VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Respect for human rights has become an important element for the stability and development of a country, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Dutch Embassy for Indonesia Ardi Stoios-Braken said in Jakarta Thursday

"Respect for human rights is a crucial condition for stability, growth, trade and prosperity," Stoios-Braken said. The Dutch government works internationally to promote and protect human rights, with a focus, among others, on freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, and equal rights for all, she stated.

"In Southeast Asia, the Netherlands works closely with The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and its appointed representatives to protect and promote human rights in ASEAN," Stoios-Braken remarked. The Netherlands wishes to stay close and connected to the region, especially to work together with ASEAN and its member states to implement human rights treaties and the ASEAN Declaration on Human Rights, she remarked.

"As the only human rights body within ASEAN, the institution is responsible for advancing human rights regionally," Stoios-Braken stated.

This spirit is also shared by AICHR Indonesia, whose main goal is to ensure that it can evolve into a full fledged institution that is accountable, effective, and independent, Stoios-Braken continued.

"I hope this organization not only promotes but also protects human rights," she stated. (ANTARA)

The Indonesian and Bahrain governments agreed to increase economic cooperation, during a meeting of the two foreign ministers in Manama, Bahrain, recently. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met with her Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa as part of her working visit to the country, the Foreign Ministry said in a press statement released Wednesday.

She also held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sameer Abdulla Ahmed Nass.

The effort to enhance economic cooperation was the focus of the Indonesian foreign minister's working visit.

The two countries agreed to negotiate investment agreements and increase the direct contact between the businessmen of both countries.

Bahrain plans to send a trade mission to Indonesia this year.

The two foreign ministers also encouraged their respective governments to take part in defense exhibitions to be held in Bahrain in October and Indonesia in November this year.

"Cooperation in the aircraft industry, military uniforms and RBS 17 missile and helicopter C-130 maintenance is a concrete example of cooperation in the strategic industries that Indonesia and Bahrain can carry out," she said.

Indonesia and Bahrain launched diplomatic ties in 1976.

The trade between the two countries reached US$116.61 million in 2018 and US$206.3 million in 2017, according to the Indonesian Trade Ministry. (ANTARA)

The Indonesian government is considering revoking a number of regulations hindering the inflow of investments and the relocation of industries from other countries.

"Many companies are relocating their plants, so we must seize the opportunity," Trade Minister, Enggartiasto Lukita, said, following a coordination meeting between the central government, regional administrations and Bank Indonesia in Jakarta on Wednesday night.

"What potential investors have always complained about is the lack of synchrony between the regulations of the central and regional governments," he said

At the meeting, both the central and regional governments committed to easing licensing procedures, he said.

He went on to say the Trade Ministry will always make efforts to open greater access to foreign markets through a number of trade agreements in order to strengthen the performance of the national manufacturing industry.

The Trade Ministry has set a target of accomplishing three trade agreements with other countries at the end of this year to push exports and attract more investments to Indonesia, he said.

"We have signed 14 trade agreements in the past three years. We expect to sign three more trade agreements at the end of this year," he said. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo at a limited Cabinet meeting Tuesday ordered a breakthrough to encourage the acceleration of the industry 4.0 roadmap.

"During this limited meeting, I want to hear the implementation report on the industry 4.0 roadmap. Our steps to face rapid, particularly the fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0 should be measurable and clear. We should dare to make various leaps and breakthroughs," President Widodo said at the President's Office in Jakarta, Tuesday.

The limited meeting was attended by Minister of Research and Higher Education M Natsir, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukito, and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BPKM) Thomas Lembong.

"I want to remind you again that the industry 4.0 roadmap was launched in April 2018," the President remarked.

Several breakthroughs are necessary, such as improving regulations, improving the quality of human resources, building a good ecosystem of innovation, increasing incentives for investment in technology, and redesigning industrial zones to improve the flow of material.

"The steps of change should be realized in five priority sectors, namely food and beverages, automotive, textile, electronics, and chemicals," the President said.

If the government concentrates on improving the structure of the national industry, it can be even stronger.

"Then we can increase gross domestic product (GDP) significantly, especially exports and investment," he said.

The implementation of the industry roadmap is expected to create more than 10 million jobs.

The launch of Making Indonesia 4.0 as a roadmap for integrating strategies to enter the industrial 4.0 era was held at the Indonesia Industrial Summit 2018 on April 4, 2018.

Making Indonesia 4.0 provides a clear direction for the movement of the national industry with a focus on developing five manufacturing sectors that will be piloted and undertake 10 national initiatives to strengthen Indonesia's industrial structure.

The successful implementation of Making Indonesia 4.0 can then drive the growth of real GDP by one to two percent per year so that per year it will rise from the "baseline" from five to between six and seven percent between 2018 and 2030. The manufacturing industry’s share from this achievement should be between 21 and 26 percent of the GDP in 2030.

In addition to increasing productivity, Making Indonesia 4.0 promises to create 7 to 19 million jobs, both in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors by 2030 as a result of greater export demand.

The five main technologies that support the implementation of Industry 4.0, are the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Human-Machine Interface, robotics and sensor technology, and 3D Printing technology.

For the initial implementation of Industry 4.0, Indonesia will need to focus on five manufacturing sectors, such as the food and beverage industry, the textile and clothing industry, the automotive industry, the chemical industry, and the electronics industry.

Besides, Making Indonesia 4.0 includes 10 cross-sectoral national initiatives to accelerate the development of the domestic manufacturing industry. These are improving the flow of goods and materials, building a comprehensive and cross-industrial zone road map, accommodating sustainability standards, empowering small and medium industries, and building national digital infrastructure.

Thereafter, one must attract foreign investment, improve the quality of human resources, develop the innovation ecosystems, incentivize technological investment, and harmonize rules and policies. (ANTARA)