VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has invited Australia to cooperate in developing renewable energy and work hand-in-hand in conserving the environment. "We must work hand-in-hand to conserve nature, implement sustainable development, reforestation (barren land) and the upper reaches of rivers, prevent land and forest fires, commit ourselves to reduce carbon emissions, and develop renewable energy and other green technology," he said at the Australian Parliament building in Canberra Monday.

For 16 minutes, Jokowi delivered his address in the Indonesian language before the two camps of the Australian Parliament, namely the coalition of the Liberal Party and the coalition of the Labor Party.

Earlier, chief of the Liberal Party concurrently Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and chief of the Australian Labor Party, Anthony Albanese, also delivered their addresses on Indonesia and President Jokowi's profile.

Jokowi is the 12th head of state in Australian history to speak before parliament and the first head of state to speak this year.

"On February 2, one platoon of engineers from TNI (the Indonesian military) and personnel from the National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB) left Indonesia for New South Wales. They worked hand-in-hand with the Australian people to handle forest fires in Australia while at the same time an Indonesia-Australia team discussed a cooperation agreement to modify the weather," he said.

Indonesia's plan to develop a new capital city is also part of this commitment, he said.

"That is a smart city, smart metropolitan, green technology harmonious with the environment and a part of innovation, knowledge and technology-based economic transformation efforts," he said.

The President also expected Indonesia and Australia to serve as anchors for development partners in the Pacific region.

"Indonesia is aware of development challenges in the Pacific region as a fellow maritime state. The challenges faced by Indonesia are not very different from those faced by Pacific countries," he said.

Climate change, natural disasters and equal distribution of social, educational, medical gains, as well as human resource development, are the real challenges facing Pacific countries, he noted

"Indonesia and Australia should become genuine friends for Pacific countries. They should collaborate as development partners, mitigate the impact of climate change, lower the poverty rate and the social gap, and create new economic growth centers in the Pacific region," Jokowi said. (ANTARA)

The Indonesian rupiah weakened against the United States (U.S.) dollar in the Jakarta interbank market Monday evening despite the country's improving current account deficit in 2019. The rupiah fell 37 points, or 0.27 percent, to close at Rp13,712 against the dollar compared to the previous close of Rp13,675.

"Despite the positive domestic economic data and Bank Indonesia's intervention, they are still unable to strengthen the rupiah," Director of PT TRFX Garuda Berjangka Ibrahim Assuaibi said in Jakarta Monday.

Indonesia's balance of payment in the fourth quarter of 2019 saw a surplus of US$4.3 billion after suffering a deficit of $45 million in the previous quarter.

Throughout 2019, the balance of payment recorded a surplus of $4.7 billion compared to a deficit of $7.1 billion a year earlier, fueled by an improving current account deficit and a significant rise in the surplus of capital and financial accounts.

The 2019 current account deficit was recorded at $30.4 billion or 2.72 percent of the national gross domestic product compared to 2.94 percent of the GDP in the previous year.

Meanwhile, the surplus of capital and financial accounts rose significantly to $36.3 billion in 2019 from $25.2 billion in 2018.

The other sentiment is the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak which reached 910. The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern about the spread of the coronavirus that has claimed the lives of nearly one thousand people.

"These two factors weakened the rupiah, coupled with the strengthening U.S. non-farm employment change," Binaartha Sekuritas analyst M Nafan Aji Gusta said. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) visit to Canberra, Australia, after completion of the ratification of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), would strengthen trade cooperation between both countries, Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto stated. "The important point is the President of Indonesia comes to Australia at the right time after the IA-CEPA ratification process in the House of Representative of Republic Indonesia has been completed by the two countries," Minister Suparmanto said in a statement received in Jakarta, Monday.

In addition, President Jokowi's working visit also marks the strengthening of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Australia, which had already reached 70 years.

With the IA-CEPA ratification done, the two countries have agreed on a clear roadmap so that bilateral relations in the next five years, especially trade, will be strengthened and mutually beneficial.

"This is certainly a milestone that must be conveyed to the people of Indonesia that through the IA-CEPA, market access will be open and increase Indonesia's exports to Australia," he said.

A total of 6,474 tariff posts on Indonesian export products will become zero percent when the IA-CEPA is implemented and there will be no more trade barriers for Indonesian exports in the Australian market.

Therefore, Indonesian export products are expected to be competitive and stronger in the global market. Meanwhile, Indonesia will eliminate 94.5 percent (10,229 tariff posts) in 2020.

Indonesia's main products being targeted for increased exports are TPT, carpets/rugs, furniture from wood, and automotive and spare parts.

Other potential products for export development are ethylene glycol, ethylene polymer sheets, distribution pipes for oil and gas, herbicides and pesticides, electronic equipment, machinery, rubber and its derivatives (such as car tires), coffee and processed coffee, cocoa/chocolate food and beverage, and paper and paper products.

"The export target is one of Indonesia's main strategies in reducing the trade balance deficit and in line with efforts to increase Indonesia's exports and investment in Australia and globally. The two countries can also strengthen the economic powerhouse," the trade minister explained. (ANTARA)

The annual yoga, dance and music festival, the Bali Spirit Festival, is set to return to the Island of the Gods from March 29 to April 5.

As reported by tempo.co, over 140 yoga, dance and music instructors from across the globe will be featured in the event's various scheduled programs.

"The participants will also come [to the venue in Bali Purnati Foundation, Sukawati, Gianyar] from across the globe," added Gianyar Tourism Agency head Anak Aung Gde Putrawan on Sunday.

The activities include yoga, Bali traditional arts, Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira, ancient-chant-based art kirtan, meditation, sound healing and ecstatic dances, as well as health and nutrition classes, personality development workshops, ayurveda Hindu medicine and weda astrology.

The yoga class is open to all levels, including beginners. The music program, called World Music Nights, will be held every night throughout the festival.

On Sunday, the last day of the event, the 2020 Bali Spirit Festival will end with Community Day, featuring local and international games, organic and vegan foods and shopping opportunities for handicrafts, clothes and jewelry.(JAKARTA POST)