VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: The Indonesian government continues to communicate with various parties to find out the latest situation in Gaza, Palestine and the process of evacuating Indonesian citizens (WNI) and humanitarian assistance.

"So from morning (Wednesday, November 1, 2023) we continue to communicate with various parties to find out the situation on the ground and how we can evacuate our citizens," Foreign Minister Retno said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday (1/11/2023).

Retno explained that the condition of Indonesian citizens in Gaza is in good condition in a situation where the conflict is still ongoing. The Indonesian government also continues to communicate with Indonesian citizens amidst network limitations.

"Good here does not mean good like us, sitting in this room. It's good in the midst of a very bad situation. We continue to make contact with them, and the contact is also on and off. Sometimes it's on, sometimes it's off because of the situation, so communication is not always smooth," Retno said.

By continuing to coordinate with many parties, Foreign Minister Retno said that the Indonesian government will evacuate the Indonesian citizens immediately.

"Today since early morning, we continue to make contact in the field to try to evacuate. Of course, we convey this information after we make contact with many parties. It is possible that the evacuation will be carried out today," she said.

By continuing to coordinate with many parties, Foreign Minister Retno said that the Indonesian government will evacuate the Indonesian citizens immediately.

"Today since early morning, we continue to make contact in the field to try to evacuate. Of course, we convey this information after we make contact with many parties. It is possible that the evacuation will be carried out today," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding humanitarian aid, the Indonesian government plans to send it to Gaza by the end of this week.

"And these goods that we send are in accordance with their requests or needs," explained the Indonesian Foreign Minister.

Foreign Minister Retno also explained that the humanitarian assistance sent not only came from the Indonesian government but also from humanitarian organizations in Indonesia.

"Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to the ladies and gentlemen from humanitarian organizations in Indonesia who have been pleased to join us, showing a sense of humanitarian solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Gaza," she said.

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi received a visit from Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Jakarta. Foreign Minister Retno said this year marks 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, so it should be utilized as a momentum to improve cooperative relations.

"Lithuania and Indonesia are geographically far apart, but we share the same commitment to the fundamental values of democracy, peace and sustainable development," she said in a joint statement after the meeting, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in Jakarta, Monday (30/10/2023).

In the field of trade, until mid-2023, Indonesia-Lithuania cooperation increased by 43 percent compared to the previous year. However, according to Retno, this number does not yet show the true potential of cooperation between the two countries.

"To increase two-way trade and ensure more balanced trade benefits, I ask for Minister Landsbergis' support in facilitating more Indonesian products to enter the Lithuanian market, including rubber, paper and wood-based furniture," she said.

Retno further welcomed Indonesian palm oil which is one of the main export commodities to Lithuania. According to her, nearly 800 plantations in Indonesia have received the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certificate.

"I believe Indonesia will be able to provide more sustainable palm oil to Lithuania," she said.

Furthermore, Foreign Minister Retno also expressed her appreciation for the expansion of Lithuanian aviation industry investment at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport, including charter flights and new air transportation.

Foreign Minister Retno also highlighted cooperation in education and information technology cooperation. In this regard, she said, the two Foreign Ministers focused on increasing cooperation between universities through joint research and double degree programs.

"This year, Indonesia has also reopened the Darmasiswa Scholarship for Lithuanian students, and there are already 73 Lithuanian alumni from this Darmasiswa Scholarship," she said.

Retno also encouraged stronger cooperation to develop information technology for land and air transportation systems, as well as strengthen cybersecurity partnerships, through human resource capacity building. (Andy Romdoni)

VOInews, Jakarta: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi invited Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to participate in efforts to stop violence in Palestine. According to her, this is needed to facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.

"I invite Lithuania to participate in the call for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians, and to ensure safe and sustainable survival and unimpeded humanitarian assistance," she said in a statement delivered after a bilateral meeting with Gabrielius Landsbergis, in Jakarta, Monday (30/10/2023).

Retno said that in three weeks, more than 7,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, 68 percent of whom were women and children. According to her, these killings and hostilities must stop immediately.

"Are these numbers not enough to stop the killings, and initiate an immediate, durable, and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire, leading to a cessation of hostilities?," she said.

She also invited all parties to defend justice and humanity. "Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine must end based on internationally agreed parameters," she concluded.(Andy Romdoni)

VOInews, Jakarta – Acting Minister of Agriculture Arief Prasetyo Adi said to avoid rice imports, the Indonesian government aims to increase rice production to 35 million tons by 2024.

"Next year, I am asking the director general of the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare 35 million tons of rice equivalent," Arief Prasetyo Adi was quoted as saying by ANTARA on Tuesday (24/10/2023).

He said that the production target for 2024 was higher than the 2023 target of 31 million tons. This increase is to ensure that Indonesia does not need to import rice to meet domestic demands.

According to the Area Sample Frame Survey (ASF) by Statistics Indonesia, the estimated rice harvest area in 2023 is 10.20 million hectares, with production projected to reach 53.63 million tons of grain, or equivalent to 30.90 million tons of rice. Meanwhile, rice consumption is estimated at 30.62 million tons, resulting in a surplus of 0.28 million tons of rice.

Acting Minister Arief said to achieve the target by increasing rice productivity from 5.2 tons per hectare to 5.4, 5.5, or even 5.7 tons per hectare.

He also noted that in order to meet the 2024 production target, the ministry, together with agriculture offices across Indonesia, needs to ensure the successful implementation of the first planting season of 2023-2024, which runs from November to March next year.

To achieve this, the guaranteed availability of seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, pest control, and agricultural extension workers has been identified as crucial.

"What is very important to achieve the rice production target is to build a strong food ecosystem," he said.

He also mentioned other efforts to pursue the target by providing agricultural insurance for farmers and agribusiness actors. As well as ensuring the readiness of regional leaders to address problems in the field and awarding agricultural agencies in provinces and districts that have succeeded in increasing production.

"We at the Ministry of Agriculture have also appointed regional focal points so that problems in the field and those faced by rice farmers can be addressed immediately. Therefore, optimizing the role of extension workers is also an important step," he added.