Chairman of the Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association Board (APPBI) for Bali Province Gita Sunarwulan voiced support for the movement to reduce the use of plastic bags at shopping centers, including major modern ones.

"In principle, we support the movement and have called on shopping centers, especially those in Bali, to reduce the use of plastic bags," Sunarwulan noted on the sidelines of Bali Ultimage Great Sale in Denpasar, Bali, on Thursday.

Sunarwulan remarked that the people and visitors were also expected to support the government`s program in creating a clean environment.

She affirmed that it is an effort to follow up on the government`s program to reduce and also negate the use of plastic bags. Data released by the government showed that plastic waste pollution had disrupted the ocean ecosystem.

"We have appealed to APPBI members to follow the government regulations, so that in future, the environment will be better," she stated.

Meanwhile, Zenzen Giusi Halmis, the mall manager of Level 21, said she had reminded the tenants or traders at the shopping center on the ban on the use of plastic bags to carry items purchased in shopping centers.

"We support Denpasar City Mayor Regulation (Perwli) Number 36 of 2018 on Reduction in the Use of Plastic Bags. This is a good step to preserve the environment, so that in future, Bali and also this earth are free of plastic waste," he emphasized. (ANTARA)

The Federal Republic of Germany, through the KfW Development Bank, has allocated 25 million Euros or around Rp413 billion to rebuild important infrastructures and facilities in Central Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara which were hit by earthquakes and tsunami some time ago.

The grant will be managed by the United Nations Development Programs Agency (UNDP) within the period of 2019-2020 in collaboration with the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and the provincial administrations.

"I was shocked by the level of damage that I witnessed on my last visit to Sulawesi. Therefore I am very proud of this important project which is also an example of our interstate solidarity," Germany Ambassador to Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor Leste Peter Schoof said in a statement received by Antara in Jakarta, Wednesday (Dec 12).

In August 2018, Lombok Island in West Nusa Tenggara Province was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake and killed 564 people while left 400,000 people homeless. The earthquake also damaged more than 70 thousand houses.

The following month, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Palu City and its surroundings in Central Sulawesi, killed more than 2,000 people, and caused more than 173 thousand people homeless.

The disaster also damaged 68 thousand houses, 176 health facilities including two large hospitals and more than 1,500 schools.

The Director of UNDP Indonesia, Christophe Bahuet, appreciated the financial contribution provided by the German government. The funds will help rebuild infrastructure and support people in disaster-stricken areas.

"When entering the recovery and reconstruction phase, funding from the KfW Development Bank will provide resources. Reconstruction and recovery public infrastructure include health, education and solid waste management facilities," Bahuet noted.

The funding will also help people restart their economic activities and build strength to future shocks, he continued.

The Indonesian government is preparing Master Plan and Reconstruction Action Plan that will guide the implementation of infrastructure recovery projects in Central Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara.

Together with other UN agencies, UNDP has implemented disaster relief programs to support post-disaster recovery efforts in 2018, with some funding coming from UNDP and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

An important part of the program is the UNDP cash-for-work initiative to clean up the debris of buildings that were hit by an earthquake involving hundreds of people who survived the earthquake in Palu. (ANTARA)

Team of Indonesian permanent representative for ASEAN conduct a visit to Timor Leste to view the readiness of the youngest country in South-East Asia to be the 11th member. Director General of Cooperation for ASEAN of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Jose Antonio Morato Tavares to RRI World Service in Jakarta on Tuesday said that the membership of Timor Leste in ASEAN has to based on consensus of all members of ASEAN. Therefore, Indonesian government continously makes an effort to support Timor Leste’s membership in ASEAN by asking the former youngest province in Indonesia to attanded several occassion that related to ASEAN.

“Timor Leste membership offcourse have to be based on the consensus. Recently, the committee permanent representative, Pak Ade Padmo with his team made a visit there to see Timor Leste readiness to be member of ASEAN, and in the future we also engage Timor Leste in several non- decision making meetings. Timor Leste is also invited to attand Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum in Manila and they were there, they begin to observed. We hope other ASEAN member countries know and it soon can be member of ASEAN,” said Director General of Cooperation for ASEAN of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Jose Antonio Morato Tavares.

Timor Leste’s will to be member of ASEAN has been struck by one country that caused the delaye of its membership in ASEAN. The decision to make Timor Leste as the member of ASEAN is a political decision of head of state. Timor Leste’s proposal to ASEAN has been submitted since 2011 when Indonesia was Chairman of ASEAN and Indonesia supports the proposal. (VOI/Viqran/trans : NK/AHM) 

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is expected to be involved in the development of education in Indonesia through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

"The national budget for education in Indonesia is 20 percent, or around Rp440 trillion, and this is the biggest among other sectors. However, this budget is not sufficient, given the complexity in enhancing the level of education, so the Public-Private Partnerships scheme is needed in this development program," Minister of National Development Planning Bambang Brodjonegoro remarked in a keynote speech at a workshop themed "Unlocking Indonesia`s Potentials in Procuring Social Sector Projects Through Public-Private Partnerships" held in Jakarta, Tuesday.

He added that the level of education in Java was relatively even, at 11.5 years. However, in other areas, such as Papua, the education level was still 8.5 years.

According to Brodjonegoro, the government is currently enhancing the quality of education and equitable distribution of educational facilities and infrastructure, ranging from early childhood education to higher education and at the same time improving the quality and competence of teachers.

"The government is also improving the quality of vocational education to reduce the rate of unemployment and offering education that is in tune with the demands of the industry through the link and match program that aligns education with the requirements of the job market," Brodjonegoro remarked.

According to Brodjonegoro, education is a new sector for the private sector in expanding its business.

He explained that the private sector can take part in designing, building, and financing the operation and maintenance of a development project, while the government has a role in the acquisition and provision of lands, issuance of regulations, and management of risks and uncertain conditions that might arise during the project.

"The IsDB can be involved in the PPP scheme for the construction of social infrastructure. Guarantees from the government, through ministries, government agencies, local administrations, and related state-owned enterprises, will make a project more feasible," Brodjonegoro stated.

In addition to education, IsDB is expected to be involved in health sector development projects within the framework of PPP.

Brodjonegoro noted that the health and education development program is expected to obtain financial support from IsDB, as the two sectors are not only included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but are also the prioritized agenda of the Indonesian government.

He stressed that SDGs are more of an opportunity to invest rather than the development goals.

The workshop held by the ISDB brings together several ministries, local administrations, and the private sectors to build in-depth knowledge on PPP in the development of social infrastructure, especially the health and education sectors. (ANTARA)