VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

State plantation firm, PTPN XII will supply cocoa products produced by its subsidiary, PT Rolas Nusantara Mandiri, to New Zealand this year.

"New Zealand is a new market for the company. So far, we had exported the products through traders," President Director of PTPN XII Berlino Mahendra Santosa stated, after signing a memorandum of understanding with PT Sarinah (Persero) in Jakarta, on Monday ( 12/3) 

If the company sells the commodities directly to the factory, the supply chain will be shorter. The volume of cocoa supplied to New Zealand is 40 tons in a single delivery. The company had fulfilled the requirements of selling the commodities directly to New Zealand in November 2017.

"On Wednesday, we will go to New Zealand to meet other requirements," Santosa remarked.

Commodity-based products, such as coffee, tea, and cocoa, produced by companies are the highest quality products in the world. Through marketing the products directly to New Zealand, the company could attract world-class chocolate producers and learn from them. Indonesia must compete other countries to export the cocoa. "World famous chocolate factories in New Zealand buy raw materials from Ghana and Nicaragua," Santosa revealed. ( antara ) 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) thanked the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for funding several Indonesia`s infrastructure projects. Speaking at a meeting with the AIIB delegation at Bogor`s Presidential Palace  on Monday ( 12/3 ), Head of state also expressed his high appreciation for the bank`s role over these past two years. The AIIB has so far helped fund three ongoing infrastructure projects in Indonesia. Hence, President Widodo has urged the AIIB to be more efficient and effective in finalizing deals with Indonesia.

Some members of Jokowi`s cabinet comprising Coordinating Minister of Economy Darmin Nasution, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Public Works and People`s Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung also attended the meeting with AIIB.

Following the meeting, Chairman of the AIIB delegation Christopher Legg remarked that the Government of Indonesia is keen to work with AIIB in resolving challenges in building infrastructure. Speaking in connection with the request, Legg, who is the representative of AIIB Australia, noted that the bank had only disbursed loans for three projects in Indonesia as the AIIB had just operated for two years and had still maintained stable management, with the human resources and representative offices.

"We have offered 20 loans in two years, of which three are for Indonesia. I hope this would grow step-by-step to at least four to five billion in the next two years, and Indonesia will receive a significant part of the funds. However, it should be applied in accordance with the needs of each region," he emphasized.

During the meeting, President Jokowi lauded the AIIB for supporting Indonesia`s infrastructure development and conveyed his best wishes for the bank`s future. "I want to thank you for taking a part in financing some infrastructure in Indonesia in the first two years," he remarked.

The president also welcomed the AIIB delegation to visit some construction sites in Indonesia, such as the Mass Rapid Transit in Jakarta and toll roads in the Yogyakarta Special Region, as well as in Solo, Central Java. Indonesia is one of the founders and shareholders of AIIB that was established in 2016. During the first two years of AIIB`s operations, Indonesia had received US$216.5 million in loans to finance three projects: elevating slum areas program, regional infrastructure development fund, and damage rehabilitation and safety operational safety fund II.

Legg`s delegates comprised representatives from some AIIB member countries: Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, France, Italy, Bangladesh, India, the United Kingdom, Laos, Israel, and Poland. ( antara ) 

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Sunday that the Indonesian Government is committed to bringing innovations and better protections for Indonesian citizens overseas. The message was conveyed by Minister Marsudi during her visit to Singapore to launch three innovations of products and application for Indonesian workers` protections in Singapore, press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said here on Sunday.

"The President`s message to me is clear and firm. Provide the best service for all Indonesian citizens wherever they are!" Marsudi said.

To provide service to Indonesians overseas, starting on April 1, 2018, all Indonesian representatives overseas gradually will apply an Information System of Indonesian Citizens Service and Protection accessible in the Peduli WNI website. In April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will launch the Peduli WNI website and SafeTravel, Marsudi said.

Peduli WNI website is a service system for Indonesians overseas which is integrated online with national civil data of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and employment data of the The Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) and the Ministry of Manpower. Through the system, service to all Indonesian representatives overseas will be integrated and can be accessed online.

During her visit in Singapore, Minister Marsudi also met with around 4,500 Indonesian workers in the country and launched three innovations on Indonesian workers protection. The three launched innovations are the Indonesian worker card for seamen (KIPS-Pelaut); Job Order Online, an application for private recruitment agencies or PPTKIS and working partners; BPJS On I-PIS, a data integration of the Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) for Indonesian workers in Singapore.

Each worker card or KIPS-Pelaut has an built-in chip that contains information of a particular Indonesian seaman to enable online access to the status of the holder. Meanwhile, the second innovation launched, Job Order Online, is an application to facilitate any agency or migrant worker placement firm to submit documents on the placement of migrant workers online and agency accreditation. The last application launched is BPJS on I-PIS, which is integrated data of the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan for Indonesian workers and an application of Indonesian Workers in Singapore (I-PIS).

Since all Indonesian workers are obligated to join the social security system, the application will enable the government to identify those who have yet to register at the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan.

Foreign Minister Marsudi conveyed to the Indonesian workers, majority are women, that they can focus on their work for the government to continue providing protections for the workers in the sovereign city-state.

Moreover, Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Ngurah Swajaya said that the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore will be always working to provide the best service for the migrant workers.

From Singapore, Minister Marsudi will depart for Moscow, Russia, to attend a bilateral meeting with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Minister Marsudi is scheduled to visit Russia on March 12-13 to discuss the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Russia and the planned visit of Russian President Putin to Indonesia. ( antara )