VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region aims to stay the course amid a challenging global environment and sustaining economic growth is a delicate balancing act, said a new report issued by the APEC Policy Support Unit was received in Jakarta on Sunday.

As trade tensions undermine global trade, investment and output, growth in the APEC region is expected to moderate to 3.8 percent in 2019, down from 4.1 percent in 2018, according to the report.

In 2020, gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the region is projected to decelerate further, within the range of 3.5 to 3.7 percent, the report forecasts. However, downside risks may be mitigated if trade frictions ease.

"The upside potential for growth could come from the quick and positive resolution of trade tensions that would significantly reduce policy uncertainty," said Denis Hew, Director of the APEC Policy Support Unit.

The global economy grappled with heightened policy uncertainty in 2018, as economies issued tariffs and counter-measures. Deceleration of GDP growth ensued in parallel to the announcement of trade-restricting measures in the second half of 2017, culminating in the imposition of tariffs and counter-measures in 2018.

Today, trade restrictive measures comprise nearly 60 percent of total trade and trade-related measures, according to the report.

In contrast, for decades trade drove the expansion of the regional economy, from US$23.5 trillion in 1990 to US$63.6 trillion in 2017. The declining influence of trade on the region’s growth is pivotal for APEC.

"Sustaining economic growth amid trade tensions and policy uncertainty is a delicate balancing act. However, it also presents opportunities to pursue more structural reform that encourages growth that is sustainable and inclusive," Hew explained.

The APEC region faces other challenges, such as growing income inequality, greenhouse gas emissions and encroaching climate change, industry-disrupting technology. APEC’s approach to economic policy cooperation, however, can help members navigate cross-border complexities and find solutions.

The APEC 2019 is hosted by Chile, an economy that has thrived largely due to its trade with the Asia Pacific region. In an effort to broaden opportunities, Chile has included the economic empowerment of women and internationalization of small and medium enterprises as regional priorities.

An Indonesian warship KRI Yos Sudarso 353 visited Fani Island which is one of Indonesia's outermost islands located in the Pacific Ocean bordering Palau, a country situated north of Indonesia's province of West Papua. The visit was a sea control operation carried out by the Navy's 3rd Fleet Command in its territory of Papua's waters.

Commander of the 3rd Fleet Command Admiral I N.G. Ariawan said here on Sunday that the visit was aimed at giving enthusiasm and motivation to the Indonesian Navy soldiers on duty in Fani Island guarding the country's borders.

He emphasized that Fani Island is Indonesia's outermost island in Raja Ampat district, West Papua Province which borders Palau.

Fani Island is the jurisdiction and becomes the responsibility of the Navy's 3rd Fleet Command, so that it places Navy soldiers on the island to protect sovereignty.

At the same time, this visit which was led by Col. Luddy Mulyadi was providing logistics to the soldiers of the Task Force for Safeguarding the Outer Islands on Fani Island, Ariawan said.

The Indonesian man-of-war was also reviewing some of the supporting facilities around, such as machinery and communication facilities as well as conducting dialogues with the soldiers to provide motivation," he said. (ant)

The Indonesian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Husnan Bey Fananie, has affirmed that Indonesia and the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) continue to support Palestinian independence.

"Indonesia continues carrying out creative diplomacy, with special support for the Palestinian issues in Gaza," Ambassador Husnan said at a breaking-fast event held by the Indonesian Embassy in Baku recently, in a statement received by Antara here on Friday.

The Indonesian Embassy in Baku held the event and invited the ambassadors of OIC countries on the 10th day of the holy month of Ramadan, in an atmosphere of friendship.

Some ambassadors of countries attending the event were from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tajikistan, Palestine and Lebanon.

Ambassador Husnan said the breaking fast meal was an annual event at the Indonesian Embassy in Baku.

According to Husnan, this event is a form of "soft diplomacy", or diplomacy through social and cultural approaches, by Indonesia and OIC member countries.

"Let's continue to maintain friendship among OIC members, unite and build mutual respect, and help each other," Ambassador Husnan said. (ant)

After a working visit to West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) continued his working visit to Bali Province on Friday (5/17) afternoon, and arrived at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali at around 2:40 p.m.

The president and his entourage then headed to the location of the Village Fund Program Review in Kutuh Village, South Kuta District, Badung Regency.

Previously while in NTB, President Jokowi observed the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (KEK), in Central Lombok Regency, which would be the location of the MotoGP 2021 with the concept of the Street Race Circuit. After carrying out Friday prayers at Nur Syahada Mosque, Sade Hamlet, Rembitan Village, Pujut District, Central Lombok Regency, the President and his entourage went straight to Zainuddin Abdul Majid International Airport to continue working visits to Bali.

In Kutuh village, the President arrived at the soccer field which was still in the process of being greeted enthusiastically by local residents. The President then had a dialogue with the Village Head, the local Customary Chief regarding the construction of a sports tourism area accompanied by the Governor of Bali I Wayan Koster, PDTT Village Minister Eko Putro Sanjojo, Seskab Pramono Anung and PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono.

Furthermore, the President also took time to talk together with 3 (three) paragliding players before they showed their action before the President.

President Jokowi assessed that Kutuh Village is one of the villages that has successfully take benefit from the Village Fund for the welfare of its people, by concentrating on sport tourism by renting out soccer fields for training, for international competitions.

Then there is paragliding which also can produce Rp800 million a year. So that for the village itself has an income of Rp50 billion per year.

"Try to imagine. This is how the Village Fund can trigger the economy that exists in the region so that people really benefit from it, "the President said, adding that the model carried out by Kutuh Village could be copied elsewhere which has similarities, whether in Sumatra, either in Java, can be a model of the success of a Village Fund management management for the benefit of the community. (kemensetkab)