Indonesia has been seen to begin implementing the concept of circular economy that can proffer social, economic, and environmental benefits to the nation.

"We believe the concept of a circular economy is an answer that at the same time touches on social, economic, and environmental benefits in Indonesia," Secretary-General of the Packaging and Recycling Association for Indonesia Sustainable Environment (PRAISE) Mignone Maramis remarked at the press conference of the "3rd Indonesia Circular Economy Forum" (ICEF) in Jakarta, Monday.

To this end, he affirmed that Indonesia should divert its focus on those employed in the informal sector, such as scavengers, who can support implementation of the circular economy.

It is also suggested that Indonesia take a cue from different practices applied by developed countries.

"However, Indonesia yet requires to adjust to the context of the situation and its priorities; it still needs time. In Europe alone, several decades are needed. In Indonesia, waste management may have been underway though not optimally," Maramis stated.

Circular economy translates to optimal utilization of goods. The concept of a circular economy strives to maintain product value, so that it can be used repeatedly without producing waste, or zero waste, in three ways: recycle, reuse, and re-manufacture.

PRAISE, as an association of production and packaging companies comprising six members -- Coca Cola, Danone, Indofood, Nestle, Tetrapak, and Unilever -- has been implementing this concept by cooperating with several garbage banks, trash disposal sites, local governments, as well as ministries and institutions.

On the same occasion, Bert Keesman, a representative of the Dutch companies in Indonesia, stated that the Netherlands had outlined a target to achieve 70 percent of the implementation of the circular economy in 2030 and is expected to achieve 100 percent of its implementation in all fields by 2050.

"Currently, the Netherlands is able to recycle 80 percent of its waste, while 13 percent is yet in the process of incineration, and three percent of which we must admit is yet ending up in landfills. On the other hand, we are happy that increasingly more number of Dutch companies are moving towards the concept of circular economy," Keesman stated. (ANTARA)

The domestic food and beverage industry will grow eight percent at the end of 2019, falling short of the target of nine percent, the Industry Ministry has stated in its projections for the year. "I hope the growth will still be above eight percent. It seems difficult to reach nine percent, more so because it is still affected by (the growth) in the first semester of 2019," Director General of Agro-Industry of the Industry Ministry Abdul Rochim said in Jakarta Monday.

The food and beverage industry only grew 7.4 percent in the first semester of 2019, well below the target of nine percent due to the general elections, he said.

"As we know there were legislative and presidential elections in the first semester so investors put their plans on hold. They still wanted to wait and see. It began to show significant growth only after the first semester," he said.

"The growth rose significantly in the third quarter of 2019, reaching 8.33 percent. Hopefully, it will continue to grow in the fourth quarter of 2019," he said.

Cumulatively, the food and beverage industry grew 7.72 percent until the third quarter of 2019.

"In the fourth quarter there will be Christmas and New Year Eve celebrations so they will likely push up the growth," he said. (ANTARA)

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has expressed optimism that Indonesia would have a strong national defense industry in future.

The national defense industry is currently able to produce propellants used in bullet and rocket propulsion, he stated at a hearing with the House of Representatives’ (DPR’s) Commission I in Jakarta on Monday.

"I thank God that we have been able to produce propellants, raw material used to produce bullets and rockets, domestically. I am optimistic that in the years to come, we would have a strong defense industry," he noted.

Prabowo pointed out that state firms engaged in the defense industry, including weapons manufacturer PT Pindad, shipbuilder PT PAL, and aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia, were able to export their products.

He stated that the Defense Ministry is seeking to create strong and professional state defense and security, and that the National Defense Forces (TNI) will be reckoned at a regional level. "In December 2019, we will complete software products and revise and update the state defense and security strategy and doctrine and unveil them to the relevant institutes and the president responsible for state defense and security," he remarked.

He planned to hold a meeting of leaders in the defense field from all stakeholders to discuss the state defense and security doctrine.

Vice Defense Minister Wahyu Trenggono was also present at the meeting led by Chief of DPR Commission I Meutya Hafid. (ANTARA)

The Greater Jakarta line of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) will become fully operational in June 2021, Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan reaffirmed in Jakarta, Monday.

"Our target (for LRT's completion) remains in June or July 2021," the minister stated at a ceremony of the final casting of the Kuningan long span arch bridge in Jakarta.

The arch bridge, part of LRT's Cawang-Dukuh Atas section, was called as the world's longest curved concrete bridge structure, with length reaching 148 meters.

For the last months in this year, the Transportation Ministry and the operator city-owned LRT Jakarta launched trials for LRT's operation by utilizing sets of carriages manufactured by state-owned PT INKA.

"The trial run will be launched for the next six to seven months," Pandjaitan stated.

The work to construct LRT's Greater Jakarta line had reached 67.3 percent completion, the state-owned PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk, the main contractor, stated.

In addition, work on the Cawang-Cibubur section had reached 86.2 percent completion, while progress in the construction of Cawang-Dukuh Atas section had reached 53.8 percent, the contractor's president director, Budi Harto, explained.

He stated that work to construct the Cawang-Bekasi section had reached 60.5 percent completion.

"We have conducted a dynamic test for LRT's Cawang-Cibubur section, and the train has been back and forth, as we test its speed," Harto remarked. (ANTARA)