VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Foreign Affairs MinisterRetnoMarsudi held a bilateral meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister StephanusAbraham Blok at Pancasila Building, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 3. In this meeting, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to increase cooperation between the two countries in various fields. In a joint press statement with Foreign Minister Blok, Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi said that Indonesia and the Netherlands have agreed on cooperation in the field of timber trade through EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) mechanisms and security, including drug trafficking , terrorism, and cyber security.

“I also mentioned our willingness to work together in enhancing the implementation of FLEGT license to improve market access for the Indonesian legal timber. We also discuss effort to strengthen security cooperation, I specifically mentioned the need to strengthen cooperation to combat drug trafficking. We discuss also about the cooperation to combat terrorism. Indonesia will not allow its country to be a  market for drug traffickers. I welcome off course the signing of cooperation of cyber security,” Retno Marsudi said.

Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi further explained that Indonesia and the Netherlands in 2018 have entered the fifth year of the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). It certainly can be a momentum to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries. Currently, Indonesia is the second largest trading partner in the European region for Indonesia. The value of bilateral trade between Indonesia and the Netherlands in 2017 recorded reached five billion US Dollar which supported by palm oil as the largest export commodity. (VOI/Rezha/DP)

Governor of Bank Indonesia, Perry Warjiyo, said he hopes foreign investors would buy Indonesian state securities (SBN) to increase US dollar supply in the country and help stabilize rupi8ah.

"With the auction of SBN, foreign investors begin to enter and that will help stabilize exchange rate," he said after a meeting at the Finance Ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The meeting also attended by the chief commissioner of the Financial Service Authority (OJK) Wimboh Santoso, discussed the prevailing economic issue such as economic growth and stability.

Commenting on the sinking rupiah, Warjiyo pledged that the Central Bank would continue to stay in the market to take necessary steps to stabilize rupiah.

The Central Bank would intervene in the market including buying SBN in the secondary market, he said.

He said the central bank has raised its benchmark interest rate to lure in foreign investors to the Indonesian financial market especially the state bond market.

He said while waiting for large foreign investment to enter the Indonesian financial market intervention by Bank Indonesia will continue.

Bank Indonesia will buy SBN sold by foreign investors in the secondary market,"certainly at a market price," he said.

Bank Indonesia will also continue to strengthen coordination with the government and OJK to cope with rupiah instability in short term and to boost growth, he said.

Rupiah traded in interbank transactions at the level of 14,397 weakening from earlier level of 14,390 per US dollar. (ANTARA)

The Indonesian Arts and Cultural Club (IACC) was launched in Sydney, Australia, July 1, in which 30 guests participated, including Indonesian Consul General in Sydney Heru Hartanto Subolo and wife Sinta, as guests of honor.

According to a statement from the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney received by Antara in Jakarta on Tuesday, the launch was also attended by Team Leader of Emerging Communities at Advance Diversity Services (ADS) Magdaline Shenton-Kaleido.

ADS is a non-profit organization in Rockdale that provides services to help new migrants keen on settling in Australia by providing information on Australia`s law, health, and education systems, as well as the country`s multicultural lifestyle.

"In my note, there are currently over 10 Indonesian art and cultural organizations in the state of New South Wales. The IACC will serve as a new forum to strengthen Indonesia`s promotion, especially its arts and culture in Australia," Consul General Subolo remarked in his speech.

The IACC is an Indonesian arts and cultural organization formed by support of the ADS management and has received funding support from the Bayside Council and the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District to hold organizational activities.

Currently, the IACC is chaired by Theresia Tomahu, who is an Indonesian diaspora member and also a singer.

"I want to underline the importance of collaboration and inclusiveness. I encourage the IACC to collaborate with similar organizations in promoting Indonesian arts and culture in Australia. Collaboration is not a competition, as the first can provide a wider impact in bringing Indonesia in the midst of the Australian community," the consul general asserted.

In line with the message conveyed by Consul General Subolo, Shenton-Kaleido, in her speech, insisted that the IACC would be an open Indonesian cultural club for all people keen on honing their talents and learning about Indonesian arts and cultures. (ANTARA)
 

The visit of foreign tourists in May this year is dominated by Chinese tourists. Central Bureau of Statistics recorded that more than 181,000 tourists from China visited Indonesia in May this year. Meanwhile, the visit of foreign tourists viewed based on the region, Southeast Asia or ASEAN countries dominated the visit in period of January until May this year. This was stated by Head of Central Bureau of Statistics, Kecuk Suhariyanto in press conference in Jakarta, on Monday (2/7).

“Based on the nation, there are not many changes. In May,  the most foreign tourists were from China, 15.11 percent, followed by Malaysia 15 percent, then from East Timor, Australia, and Singapore. So, the most countries mostly visiting Indonesiaare from the five countries. Based on the region the date is from January-May 2018, cumulatively to make the firmer data. In ASEAN in January-May 2018 the number of foreign tourists from ASEAN increases”.

Suhariyanto added that number of the visit of foreign tourist in May 2018 also influenced the development of transportation. Domestic air transportationis recorded 7.27 million and international flight 1.41 million people. Passenger of the ship is recorded 1.74 million people and train 35.48 million people (VOI/REZHA/Trans-yati/AHM)