An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter Scale hit Bengkulu on Sunday afternoon, but no report of casualty and property damaged.

The quake hit at 15.39 local time, with an epicenter in Lebong, 633 kilometers northwest of Jakarta at a depth of 192 kilometers. 

Spokesman of the Bengkulu Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics office Sudianto said the epicenter was on shore, therefore, there is no potential to trigger a tsunami. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo President Joko Widodo attended the 2018 National Christmas celebration held in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, on Saturday (29/12).

“To all Christians, please  always be the  salt and light of the world, by always opening your  heart to receive wisdom. Because blessed is the one who gets wisdom, the profits outweigh gold and silver, more valuable than gems. By accepting wisdom, our path is full of happiness, full of a sense of well-being. With wisdom we work together to build Indonesia. With wisdom we help each other,” said President Joko Widodo..

Furthermore President Joko Widodo also said that a Christmas celebration should be a true celebration for Christians to bring peace to Indonesia. The President also appealed to the entire community to continue to maintain national unity. Meanwhile, the Head of the North Sumatra Regional Police Public Relations Division, Chief Commissioner of Police Tatan Dirsan Atmaja, said that the North Sumatra Regional Police deployed one thousand five hundred police personnel to secure the 2018 National Christmas celebration in Deli Serdang. He said, the number was added with around two thousand TNI personnel to secure more than 15 thousand people present to participate in celebrating Christmas which was attended by President Joko Widodo. (Ndy trans by PUTRI)

President Joko Widodo attended the closing of the JCI 2018 at the Jakarta Stock Exchange.

"I want to express optimism over the development of our stock exchange market," the President said in his remarks at the inauguration of the trading of the stock exchange on Friday afternoon.

The president said the BEI`s achievements in 2018 are in line with the expectations of 6194.49.

According to the President, the performance of IDX had a positive impact amid global economic conditions that were dynamic and difficult to predict.

The optimism over the Indonesia Stock Exchange shows that the Indonesian economy is undergoing a transition from consumptive to productive habits, the President said.

"This happens due to cooperation and collaboration because of the synergy among the monetary sector, the fiscal sector, the real sector, industry and the business world. All three can consolidate well, can work together, collaborate, and complement each other so that we expect our economic growth this year to reach more than 5 percent, Jokowi further stressed.

The President hopes that the Indonesian capital market will become a strong, healthy and stable barometer. (ANTARA)

Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita affirmed he will expand Indonesia’s export market to improve the trade balance that was still in deficit until the end of 2018.

"For exports, we have opened new markets, and we will still conduct trade agreements," Lukita noted while visiting the "Omo! Healthy Snack" factory on Jalan Magelang , Yogyakarta on Thursday.

The trade minister said Indonesia`s trade balance until the end of 2018 is still in deficit, as exports have decreased, while the imports of raw materials had, in fact, increased.

Although both export-oriented and domestic markets have experienced a sharp increase, the machines used are still imported from abroad, the minister pointed out.

"Our exports are declining, and the purchasing power of the world is also decreasing. The construction of our infrastructure is extraordinary, but consequently, the import of capital goods has also increased," he noted.

Lukita said the export activity of palm oil is currently experiencing the biggest correction owing to the high cost still incurred in palm oil entering the region.

"The correction in palm oil is rather sharp, especially to India and Europe. India has hiked import duties to 45 percent, or three times the increase. I have spoken with the Indian trade minister," he noted.

Lukita admitted to not being too hesitant and concerned about the economic condition since he along with Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto had constantly monitored to see the extent of development of the Indonesian industry in future.

To reduce the trade balance deficit, he noted that the Ministry of Trade had opened new export markets and entered into trade agreements with various countries.

"Cooperation with Australia is just a matter of time. Starting January 2019, hopefully, (cooperation will be forged) with Mozambique and Tunisia, followed by Morocco," he added. (ANTARA)