President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) chaired a limited cabinet meeting at the Bogor Palace, Bogor, West Java, Wednesday, to discuss the development of human resources for acceleration of economic growth.

"I want to recall that a large stage of infrastructure development has been ongoing, and several projects have been completed, and many results have been seen. We will enter the next major stage, which is investment in the field of human resources to boost development," Jokowi, who was accompanied by Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla, stated.

The development of human resources must be able to turn an Indonesian population of 260 million into a major force of Indonesia, he added.

"Not only to support acceleration in economic growth, but it should also be able to improve the welfare to catch up with common progress," he stated.

The president outlined two keys in the development of human resources, with the first being improvement in the education system, particularly through revitalization of vocational education that has to be aligned with the industrial needs and technological progress.

"Over the last four years, we had begun making changes and improvements in our vocational education system, but I think we have not fully carried out major changes," he stated, adding that a major overhaul must be conducted.

The second key is improvement of the skills of job seekers and workers through vocational courses and certification program, he remarked.

"I ask that next year, it should be done on a large scale. I have seen, for instance, in the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry (PUPR), the certification program for workers has run very well, but it is still on a small scale," he noted.

The program must be pushed further by involving the government, businesses, and education stakeholders, as well as Islamic boarding schools.

The limited cabinet meeting was attended by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Staff Chief Moeldoko, State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Communication and Informatics Minister Rudiantara, and Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo extended his congratulation on the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad SAW on 12 Rabiul Awal of 1440 Hijriah.

The president, through his @jokowi tweeter account uploaded on Tuesday, said "Prophet Muhammad SAW is a person who is the best example (uswatun hasanah) who is so noble, gentle, honest, polite, trustworthy, and always tells the truth.

"It is only by imitating the nature of the prophet that people can embody Islam that is rahmatan lil `alamin". (very peaceful to all kind of human beings).

The president`s congratulation was uploaded around 08.37 WIB until 09.30 WIB which was retweeted 1,583 times and 3,000 likes.

His congratulation also included picture of president`s paintings with the children of santri (male students) and santriwati (female students). In the picture President Jokowi wore a blue coat and black cap. (ANTARA)

Indonesia presented the Primaduta Award 2018 in the prospective market category to Meghna Group of Industries (MGI), a Bangladeshi industrial conglomerate.

"It is such a wonderful moment that this year, for the first time, a Bangladeshi company wins the prestigious Primaduta Award, presented every year by the Government of Indonesia to acknowledge and laud international importers or buyers, who continue to buy Indonesian products," Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Rina P. Soemarno stated in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on late Monday.

MGI is one of the largest conglomerates in Bangladesh that produces consumer goods. Since 1991, MGI has imported raw material and supporting material from Indonesia for its industries, such as palm oil, pulp, paper, and used iron.

In 2016, MGI had expanded the type of imported products from Indonesia and purchased hard wood pulp. The country has recorded a significant increase in trade transactions with Indonesia every year.

With a turnover of US$2.5 billion and assets worth $1 billion, MGI is operating in 45 companies, with 25 thousand employees, three thousand distributors, and one thousand suppliers under its umbrella.

The Primaduta Award 2018 was presented by Ambassador Soemarno to Chairman and Managing Director of MGI Mustofa Kamal at the Indonesian Embassy in Dhaka.

The government presents the Primaduta Award to buyers and importers, who have remained loyal buyers of Indonesian products on a frequent basis, as is apparent by import transactions recorded over a period of five years and as such contributing to an increase in exports as well as developing the types of products purchased from the country.

The award have been presented to various companies since 2014. It has four award categories: small- and medium-scale enterprises (SME) products in the primary market, SME products in the potential market, manufacturing products in the primary market, and manufacturing products in the potential market. (ANTARA)

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved US$500 million emergency assistance loan to support Indonesia`s recovery and rehabilitation of Lombok and Palu after recent disasters claimed thousands of lives and destroyed infrastructure.

"ADB`s emergency assistance loan provides timely and flexible financing to help mitigate the devastating impacts of the recent disasters," ADB`s Director for Public Management, Financial Sector, and Trade Division for Southeast Asia Sona Shrestha noted in a statement here on Tuesday.

The loan will provide immediate funding for the government`s recovery and rehabilitation action plans, targeting urgent needs, such as temporary shelters, social protection and social services, as well as economic recovery through cash assistance, credit schemes, and skills improvement programs.

"The quick-disbursing loan modality will help ensure that post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation expenditures are met without compromising critical economic and social development expenditures in the national budget," Shrestha remarked.

The loan, named Emergency Assistance for Recovery and Rehabilitation from Recent Disasters, is part of ADB`s response to two recent disasters that hit Indonesia, including a magnitude-7.0 earthquake that struck Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, in August and a magnitude-7.4 earthquake that hit Central Sulawesi Province in September.

The disasters claimed the lives of more than 2,600 people, injured some 18 thousand people, and displaced more than half a million. Housing and public infrastructure have suffered extensive damage.

The impact of the Central Sulawesi disaster has been particularly severe, as the earthquake caused landslides, tsunami, and liquefaction, a condition where the ground itself loses stability and takes on liquid properties.

Initial assessments suggest over US$2.2 billion in damage and losses in the affected provinces.

In addition to physical damage, the disasters will have a severe impact on the livelihoods of affected people.

ADB Public Management Specialist Robert Boothe projected growth in both provinces to fall by more than half, employment opportunities to shrink, and poverty incidence is projected to rapidly increase as a result of the disasters.

"ADB`s support will help the government mitigate these effects, especially for women, the elderly, and vulnerable groups," he noted.

In October, the ADB approved an emergency grant of US$3 million from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund for immediate relief works in Central Sulawesi.

In addition, ADB has supported the government through offering technical assistance in assessment of post-disaster needs and reconstruction planning and preparing emergency assistance project loan of up to US$500 million to support the reconstruction of critical infrastructure in the medium term in affected areas.

The ADB is also preparing new technical assistance to build capacity for robust monitoring, evaluation, and financial reporting of the rehabilitation and reconstruction plans. (ANTARA)