The Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is closely coordinating with the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs amid China's ongoing violations in the Indonesian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near the Natuna waters. The ministry would do its utmost to fulfil whatever assignments are mandated to it in securing the Indonesian waters from foreign vessels fishing illegally, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo told journalists in Jakarta Monday.

"We have been coordinating with the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs. Yesterday, instructions had been issued. We are going to get strengthened and this will involve all related ministries," he said.

The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would conduct its tasks as per the given mandate proportionally, he said, adding that its surveillance mission would keep going ahead by involving those from the illegal fishing task force (Satgas 115).

Securing and safeguarding the country's territorial sovereignty is the main goal but Indonesia should not be provoked by other parties that attempt to disturb or claim the territory, Prabowo said.

"We must remain cool while responding to this matter. Of course, sovereignty is everything. We deploy our teams to conduct our surveillance mission. We have had the mechanism and rules of the game," he said.

In securing the Indonesian waters, including the ones near Natuna Islands in Riau Islands Province, his ministry's patrol vessels selectively check the foreign ships, he said adding that fishing vessels, would be captured.

The Chinese coast guard vessels and fishing boats repeatedly violate Indonesia's EEZ near the Natuna waters.

The Chinese vessels were found escorting tens of Chinese fishing boats to poach on Indonesia's EEZ near the Natuna waters on December 19 and December 24, 2019.

Indonesia would defend its sovereignty and would not negotiate with China in connection with the issues of Natuna waters, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said earlier in response to this violation. (ANTARA)

Agam, W Sumatera - The world's largest Rafflesia tuan-mudae that grew in Agam, West Sumatera Province has begun to wither as its reddish-orange petals have turned blackish, on the eighth day of its blossom, this Monday.

As recorded by the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) of Agam, the rare parasitic plant first bloomed on Monday, December 30, 2019 and later on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, was at its peak where the diameter extended to 111 centimeters. On its blooming period, the location of this flower received a lot of visits from local and national tourists, as well as Mayor of Agam and Vice Governor of West Sumatra.

Since Friday, January 3, the location of this protected flora according to the Law Number 5 of 1990 about Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, had been secured to avoid any harm to its buds.

"We found around five big-sized flower buds, some of which are expected to bloom over the next several weeks," the Forest Ecosystem Manager of BKSDA Agam, Ade Putra, noted.

In 2017, the world's largest flower of Rafflesia tuan-mudae was recorded with a diameter measuring 107 centimeters, which bloomed at the same location of the Maninjau conservation forest.

Since then, some 43 flower buds have been discovered. They bloom one by one every month. (ANTARA)

Batam - The Management Agency for the Batam Free Trade Zone and Free Port formed a special team to serve investors and boost investment in the local area.

"A team will be formed," Head of Supervisory Agency of Batam Region, Muhammad Rudi, confirmed in Batam on Monday.

The team will be chaired by echelon 3 officials with staff working in shifts.

Later, a special room at the public service mall will also receive investors.

"The team leader is at least echelon 3 and will deal directly with me. I will come directly to serve," said Rudi, who is also the Mayor of Batam.

He will deal directly with investors, from the beginning to the end.

"Including in the matter of land," he said.

The policy was carried out in accordance with the instructions of President Joko Widodo and the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs.

He said, within 100 working days as the Head of BP Batam Area, he was still concentrating on the preparation of the organizational structure of work procedures (SOTK) within the BP Batam Area.
As the SOTK and officials have not yet finished, he cannot urge the staff to work optimally.

"We have a meeting to recruit officials who will occupy positions. If the SOTK is completed, we will discuss new officials," he said.

In 2019, the authority approved the construction of two special trade zones, including a maintenance and repair facility for aircraft at the Hang Nadim International Airport and a digital hub in Nongsa.

"At the Nongsa digital park, we will collaborate with the US smartphone manufacturer, Apple," the deputy remarked.

Once a thriving free port and bonded industrial zone, Batam Island had attracted investments reaching billions of dollars regulated by an independent Batam Development Authority. Under the authority's rule, investors enjoy tariff cuts, as well as a facility to acquire lands and licenses for business.

However, since the regional election was launched in 2001, Batam was ruled by a local government that stripped parts of the authority's power over the island. The dualistic administrative authorities in the island have led to years of confusion and uncertainty among investors.

Since President Joko Widodo took office for a second term in 2019, his administration had planned to merge the two authorities and change the status of the island, from a free trade zone to a special economic zone. (ANTARA)

Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reiterated that the high industrial gas price in Indonesia has affected the competitiveness of its products. "When gas has a major portion in production cost structure, then the price will significantly affect the competitiveness of our products in the world market. We lose the competition because of the high gas price," the President said at the cabinet session on gas adequacy for industry in Jakarta on Monday.

Gas should not only be seen as a commodity but as a capital of development that would also strengthen the national industry, according to Jokowi.

Six industries relied on domestic gas production namely power generator, chemical industry, food, ceramic, steel, and fertilizer industry, the President said.

The President has ordered ministries and state enterprises to calculate the gas price for the industry that could boost the competitiveness of domestic products.

"Let us see thoroughly the cause of the high gas price, from its upstream sector in the gas field to channeling cost, transmission cost, and to its downstream sector at the level of the distributor," Jokowi noted.

The President has also asked for reports on the implementation of Presidential Regulation no. 40/2016 on the natural gas price to study the potential hindrance to the industry.

In October 2019, the government aborted the proposal of PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk to increase the gas prices for the industrial sector. Earlier, the state-owned producer and distributor planned to implement the new prices on Nov 1, 2019.

At present, the selling price of gas for the industry is around US$7 – $10 per MMBTU.  (ANTARA)