VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Sorong, W Papua - The Indonesian government in association with Yayasan Inisiatif Dagang Hijau (Green Trade Initiative Foundation) took a total of 45 foreign investors to witness firsthand the business potential in the country's eastern provinces of Papua and West Papua.

The foreign investors met with young businessmen from Papua during a high-level meeting on green investment in Sorong, West Papua, on Thursday.

Also present at the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan; Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo; Head of the Investment Coordinating Board, Bahlil Lahadalia, and Vice Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Angela Tanoesoedibjo, to support the Papuan businessmen to move forward.

Panjaitan said the concept of green investment or environmentally friendly investment is one of the models of sustainable development in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

The concept of green investment is aimed at encouraging small-scale investment to promote the agricultural and fisheries sectors in the two provinces, he said.

The presence of foreign investors will encourage the export of agricultural and fishery commodities including nutmeg, cacao beans, seaweed, and other key commodities from the two provinces, he said.

The minister further asked the Papua and West Papua provincial governments to work hard and cooperate with all sectors to develop the potential in the province as part of efforts to promote the economy of the locals. (ANTARA)

Jakarta (VOI News) - ASEAN launched a digital archive website of historic cultural heritage of several ASEAN member countries, Thursday (02/27), at the ASEAN Secretariat Jakarta. The ASEAN Cultural Heritage Digital Archive (ACHDA) website features more than 160 heritage objects that have been digitized from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. This website allows visitors to look deeper into the collection of museums, galleries and libraries through three-dimensional (3D) models, images, audio recordings, and videos of cultural heritage from the three countries that participated in the first phase of the project. The cultural heritage digital archive (ACHDA) project is supported by the Japanese Government through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN Akira Chiba in his remarks said the cultural heritage documentation project was important because it not only benefited ASEAN but also the entire world. Akira Chiba further mentioned that anyone can access cultural heritage easily and instantly through this ACHDA website anytime and anywhere. He also hopes that this site can be useful for the ASEAN community.

“The ACHDA projects enable anyone to access many cultural heritage easily and instantly through this ACHDA website anytime and anywhere. I hope this ACHDA website can enhance the interest in ASEAN culture by the people of ASEAN,” said Akira Chiba.

Previously, ASEAN Deputy Secretary for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community in his address said the ACHDA project was an important step in ASEAN's efforts to increase public understanding and appreciation of the region's rich and diverse cultural heritage. (VOI / AHM )

Jakarta (VOI News) - ASEAN documents the rich cultural heritage of its member countries through digital techniques in collaboration with Japan. Through the ASEAN Cultural Heritage Digital Archive-ACHDA website, ASEAN member countries are trying to preserve cultural heritage through cyberspace. After the launch of the ACHDA website at the ASEAN Secretariat, Wednesday 27 February, in Jakarta, the expert staff of the Minister of Education and Culture, Ananto Kusumaseta said that with the current millennial generation ACHDA website can see and learn about each other's cultural heritage.

“This website will be a part of young people in ASEAN, whose numbers are more than 60 percent to return and reflect on learning about the culture of our ancestors. The future development in ASEAN will focus on ASEAN culture,” said Ananto Kusumaseta.

Ananto Kusumaseta added Indonesia his now seeking cooperation in digitizing documents and repatriating artifacts abroad such as in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. But according to Ananto, diplomacy and a rather long time period are needed to repatriate the artifacts. Based on information from the ASEAN Secretariat, only 3 countries are currently working on digitizing cultural heritage to be displayed on the ACHDA website. They are Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. While the second stage will be Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. (VOI/TONO/AHM)

Workers began construction of a helipad in the observation area for 188 Indonesian citizens on Sebaru Island, Thousand Islands, DKI Jakarta Province. (ANTARA)

Jakarta - Workers have begun construction of a helipad for use in the possible evacuation of 188 Indonesian citizens on Sebaru Island, Thousand Islands, DKI Jakarta Province.

Based on Antara's observations on Tuesday, workers transported empty sacks, iron and other equipment from the dock in the western part of the island to the island’s southern coast.

The empty sacks are being filled with beach sand and piled along the shoreline to prevent rising sea waters from reaching the helipad, which is expected to be completed in the next two days.

Earlier, Commander of Joint Regional Defense Command I (Pangkogabwilhan) Vice Admiral Yudo Margono had alerted a helicopter to prepare evacuations from Sebaru Island to carry Indonesian citizens if they were exposed to the coronavirus.

Three helicopter units were prepared at Pantara Island, Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base and onboard the KRI Banda Aceh (593).

"We have prepared if the worst happens," Yudo said.

Dream Cruises reported earlier that Hong Kong's Department of Health had confirmed that all guests and crew onboard World Dream had cleared extensive health screenings and temperature checks.

All samples taken from the 1,814 crew members tested negative for COVID-19, Dream Cruises officials confirmed. (ANTARA)