VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Ambassador to Russia, Wahid Supriyadi told in a press conference at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Friday (February 23) that in future, Indonesia and Russia will be connected by direct flights. However, when asked about what airlines to serve the route, he is still not able to provide information. Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi also said that Indonesia's exports, especially fresh fruit exports, will be greatly facilitated by this direct flight.

“…Regarding to the airlines, I still cannot reveal it, but there has been already request and I have disclosed it to Jakarta. Hopefully, in the near future, it will be realized because there will be a lot of advantages. We can export our tropical fruits. There is big demand; Russia is sanctioned. Thus, Russia does not import food and fruit from western European Union. So, there is a target market worth $13.5 billion dollars that has been abandoned and we have not taken it yet,” said Wahid Supriyadi.

Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi further said so far, the direct flight that will be opened from Indonesia to Russia or vice versa is the one from Bali to Moscow three times a week. Bali has been the main destination for Russian tourists to Indonesia over a few decades. Regarding to the visit of Russian tourists to Indonesia, in January-December 2017, there were more than 110 thousand tourists. The figure is projected to increase annually. (VOI/Rezha/Trans by Dhyka)

Besides holding the Indonesia Festival 2018 with the theme "Visit Wonderful Indonesia Explorer Our Region", the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow, Russia plans to hold Indonesia-Russia Business Forum 2018. The forum is themed ‘Infrastructure Development in Tourism’. The forum will take place one day before the opening of the Indonesia Festival 2018 on August 2nd. Minister of Tourism, Arief Yahya and Chairman of Investment Coordinating Board–BKPM, Thomas Lembong will be present as keynote speakers in the forum that will involve businesspeople and stakeholders of Indonesia and Russia. This was affirmed by Indonesian Ambassador to Russia, Wahid Supriyadi in his press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in Jakarta, Friday (23/2).

“…So, we have full support from the Ministry of Tourism. Thus, the Business Forum with theme ‘infrastructure development in the field of tourism’. So, we invite the Minister of Tourism later as one of the speakers and chairman of BKPM. And now some regions that could win are actually related to the field of tourism and this is a wonderful opportunity. The national percentage is about 22 or 24. If Russia is above that, so far it is more concentration on Bali,” Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi said.

Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi further said that the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow will keep introducing other tourist destinations in Indonesia so that Russian tourists visiting Indonesia will no longer be concentrated in Bali. (VOI/Rezha/Trans by Rhm)

Head of National Library, Syarief Bando after meeting Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Jakarta, Friday (23/2) stated that Vice President Jusuf Kalla asks the national library to develop information technology to ensure access and the library services are accessible to other regions across Indonesia. Syarif also stated that current challenges of the library are not only to attract visitors but also to provide access to the library through internet. Vice President Jusuf Kalla also asked the national library to instill sense of love towards the books to younger generations, and to build civilization based on science.

“…Reviewing current challenges of library in digital area, library must change its paradigm that library is not rows of dusty books but library must be designated as good as possible with the help of information technology. Therefore, the library can reach whole society. The parameter of library in the future is not only how many people visit the library but also how further library can build information technology application that can be accessed by the people,” Syarief Bando said.

In the meeting, Vice President Jusuf Kalla proposed the design of library programs such as book review competition in the library and storytelling to improve loving books. In this occasion, Syarif Bando invited Vice President Jusuf Kalla to attend the Library Coordination Meeting of Indonesia in the National Library Building on the 3rd or 4th of March 2018. (KBRN/Rizki/Trans:Dhyka)

Related to Indonesia's plan to bring home advanced Russian-made aircraft, Sukhoi Su-35, Indonesian Ambassador to Russia, Wahid Supriyadi said that Indonesia will bring home the Russian combat aircraft through counter trade scheme with export commodities. Besides, in his press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Friday (February 23), Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi also stated that Indonesia is certainly to participate in producing some components of the Sukhoi Su-35.

“…We plan to indeed buy 11 Sukhoi 35 jet fighters, advanced aircraft and  this is generation 4.5 in accordance with Idhan (Defense Industry) Act and there is a 50% counter trade. Well, this is 50% amounting to $550 million dollars which will be bartered with Indonesian commodities. Then, there will be 35% offset and some components of the aircraft are produced in Indonesia,” Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi said.

Referring to the payment of Sukhoi Su-35 and the use of offset schemes or the presence of components that must be produced domestically, Ambassador Wahid Supriyadi affirmed that the real amount of cash to be paid by Indonesia is only 15% or about $165 million dollars. In addition, he also expects the production of Sukhoi Su-35 aircraft components in Indonesia. The Russian side can consider Indonesia as one of the central states of service and improvement for all Sukhoi aircraft in the world. The Sukhoi Su-35 is a sophisticated fighter aircraft of the Sukhoi Corporation, Russia which is regarded as Russia's answer to the fifth-generation US-made fighter, the F-22 Raptor. Indonesia is the second country to be the owner of the aircraft equipped with electronic weaponry and aviation systems, radar systems with Irbis, phased array antenna, and the latest engine coded AL-41F-1S capable of maneuvering at high speed. (VOI/Rezha/Trans by Rhm)