we did at the 9th WorldSkills ASEAN in Jakarta in 2012," she said.

In its previous editions, WorldSkills ASEAN was known as the ASEAN Skills Competition (ASC). It is ASEAN's biennial activity, which aims at intensifying training cooperation, promoting vocational education and training, and improving the quality of the young workforce in the region.

The 13the WorlsSkills ASEAN is hosted by Singapore after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in 2020. (Antaranews)

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia expressed its commitment to continue strengthening its strategic partnership with France. This was revealed during Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto's visit to France to attend bilateral and Two Plus Two (2+2) meetings with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the partnership should be based on the principle of mutual respect and benefit, and based on respect for international law and the UN Charter.

"The Indonesia-France partnership must also contribute positively to creating a more stable, safe and peaceful world," Retno said in a statement received by Indonesia Window here on Friday (21/7).

In terms of economic cooperation, Retno emphasized the importance of completing the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Indonesia-EU CEPA) negotiations.

"However, I also expressed concern regarding the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the EU Enforcement Regulation (EUER) which could disrupt the negotiations. Indonesia strongly opposes EUDR and EUER," she said.

Regarding investment, Retno underlined an 87 percent increase in French investment in the first quarter of 2023. She also encouraged French investment in the energy transition sector, industrial downstreaming and also the development of the Capital of the Archipelago (IKN).

"There is already a commitment of 500 million euros from France to support the energy transition in Indonesia," she said.

Meanwhile, related to defense cooperation, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized the importance of cooperation that is not limited to the sale and purchase of the main weapon system (alutsista), but also technology transfer, joint development and production. According to her, this is important to build Indonesia's autonomy strategy.

"Indonesia also wants to be part of the global supply chain for strategic industries. For this reason, I encourage the implementation of joint ventures and joint production cooperation between Thales & PT LEN Industry," he said.

Meanwhile, in the security sector, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi encouraged a number of cooperation between Indonesia and France, namely maritime security and French technology transfer and capacity building support for the Indonesian Marine Security Agency (Bakamla), cyber security and cooperation between the State Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) and the Thales defense industry, and disaster management cooperation including inviting France to attend the ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise 2023 in August.

In bilateral and 2+2 meetings, the two countries also discussed regional issues, Global North and Global South cooperation, as well as global strategic cooperation and issues.

In addition to meeting with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto also paid a courtesy call on French President Emmanuel Macron. (VOI/Andy)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia's Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry will add one more first-class surveillance ship from Japan to improve the monitoring of national marine resources in North Natuna Sea.

The surveillance ship, Shirahagi Maru, which has been provided by Japan, measures 63 meters in length. It is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia in September 2023, and will be rechristened Orca 06.

"What already arrived in Indonesia is surveillance ship Orca 05, whereas Orca 06 is still in Japan. It is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia by September," Director General of Marine and Fish Resources Monitoring at the ministry Adin Nurawaluddin informed here on Friday.

The ministry brought surveillance ship Orca 05, previously named Hakurei Maru, from Japan on June 18, 2023.

In an official press release issued on Friday, Nurawaluddin informed that the new surveillance ship is currently undergoing maintenance at Niigata Shipbuilding and Repair.

The ship's framework, engines, propulsion, and navigation systems are undergoing maintenance and improvement, along with its communication system, deck, and accommodation, he added.

After considering its condition, the extent of waters that must be monitored, number of fishing boats, conservation areas, as well as risks of violations, the new surveillance ship Orca 06 will be placed in the first zone of the industrial catch area in North Natuna Sea, he informed.

According to Nurawaluddin, North Natuna Sea presents its own challenge. The ministry needs to monitor at least 16 thousand fishing ships in the area, which spans some 703 thousand square kilometers, he said.

Moreover, North Natuna Sea borders a neighboring country, thus making the area prone to more violations compared to other seas, he added.

He cited 2022 data from the ministry, which showed that throughout that year, the ministry detected at least 23 thousand boats carrying out illegal fishing.

It is expected that the new surveillance ship will have the capability to prevent such occurrences in North Natuna waters, he added.

He affirmed that the ship has better specifications that will allow it to monitor the waters for a prolonged time. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno expects the Hariara Pohan Tourism Village in Samosir District, North Sumatra, to apply the green tourism concept to proffer a splendid experience to tourists.

"I hope that this (tourism village) would offer a beautiful tourism experience while supporting the sustainability of the environment through the adoption of the green tourism concept," Uno noted in a written statement received in Jakarta on Friday.

Highlighting the appeal of the Holbung Hill, Hariara Pohan Village managed to bag a spot in the big 75 at the 2023 Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI) and was also selected as a filming location for the Indonesian drama movie titled "Ngeri-ngeri Sedap."

Uno believes that the village's designation as the movie's shooting location has attracted many more tourists to visit Holbung Hill.

The Hariara Pohan Tourism Village is also the home of a centuries-old cultural site called Huta Simarmata where tourists can see Batak traditional houses as well as sarcophagi that were built hundreds of years in the past.

The minister then expressed hope that the tourism village will be further developed in terms of attraction, amenity, and accessibility.

"This village should be able to host various events. We (the ministry) are planning to hold a monthly movie festival that will be centered in Hariara Pohan," he remarked.

Furthermore, Minister Uno drew attention to the village's infrastructure, such as parking lots, center for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and also homestays.

Based on our assessment, the infrastructures are very proper. Hopefully, the award's judges will take this as a consideration," he remarked.

Meanwhile, Samosir District Head Vandiko T. Gultom expressed hope that the tourism village would emerge as winner of the 2023 ADWI.

"On behalf of the local government, we would like to extend appreciation to Mr Minister Uno for his devoted commitment to advancing Indonesia's tourism, including the tourism destination in Samosir. Hopefully, Hariara Pohan Village will win the first place at the 2023 ADWI," he remarked.  (Antaranews)