The government continues to build infrastructure to support tourism in Indonesia. In addition, the target of tourist visits to 10 new Bali destinations also continues to be maximized. On the sidelines of the 2020 Tourism business opportunity event initiated by the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association in Jakarta, Thursday (12/20), Deputy of Development and Institutional Industry at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Giri Adnyani told Voice of Indonesia that in 2020, if infrastructure economic support has been completed, Indonesia's tourism target will also be achieved.

“President Jokowi reiterated that the super-priority destinations to be supported by basic infrastructure are completed in 2020. Well of course, we are optimistic that basic infrastructure is completed and then, the regional governments are also committed whether it is the commitment of the Regent, the commitment of under the regent or Camat who owns the destination. All of these are supported by stakeholders, and everything will certainly be achieved," said Giri Adnyani.

Giri Adnyani further said that the notes of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) contained in the National Long-Term Development Plan -RPJN Draft targets the visit of 18.5 million tourists to come to Indonesia in 2020. However, the figure refers to the temporary number of tourist visits to Indonesia around 15.8 million in the year 2019. , the Ministry is evaluating to achieve the desired achievements in the 2020 RPJN. She added that even though the number of visits had not reached the target in 2019, the foreign exchange target has already exceeded. (VOI / mstn / AHM)

To boost national competitiveness, the Indonesian government developed Research and Development –R&D that begins with prototyping and industrialization. The government also encourages the strengthening of collaboration between research institutions and industry. This was revealed by Minister of Research and Technology, Bambang Brodjonegoro in the 'Business Innovation Gathering 2019' at the Auditorium of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in Jakarta, Thursday (19/12)

"We, as the government, will strive to facilitate closer interaction and collaboration between the business world and the world of research, represented by the Village Community Empowerment Institute (LPMK) and tertiary institutions. The hope is that the tertiary institution when conducting research or research institutions such as LIPI, The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) and the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) when conducting research, they conduct research that leads to innovation. Innovations that are indeed needed by the community. innovations that are indeed accepted by the market, innovations that can indeed have commercial value,” said Bambang Brodjonegoro.

In addition, Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said that the government needs continuous collaboration or communication between research institutions and the business world. He also said that the focus that can be developed in innovation is appropriate innovation that can be felt directly by the community and innovations related to the creation of added value or down-stream such as from agricultural products or mining products. (VOI / Ahmad Faisal / AHM)

President Joko Widodo at the new terminal of Syamsudin Noor International Airport in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Wednesday (Dec 18, 2019) (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the new terminal of Syamsudin Noor International Airport in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Wednesday.

"I was impressed when I entered this new terminal of the Syamsudin Noor International Airport," President Jokowi noted in his remarks during the inauguration of the new terminal of Syamsudin Noor Airport in Banjarmasin on Wednesday.

The head of state arrived at the Syamsudin Noor Airport at 11:40 local time and headed straight to inspect the new terminal and intermittently greeted passengers.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi spoke at length on some details of the Syamsudin Noor Airport.

After reviewing the terminal, the president headed to the inauguration tent.

President Jokowi stated that the old terminal only had nine thousand square meters, while the new terminal spanned 77 thousand square meters.

The president noted that an over seven percent growth in the number of passengers had been recorded at Syamsudin Noor Airport.

President Jokowi remarked that the government had continued to build infrastructure, so that it could compete with other developed nations.

"We continue to build toll roads, airports, power plants, ports, and industrial areas," he stated.

President Jokowi expects that the new airport will be connected to tourist and industrial areas.

"That is the duty of the provinces, districts, and cities," he added. (ANTARA)

Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara during Property Outlook 2020 in Jakarta on Wednesday. (18/12/2019) (ANTARA)

Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara has pushed for efforts to augment state assets in the form of property, including buildings, in order to sustain the Indonesian economy in the midst of the rising global turmoil.

"We have many state assets. The assets should be optimized for business," Nazara remarked in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The first step to be taken is to organize the administration and ensure ownership to offer greater clarity on its completeness and status. The utilization of state assets in the form of property can be maximized.

Suahasil explained that thereafter, the state assets, in the form of buildings, must also be managed and utilized most favorably so that they have added value for state revenue.

He remarked that to this end, the Directorate General of State Assets (DJKN) will continue to work closely with various parties, such as the State Asset Management Institute (LMAN) and PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI), in managing the country's assets.

Suahasil explained that the cooperation aimed to map various state assets spread across Indonesia, such as the central government, that has assets in cities and regions as well as local government assets.

On the other hand, he emphasized that coordination would not suffice if it were to only involve one or two parties. Business players, especially the property sector, should be invited to make the management more professional.
Suahasil remarked that state assets in the form of property were utilized for the prosperity of the people, as the sector was deemed important and able to drive Indonesia's economy.

In the meantime, Director General of State Assets of the Ministry of Finance Isa Rachmatarwata stated that efforts to optimize state-owned property are not only for profit but also to create an ecosystem brimming with economic activities.

"It is not just the revenue, but we also want to create new economic activities," Rachmatarwata stated.

Director of State Property (BMN) Encep Sudarwan remarked that the optimization of state assets could reflect the government’s potential in conducting development. (ANTARA)