VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Equatorial Guinea's Foreign Minister, Simeon Oyono, signed a memorandum of understanding regarding visa-free for diplomatic passport holders of the two countries in Nusa Dua Bali, Wednesday (21/8) .Equatorial Guinea's Foreign Minister after the signing of the memorandum of understanding said, visa free for diplomatic passport holders would help the mobility of officials of both countries.

“We have signed a visa-free agreement for diplomatic passport holders. This agreement can also facilitate movements for Indonesian citizens to enter Equatorial Guinea and vice versa,” Simeon Oyono said.

Simeon Oyono further explained that his visit to Indonesia would strengthen cooperation between the two countries.  Currently, Equatorial Guinea and Indonesia have cooperation in the oil and gas sector. According to him, the Equatorial Guinea government will expand economic cooperation in the interests of both Negara.// (VOI/Brg/AHM)

President Joko Widodo reviewed the Tenau Port loading and unloading activity in Kupang City, Wednesday, August 21, 2019. This review was part of a series of President's work visits to the Province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

To reporters, President Joko Widodo alluded to the operation of livestock ships that normally carry cattle from NTT to Jakarta. He said that of the 6 routes of cattle ships, 5 of them came from East Nusa Tenggara. Every year, according to the President, about 70 thousand cows are sent from NTT to Java, especially to Jakarta and its surroundings.

“This ship was once subsidized. Formerly it was Rp 700 thousand, now only Rp 200 thousand. That's what we want. It must have been empty at the beginning, subsidies, not long, now full of hold,” said President Joko Widodo.

Regarding the port development, the Head of State said that the capacity of the Tenau Port can still be optimized. Of the container dock terminal capacity of 240 thousand TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per year, the loading and unloading activities recorded in 2018 only reached 110,000 TEUs per year.

The government also strives for the future, in addition to cattle ships, the Port of Tenau is also crowded with ships going back and forth to other areas. These efforts, for example, are related to efforts to increase salt production in NTT which can later be sent to other regions.

Tenau Port of Kupang was built in 1964 with a pier length of 23 meters. This port activity is managed by Pelindo III in collaboration with the Class III Office of the Harvesting and Port Authority (KSOP) of Kupang.

Accompanying President Jokowi in the review of the Port of Tenau included the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Moeldoko, Special Staff of President Gories Mere, and NTT Governor Viktor Laiskodat. (VOI / ANDY / AHM)

Gorontalo Provincial Government will hold 2 major tourism events this year, Festival Pesona Danau Limboto (Lake Limboto Enchantment Festival) and Gorontalo Karawala Carnival. It was stated by Head of Tourism Office of Gorontalo Province, Rifli M. Katili, in a special interview with Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta, Wednesday (21/8). Rifli M. Katili hopes that the two big events can attract 1 million domestic tourists and 100,000 foreign tourists.

“So we have targets, a long term target and a short term one. In the long term target, we are expected by the central government, in this case the Ministry of Tourism, to help encourage foreign and domestic tourist visits. And this year we are aiming to reach the target of approximately 1 million for domestic tourists, and 10 percents of it for foreign tourists,” said Rifli M. Katili.

Rifli M. Katili added, Gorontalo Province has around 25 tourism agendas each year, which are spread out in every district and city. Lake Limboto Enchantment Festival will be held by Gorontalo District Government on 12 to 24 September. While Gorontalo Karawo Carnival will be held by the Gorontalo Provincial Government, in collaboration with Bank Indonesia Gorontalo Representative Office on 2 to 6 October. Karawo is a traditional Gorontalo cloth in the form of hand-made embroidery. Rifli M. Katili also hopes that Gorontalo Karawo Carnival which has been held for the 9th time, can introduce Gorontalo traditional cloth to the people of Indonesia and the world. (VOI / AHM)

President Joko Widodo-Jokowi, Wednesday (08/21/2019) afternoon, observed the operation of salt ponds in Nunkurus Village, East Kupang District, East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT).

President Jokowi, who was accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo, said that he wanted to ensure that the development of salt pond production in the area had been running at the same time seeing the potential it had.

The location of the salt pond visited by President Joko Widodo is producing on a 10 hectare pond area of ​​600 hectares of potential.

The development of the salt industry in NTT requires considerable investment. However, the full utilization of the 600 hectare pond will be pursued in the coming year. In addition, the President continued, local pond farmers will also be empowered so as to improve welfare.

“I'm just here to make sure that the program for salt business has started. Because we know that our salt imports are 3.7 million (metric) tons, which can only be produced domestically at 1.1 million tons. Next year will be completed 600 hectares, pond farmers will also be included. Working as well as participating (owning) like shares, so that later the people's income here can be better,” said President Joko Widodo.

Overall, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province has a large potential for salt production with a pond area of ​​approximately 21,000 hectares. Specifically in Kupang, at least 7,000 hectares of land can be developed for this purpose.

The Head of State also saw the salt produced by the pond and compared it with similar salt from outside the region. He made sure that the salt produced at Nunkurus was of very good quality.

During the visit, President Joko Widodo was accompanied by Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, and the Governor of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Viktor Laiskodat. (VOI / Ndy / AHM)