VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin called on newly inducted Communications and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi to work optimally during the remainder of President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) presidency.

The vice president also urged the five new deputy ministers, who were inaugurated along with Setiadi at the ceremony in Jakarta on Monday morning, to work to the best of their effort.

"I hope the minister and deputy ministers, in the remaining time of one year and two months (of Jokowi's presidency), would utilize their office properly," Amin said during his working visit here on Monday.

The vice president called on the officials to work properly and not repeat the same mistakes made by some officials, such as corrupt behavior, that forced them to be replaced.

Amin also urged the new officials to ensure good work performance and to not be distracted by political dynamics ahead of the 2024 General Elections.

"They should not be busy with the elections because the remaining time will be only one year and two months. (I expect them) to optimize their work to ensure optimum results to be produced too," he reiterated.

During the inauguration ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta, the president inducted Setiadi as the new communications and informatics minister to replace Johnny G. Plate, who was dismissed last May after being named a suspect in a corruption case.

At the same ceremony, Jokowi inducted Pahala Mansury as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nezar Patria as Deputy Minister of Communications and Informatics, and Rosan Roeslani as Deputy Minister of State-owned Enterprises.

Meanwhile, Paiman Raharjo and Saiful Rahmat Dasuki are also inducted as Deputy Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, respectively. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia and the European Union (EU) have completed the 15th round of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) negotiations.

The Indonesian negotiation team is headed by Trade Ministry's Bilateral Negotiation Director, Johni Martha, while the EU team is led by the European Commission's Deputy Head of Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand Unit, Filip Deraedt.

"The two negotiating teams have exerted their best efforts in seeking creative solutions to issues on the IEU-CEPA negotiations. After the last round in Brussels, we are optimistic that substantial progress in the negotiation will be achieved," Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, Trade Ministry's Director General of International Trade Negotiation, stated.

As per the statement received here on Sunday (July 16), the two parties have concurred on Economic Cooperation and Capacity Building (ECCB), making it the seventh section of IEU-CEPA completed so far.

Meanwhile, Director Martha stated that the two parties continue to accelerate the progress in negotiations to adhere to instructions from President Joko Widodo and the EU leadership.

"Apart from completing the economic cooperation section, other working groups have also engaged in constructive discussion this week," Martha remarked.

He noted that the 16th round of negotiations is expected to take place by 2023-end in Brussels, Belgium.

"It is expected that Indonesia and the European Union share the same commitment to maintain the positive momentum from the progress achieved in this round," the director noted.

"I also encouraged close communication and inter-session meetings by all working groups if needed," he remarked.

In 2022, the total trade value between Indonesia and the EU had reached US$33.2 billion. While Indonesia's exports to the EU reached US$21.5 billion, Indonesian imports from the EU were valued at US$11.7 billion.

Some of Indonesia's main export commodities to the EU in 2022 are palm oil and its derivatives, coal, and leather footwear. Meanwhile, Indonesia's main imports from the EU were steel and iron pipes, medicine and vaccines, and recycled paper or cardboard, among others. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno is striving for nominating Ponorogo District, with its performance art, to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) within the next period.

The efforts are being made due to Ponorogo's performance art potential and the fact that it has been designated as a creative district.

"The central government has designated Ponorogo as a creative district after going through the selection process in 2022, and it has one more step left to become part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network," he noted in a statement, Sunday.

Ponorogo being proposed to join the UCCN is not a competition or a race, but it aims to serve as a means to improve the network and develop a community with other similar cities in other countries.

Therefore, he expects that several benefits can be gained by becoming part of UCCN.

"We expect that we can propose Ponorogo next year. We expect that we can create business opportunities with this, so that the people's economy would improve and new business opportunities will create 4.4 million jobs in 2024," he affirmed.

Meanwhile, Director for Creative Economy Infrastructure at the Ministry Hariyanto drew attention to several important factors that UNESCO takes into account in including Ponorogo within the UCCN, such as transmission and transition process warranty.

"Education process should be continued to our children, so that Reog, as the primary creative economy product of Ponorogo, is not only consistent but will also continue to globalize," Hariyanto affirmed.

"We are also ready to assist and facilitate, so that Reog can globalize even more and be preserved," he stated.

Ponorogo District Head Sugiri Sancoko thanked the ministry for designating Ponorogo as a creative district. Hence, the ecosystem should be supported, so that solutions can be offered to drive extraordinary economic growth. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir said that Bali Province has a greater chance to attract tourists in health and sports tourism since the province will be supported by facilities developed by the government and the private sector.

"Besides health tourism, we can also offer sports tourism. This is a joint effort to build Bali carried out by the government, regional government, and private sectors," he conveyed at Purnama Beach, Gianyar District, Bali, Sunday.

According to the SOEs minister, the government is building a health Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sanur, Denpasar consisting of a combination between healthcare service and tourism.

The area is currently in term of finalizing international standard hospital facilities and revitalizing the Inna Grand Bali Beach hotel which is managed by state-owned hotel chain PT Hotel Indonesia Natour (HIN), he continued.

The Sanur Health SEZ is located on an area of 41.26 hectares with a total development budget estimated at Rp1.4 trillion, Thohir continued.

The topping out for the building which marks the stage towards completion for the construction of the hospital --in collaboration with a health facility from the United States-- is expected to be carried out on July 31, 2023, he noted.

"The health facility will operate in April next year while the hotels in November 2023," he said.

He addressed that the health facility in Bali is expected to divert Indonesian citizens who have been seeking treatment abroad. It is estimated that two million people per year with potential foreign exchange earnings of up to Rp165 trillion seek health treatment in foreign countries.

Meanwhile, Thohir informed that the private sector also built a soccer training facility in the Purnama Beach area for the soccer club, Bali United.

The owner of the football club, Pieter Tanuri, explained that currently the training area covering a total area of around 30 hectares has a fitness center, four practice fields and will be equipped with four more fields.

Tanuri added that his party also plans to build a hotel to attract domestic and international tourists.

However, he was reluctant to mention the sports facility development budget. (Antaranews)