VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo gathered his ministers and officials in the economic field to discuss the rupiah weakening. The meeting took place at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday afternoon (3/8). During the meeting, President Joko Widodo asked his aides to explain to the public that the recent weakening of the rupiah against the US dollar was not worrying for the national economy. Chairman of the Financial Services Authority –OJK, Wimboh Santoso revealed this, when asked by reporters about President Joko Widodo's direction in the meeting.

Wimboh said that currently, OJK, Bank Indonesia and the government have prepared the steps to be taken in anticipating the weakening of the rupiah by strengthening exports to various countries. In addition, the government will also reduce imports of unnecessary goods. Quoting Bloomberg on Monday (3/9), the rupiah opened at Rp. 14,745 per US dollar; it was weakening compared to the previous trading closing figure of Rp. 14,710 per US dollar. If calculated from the beginning of the year, the rupiah weakened 9.03 percent.

What's interesting about Wimboh's statement is that the government plans to reduce the imports of unnecessary goods. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), during January-July this year, the imports of consumer goods recorded $9.9 billion dollars, up 27.03 percent, compared to the same period last year. While at the same time, imports of raw or supporting materials rose 22.9 percent.

Considering that Indonesia is rich in natural resources, the reduction in the imports of unnecessary goods can refer to the import of raw or supporting materials. Strengthening the exchange rate of the US dollar against the rupiah can provide an opportunity for increasing use of local raw materials.

The price of local raw materials, which has been considered more expensive, may be equivalent or even cheaper compared to imported raw materials. The strengthening of the US dollar has the opportunity to make a comparison of local and imported raw material prices to adjust. Raw materials for the leather, plastic and chemical industries made domestically are a logical choice for businesses because they are bought with rupiah.

The strengthening of the US dollar has reduced the competitiveness of imported raw materials in terms of prices. This situation can be used as an opportunity for domestic producers to produce goods with cheaper local raw materials. Then, the community can have high purchasing power to buy goods in cheaper prices, compared to imported goods whose prices are affected by the strengthening of the US dollar. For the government, this will make efforts to reduce imports.

On his second day in Hanoi, President Joko Widodo met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Melia Hotel, Hanoi, Wednesday, September 12, 2018.

During the meeting, the President followed up on what had been agreed during his visit to Colombo in January, mainly in the field of trade. One of them is a joint effort between Indonesia and Sri Lanka to export ready-made garments to the European Union.

"Efforts joint submission to the European Commission regarding the transmission of the apparel will open up access to the EU market. We must continue our intensive approach so that the proposal can be accepted by the European Union," the President said Jokowi.

In addition, the President also hopes that the formation of working groups between the two countries in the field of trade and investment can immediately identify potential and overcome obstacles in trade and investment.

"We must encourage that the initial meeting of the working group can be carried out as soon as possible," said the President.

To PM Ranil, the President also encouraged that a joint feasibility study related to efforts to establish a free trade agreement (FTA) between Indonesia and Sri Lanka could begin immediately. During the meeting, President Jokowi also emphasized Indonesia's commitment to support development in Sri Lanka. In the field of connectivity, for example, the President noted Sri Lanka's interest in buying 60 train cars from PT INKA.

"Indonesia also offers a form of" complete package "cooperation, including the purchase of train facilities and infrastructure such as rails, stations, depots and signaling systems," said the President.

Besides the train, the President also said that Indonesia, through PT WIKA was also interested in participating in the steel bridge construction project in Sri Lanka. 

During the meeting, President Jokowi also thanked Sri Lanka's support for Indonesia as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The President also appreciated the participation of Sri Lanka in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

President at the meeting, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto, and Minister of Communication and Information Rudiantara. (biro pers)

Located in Văn Phòng Chủ Tịch Nước or Vietnam Presidential Palace, President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo received warm welcome from the Vietnamese President Trần Đại Quang along with the First Lady of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hien.

Arriving at the location at 4:30 p.m., the President and Mrs. Iriana were welcomed by children who raised the flags of the two countries, similar to what was done in Jakarta.

The series of state ceremonies continued with the examination of honorary ranks after the national anthem had been announced by the two countries. President Jokowi and President Trần Đại Quang then introduced their delegates to each other. Afterwards, President Joko Widodo and the First Lady were treated to a military parade before proceeding to the tête-à-tête meeting and bilateral meetings of the two countries' delegations.

During this visit, President Joko Widodo brought a delegation consisting of Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Wiranto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Head of BKPM Thomas Trikasih Lembong, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Indonesian Ambassador for Vietnam Ibnu Hadi. (biro pers)

President Joko Widodo accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo arrived in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday 9 September 2018, at 21.20 local time or 19.20 WIB for a state visit.

The Indonesian Presidential aircraft which brought the Head of State and his entourage arrived at Seongnam Military Base, Seoul, South Korea, after taking a flight for almost 7 hours from Halim Perdanakusuma Jakarta Air Force Base, Jakarta.

Upon arrival at the Seongnam Military Air Base, the President and Mrs. Iriana were greeted directly by the Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea Umar Hadi and South Korea's State Protocol Head at the door of the aircraft.

The two were then invited down from the flight stairs and welcomed by South Korean Maritime and Fisheries Minister Kim Young Choon.

Furthermore, the President and Mrs. Iriana and their entourage immediately left the Seongnam Military Air Base to the hotel where they spent the night while in Seoul, South Korea.

At the hotel, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi welcomed the President and Mrs. Iriana. It also appeared that two Indonesian children dressed in  traditional custom welcomed the arrival of President Jokowi and Ibu Iriana while giving flowers as a welcome greeting. ( biro pers media