VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian delegation led by the Director of the Ministry of Trade's Bilateral Negotiations, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, is conducting the second round of Preferential Trade Agreement (IM-PTA) negotiations on Thursday (8/11), in, Maputo, Mozambique. She told Voice of Indonesia on Thursday that the negotiations were a follow-up to the first negotiations which were completed in June. She hoped that this second meeting could resolve substantive issues and at the end of the year, business actors could immediately use them. This agreement will reduce or eliminate import duty rates for a number of products that are in the interests of both countries.

"We did not choose FTA, Free Trade Agreement nor CEPA, Comprehensive Economic Partneship Agreement. But we chose PTA, Preferential Trade Agreement. This means that we only give preferential treatment for a few products. Why? To speed up, then to be realistic too. So if the country has a new relationship, but its potential exists, we do it like this. With Mozambique, we just decided on 100 products. It is called Tariff lines. So it's faster. So after negotiating twice, there has been a good prospect to complete it," said Ni Made Ayu.

Ni Made Marthini further explained that increasing market access to non-traditional areas, especially Africa, is one of the focuses of President Jokowi's policy in promoting national exports. Mozambique has a large market potential because it can be used as a hub for the entry of Indonesian products into the African region, especially in the South African region. There are still many potential products that have not been maximally explored. Besides that, this country produces raw materials needed by industries in Indonesia. According to her, Indonesia's potential products that can be exported to Mozambique are CPO and its derivatives, Fatty Acid and soap. According to Ni Made, the export of soap from Indonesia is very popular in African countries. (VOI/SEKAR/AHM)

Indonesia will bring several important issues, one of which is the Indo-Pacific issue at the ASEAN Summit and other High Level Conferences in Singapore, in mid-November. As stated by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi after a limited meeting on preparation of President Joko Widodo's Working Visit to the ASEAN Summit in Singapore and the APEC Summit in Papua New Guinea at the Presidential Office, Jakarta Thursday (Nov 8). Furthermore Retno Marsudi explained that Indonesia also has an interest in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, to finalize the concept of large economic cooperation among member countries.

"Presenting the concept of dealing with the Indo-Pacific problems. If we look at this, it is a point where the EAS president will present the Indo Pacific after having been discussing for one and a half years, we have carried out intensive consultations with both ASEAN member countries and ASEAN partners. This is a journey from 2014 at the time when the EAS and the President presented our Fulcrum maritime. Indo Pacific issue has been mentioned and that was the time when the president presents the Indo Pacific concept,” said Retno Marsudi.

The ASEAN Summit will be held on November 13-15, 2018, while the APEC Summit will be held in Papua New Guinea on November 16-18, 2018. On the sidelines of the summit there will be a meeting between ASEAN and ASEAN friendly countries, including Japan , China to Russia. Especially for the meeting between ASEAN and Russia, Indonesia will act as the meeting coordinator and will discuss cooperation between ASEAN and Russia. (KBRN/MAR/DIPTA/AHM)

Indonesian President, Joko Widodo will attend the plenary session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit or the 33rd ASEAN Summit on November 13 in Sun City, Singapore. He will be accompanied by the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno LP Marsudi. The Foreign Ministry's Director of External Cooperation, Benny Siahaan, told the media in Jakarta on Thursday (8/11) that President Joko Widodo would convey Indonesia's views in the session including the crisis in the region including the humanitarian crisis at the Rakhine State.

"On November 13 there will be a plenary session. The President will convey the importance of ASEAN as a family, especially in facing the crisis in the region. Second, ASEAN will still help Myanmar to resolve the humanitarian crisis at the Rakhine State, also on the Indopacific concept. Currently, there are about 7 outcomes that will be ratified," Benny said.

According to Benny Siahaan, the 7 outcomes that will be produced include the smart cities framework proposed by Singapore, the ASEAN declaration to support inclusive and equal employment, a joint statement on climate change, and a declaration for guidance on consular assistance. Meanwhile, on November 14 there will be an ASEAN meeting with its partner countries, namely the ASEAN-Australia, ASEAN-China, ASEAN-Russia and ASEAN-Japan meetings. As for November 15, the ASEAN-United States and ASEAN +3 meetings will be held as well as the East Asia Summit. In the ASEAN-Russia meeting, Indonesia will act as a coordinator and President Joko Widodo will submit the ASEAN common statement which contains the views of ASEAN countries towards Russia. (VOI/VIQRAN/AHM)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) conducted an audience to prepare for the mass production of the “Gesits” electric motorcycle, at Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/11). The public audience was attended by Minister of Research and Technology and High Education, Mohammad Nasir and some related stakeholders in developing electric motorcycle “Gesits”. After the audience, the President tested the prototype of electric motorcycle produced by Indonesian people. The President expressed his appreciation over the presence of the electric motorcycle made in Indonesia.

“Whatever the motorcycle is, the important thing is that the price is competitive and more efficient compared with conventional ones and it will be welcome by market. I think the faster is the better. The brand of the motorcycle launched in Indonesian market is very good,” said President Joko Widodo.

President Joko Widodo also highlighted the readiness of Indonesia to provide materials needed as support for the electric motorcycle.

“The most crucial is the lithium battery production. We have the raw material. If the battery is available, we can take it everywhere. The key is on the battery, including the charging for battery for 3 hours and it is so fast. I looked at the motorcycle exhibition. It was 8 hours. Now, I am surprised that the battery can be recharged for 3 hours,” Joko Widodo said.

The electric motorcycle, Gesits has passed a series of tests before it is launched in the market. Minister of Research and Technology and High Education, Mohammad Nasir said that the electric motorcycle is the production of Surabaya Technology Institute and it has been tested on road from Jakarta–Bali. (Ndy-Trans: AF)