Researcher of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences -LIPI, Pangky Tri Febiansyah told  media after Media Briefing at   LIPI’s Building in  Jakarta on Wednesday (17/10) said that the existence of tourism infrastructure must confirm the importance of government to design comprehensive strategy. He said that the government  must give easiness for foreigners to have holidays in Indonesia.

“Minimally, it is not only physical infrastructure, but also how the entry process of people’s attendance can be better. So, the infrastructure of tourists  can be better. Take for example,  the  management of making visa to Indonesia is good. So, we encourage the infrastructure there because the target is how the people can enter faster,” said Pangky Tri Febiansyah.

Besides, Pangky Tri Febiansyah also explained that the design of tourism development which is comprehensively competitive must include physical infrastructure pillars, such as human resources, finance and system. He added that the dimension is expected to be a benchmark in a bid to materialize the quality tourism sector both as alternative income resources and the nation’s identity in a global spectrum. (VOI/AF/AHM)

President Joko Widodo visited Lombok on Thursday morning (18/10/2018) to have a close look at the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction at the post-earthquake in Lombok.  While arriving at Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport, in Central Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara –NTB Province, President Joko Widodo accompanied by First Lady and some Ministers of Working Cabinet held a joint meeting with some mayors and regents in NTB. After the meeting, President Joko Widodo said that the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction at the post-earthquake in Lombok is taking place. The President also cut some requirements needed for fund disbursement to reconstruct the people’s houses.   This is aimed at speeding up the process of rehabilitation in Lombok post-earthquake.

“I want to personally look at the progress of development in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process which has been said by Minister of Public Work and Housing. The public facility is on progress. I think we need to know it. Secondly, the  process of rehabilitation and reconstruction for people’s house development has started, but there are 17 procedures to process the fund disbursement that  must be done, and we decided  to make to only one procedure last week .Today, I want to take a look after the procedure become one. Is it still complicated or not. The government has prepared and Minister of Finance explained it to me that there is Rp960 billion that can be distributed to the people,” said Joko Widodo.

Related to scholarship for students and university students in Lombok, President Joko Widodo said that the government will give 4,500 scholarships for senior high and university students impacted by the earthquake. The scholarship is distributed symbolically during the President’s visit on Thursday. (VOI/Ndy-Trans by AF/AHM)

Russian Federation government will host the 12th Convention on Joint Convention between Indonesia and Russia in the field of trade, economy and technic held in Moscow, Russia on 26 October 2018. Ambassador of Russian Federation to Indonesia, Lyudmila Vorobieva to RRI World Service, Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/10) said that  the delegation of the Joint Commission of Indonesia will be led by Coordinating  Minister of Economy, Darmin Nasution and the Russian delegation will be led by Russian Trade and Industry  Minister, Denis V. Manturov.

“Next week we would be having a session of our Joint Commission between our two governments on cooperation in difference spheres that our coach here from the Russian side by the Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. Manturov and from the Indonesian side the Minister Coordinator  (of economy) Pak Darmin Nasution. So, this will present a perfect opportunity to discuss all the ways to boost our relations in economic sphere, in trade, investment,” said Lyudmila Vorobieva.

Furthermore, Ambassador  Lyudmila Vorobieva said that the 11^th Convention of Joint Commission between Indonesia and Russia was held in Jakarta in 2016 and the 2017 convention could not be done by the Russian Federation government because of technical reason. (VOI/Lalu Viqran Shink Khan/AHM)

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister, Riadh Al Maliki held Indonesia-Palestine bilateral consultation at the Pancasila building, Foreign Affairs Ministry Office, Jakarta on Tuesday October 16th 2018. The consultation that was held for the first time is place to translate the two countries good relations into concrete cooperation and real assistance. The two ministers also signed an MOU to establish a joint commission that will be discussed in a forum to elevate bilateral cooperation in technical sector. On her statement, Retno Marsudi said that Indonesia - Palestine bilateral consultation is part of a series of activities of the solidarity week for Palestine.

“This bilateral consultation is the first time between Indonesia and Palestine since the opening of diplomatic relation almost 30 years ago. Minister Riadh comes to Indonesia together with me to participate in solidarity week for Palestine that was held from October 13th to 17th. As you all know there has been a series of activities in this event. The activities that were held in Bandung or Jakarta are the reflection and symbol of government’s consistent support and Indonesian people for Palestinians’ struggle,” said Retno Marsudi.

According to Retno the two states reinforce their cooperation in trade especially between business people through the establishment of Indonesia-Palestine business council. On the same occasion, Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister, Riadh Al Maliki stated the appreciation on Indonesian free tariff policy for Palestine’s products since 2018 is one of major factors for Palestine independence. On the solidarity week for Palestine the two ministers also officially opened the Palestine walk in Bandung on October 13^th, 2018 and walk for peace and humanity in Jakarta on October 14th. Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister also paid a courtesy visit to President Joko Widodo on October 15th, and visited National Agency of Food and Drug Control (BPOM) ./(VOI/REZHA/TRANS NUKE/AHM)