VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have launched a new climate and conservation partnership, the FOLU Net Sink Bilateral Framework Agreement.

The agreement was signed on July 17 by Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya and USAID Administrator Samantha Power, according to a release from the US Embassy in Jakarta received on Tuesday.

The agreement will significantly boost Indonesia's achievement of its Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 goals, which were first officially launched by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) during the COP26 conference in Glasgow in November 2021 and codified by KLHK in March 2022 when it issued its FOLU Operational Plan, as noted in the US Embassy's release.

By May 2022, KLHK had secured support for the Operational Plan through a memorandum of understanding with USAID, the first of many bilateral MOUs.

Under Jokowi's administration, Indonesia has made notable progress in forest conservation, reducing the deforestation rate by 65 percent in the last seven years, leading the world in improving forest protection. This new partnership will continue to build on these results.

"This agreement represents a significant follow-up to the White House Fact Sheet discussed by President Jokowi and President Biden during their bilateral meeting at the G20 Summit in Bali last year," remarked Nurbaya.

She emphasized that the agreement encompasses a level of climate finance support intended to assist Indonesia in achieving its FOLU Net Sink 2030 goals.

These goals, which require spending a projected US$14.5 billion, have primarily relied on Indonesia's state budget to date.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power stated that the agreement will help prevent forest degradation, rehabilitate mangroves and peatlands, and improve the protection of Indonesia's incredible wildlife.

"It will build on Indonesia's work over the last seven years to reduce deforestation by nearly two-thirds, and it will help preserve the vital resources that Indonesia's forests offer beyond their stunning natural beauty: the carbon sinks that will be critical for stabilizing the climate," she said.

"This agreement strengthens our partnership to support Indonesia's ongoing resilience against climate change and to improve conservation and biodiversity, including the protection of Indonesia's iconic species, like the orangutan," stated US Ambassador to Indonesia Sung Y. Kim.

Under the new Framework Agreement, USAID aims to contribute up to US$50 million over the course of five years in support of the KLHK's FOLU Net Sink climate and biodiversity objectives. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and her Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

"Indonesia and India continue to discuss, especially under the two countries' Ministry of Finance, about the effort to develop a strong dialogue on a policy level, starting from the highest level to the very technical level," Indrawati said in a statement issued on Monday.

Indonesia and India have many similarities and a long history, she observed.

For instance, trade relations between Indonesia and India, especially Gujarat, date back before the 13th century and started with agricultural products such as spices, clothes, and jewelry.

This economic history has been one of the foundations for strengthening their bilateral cooperation.

"We share with each other many things to meet the demand of each countries' domestic demand," the minister said.

Other efforts also encompass maintaining high economic growth performance, creating jobs, reducing poverty, and improving cooperation—not just within the bilateral framework, but also at the multilateral level.

Indonesia and India currently have a similar economic structure supported by the growth of the manufacturing sector and significant development of technologies and innovations.

The two countries are optimistic that they can grow strong and demonstrate good resilience in confronting challenges, both at the regional and global levels.

During their bilateral discussion, the two ministers discussed efforts to strengthen trade and investment cooperation and efforts to handle development issues together, including climate change and public health.

"We will continue to strengthen this bilateral relation, especially for the two institutions (Indonesian and Indian ministries of finance), during a policy dialogue that will discuss trade, investment problems, including human resources," Indrawati said. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Newly inducted Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Saiful Rahmat Dasuki revealed that he would continue to apply religious moderation policies and focus on assisting Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas during the remainder of the cabinet term.

"To complete given duties and functions, assisting the minister, and ensuring the success of the minister's principal programs for the next 1.5 years on religious moderation, realize greater tolerance, and maintain plurality in Indonesia," Dasuki stated at the Presidential Palace here, Monday.

The deputy minister reiterated his commitment to working in line with the wishes and instructions of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Minister Qoumas.

Meanwhile, Dasuki said he is replacing his predecessor Zainut Tauhid Saadi, his colleague in the United Development Party (PPP), who has been named a legislative candidate in the 2024 General Elections.

"This reshuffle is indeed the president's prerogative, but coincidentally, the president also asked for it. In the end, the party chair gave the mandate to me," the deputy minister stated.

Earlier, Jokowi confirmed that PPP had requested the replacement of the deputy minister.

"It was the party's request," the president stated with regard to the reshuffle on the deputy minister.

Meanwhile, acting PPP chairperson Muhamad Mardiono stated that the cabinet reshuffle is within the president's prerogatives, as he has appropriate instruments to determine which figures can serve in the cabinet.

"As the chair of a political party, I am required to assist Mr President to harmonize our development in the remainder of the current government's term," Mardiono remarked.

Dasuki was one of the several party cadres whose names were submitted to the president to consider their inclusion in government ministries or offices, he noted.

Mardiono also clarified that no bad intentions were behind Saadi's discharge, stressing that changes in the president's cabinet are inevitable.

"It is an inevitability, so as part of the Indonesian nation, we should abide by Mr President's prerogatives," he remarked. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia has a crucial leadership role in the green transition toward a low-carbon country, as it is a developing country and market, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani stated.

This aligns with Indonesia's long-term climate resilience and low-carbon strategy. Moreover, the country is committed to achieving zero emission by 2060, she stated during the High-Level G20 India side event, as quoted from a statement on Tuesday.

To this end, Indonesia continues to intensify cooperation with other stakeholders, such as through the Green Climate Fund, Global Environmental Facility and Adaptation Fund.

According to the minister, this cooperation should be translated into effective and credible actions. Thus, Sri Mulyani ensures that Indonesia will continue to play a role.

The High-Level G20 India side event -- Seminar Achieving Growth-Friendly Climate Action and Financing for Emerging and Developing Economies -- is part of G20's 3rd Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governor Meeting (FMCBG) agenda in India.

The meeting discussed the challenging condition of the global economy and the policies to respond to it.

The recent years have become very important because the world is in a weak state and geopolitics affects the decline in the world economy. This fragmented condition should be understood and properly managed, Mulyani emphasized.

Because of this, Indonesia continues to improve its economic performance. Throughout the meetings, Indonesia is deemed to be one of the countries, with good economic and financial performance.

In addition, the minister stressed that Indonesia will continue to play an active role in global forums, especially to convince that it is able to anticipate and manage various global policies and maintain its interests at the global level.

She also emphasized that Indonesia will work hard to maintain its economy and state budget. (Antaranews)