VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia will draw attention to global economic and financial issues at the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit to be held on June 28-29 in Osaka, Japan.

"At the G20 Summit in Japan, we will continue to bring up the same issues. The first issue pertains to the global economy and finance, particularly trade and investment," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) remarked while opening a limited meeting at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The meeting covered discussions on preparations for the president's working visits to Bangkok, Thailand, to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and to Osaka, Japan, to attend the G20 Summit.

At a time when technological developments are taking place at a swift pace, Indonesia will also discuss innovative steps for benefiting from developments in digital economy and artificial
​​​​​intelligence, he remarked.

Furthermore, the head of state highlighted the importance of deliberating on efforts to address disparities in the quality of infrastructure, manpower, and women's empowerment.

The G20 Summit will bring together leaders of G20 member states: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The summit will highlight several issues encompassing the global economy, investment, trade, innovations, environment and energy, job opportunities, women's empowerment, development, and health.

The other topics of discussion at the summit will be the US-China trade war and reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO). (ant) 

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo opened the XLI Bali Arts Party (PKB) in 2019 by releasing the parade of the arts party, in front of the Bali Perjuangan Rakyat Monument, in Denpasar, Bali, Saturday (15/6) afternoon.

"By asking for Wara Nugraha Ida Shang Hyang Widi Wasa, this afternoon, I opened and released the 41st Bali Art Festival parade in 2019," said President Jokowi when releasing the 2019 Bali Art Party march, which was marked by pemukuulan kul with the Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy.

The opening of the parade was enlivened with Pendet Dance which was played colossally by 100 dancers from SMAN 3 Sukawati, Kab. Bangli. In addition there are performances from various regions and abroad, one of which is the People's Republic of China.

President Jokowi with First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and the ministers who accompanied him took part in the parade with the vehicles already prepared.

Attending the occasion included Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster and wife of work cabinet ministers who are members of OASE (Organization of Work Cabinet Era Solidarity Action). (kemensetkab) 

Indonesia is considered to have opportunities in the midst of a trade war between the United States and China. Because, Indonesia still has strong economic fundamentals in facing the current global situation.

"For Indonesia, actually the US-China trade war is a zero sum game, which means no one benefits. But here we have a chance. With this trade war, people see our country in a safe zone, "said Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto in Jakarta on Sunday (16/6).

The Minister of Industry explained that Indonesia had entered the investment safe zone 20 years ago, namely after the end of the New Order and the start of the Reformation period. "As a country with fairly stable geopolitical conditions, Indonesia is increasingly being targeted by foreign investors," he said.

Some time ago, rating agency Standard and Poor's (S & P) Global Ratings upgraded Indonesia's long-term debt rating or sovereign credit rating from BBB to BBB with a stable outlook. Thus, Indonesia now has an investment grade status from the three international rating agencies, namely S & P, Moody's, and Fitch.

Airlangga added, Indonesia is being seen as one of the countries that is serious in developing the digital economy. It has become a positive value for business people in the world. "In fact, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sees Southeast Asia especially Indonesia as a ground for digital economy," he said.

For this reason, one step that needs to be done now is to increase the competitiveness of the national manufacturing industry so that it can be more competitive with neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. "Indonesia is still an attraction for investment in electronics, garment, footwear and food and beverage-based industries," he added.

For example, the electronics manufacturer Sharp Corporation and LG Electronics will increase the capacity of their factories in Indonesia. The products they will produce for export and domestic purposes.

The Minister of Industry said, his side continued to monitor the development of the LG and Sharp factory expansion or expansion. "We are still monitoring until they are realized. The discussion has been long, "he said.

According to Airlangga, the two electronics-based industries already have a production base in Indonesia, so that if there is a factory relocation, it will be expansion. "So, it is expansion. One of them is because they already have experience in Indonesia, and Indonesia is considered to be stable," he added.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Industry Director of Electronics and Telematics Janu Suryanto said, Sharp would relocate a two-tube washing machine factory from Thailand to a factory in Karawang International Industrial City (KIIC).

The plan, the inauguration of the Sharp plant expansion will be carried out next month. "So, there will be additional production lines. This is also for the export market. "They will absorb hundreds of workers," he said.

Meanwhile, LG will relocate air conditioner factories from Vietnam to production facilities in Legok, Tangerang. "They will start production and will be marketed in September 2019 as many as 25 thousand units," he said.

Furthermore, the production amount is targeted to increase to 50 thousand units. "Yes, at least it can be exported (also) to ASEAN. Sharp and LG investments are around hundreds of billions of rupiah," he added.

The manufacturing industry is one sector that contributes significantly to total investment in Indonesia. In the first quarter of 2019, the non-oil and gas processing industry contributed 18.5% or IDR 16.1 trillion to the realization of domestic investment (PMDN).

The three sectors that support the largest total domestic investment in the three months earlier this year, namely the food industry that poured funds reached Rp. 7, 1 trillion, followed by the base metal industry Rp. 2.6 trillion and the tobacco processing industry Rp1, 2 trillion.

Furthermore, the manufacturing industry also deposits up to 26% or USD 1.9 billion towards the realization of foreign investment (PMA). The three sectors that support it, namely the base metal industry amounting to USD593 million, followed by the food industry USD376 million and the chemical industry and goods of chemicals USD217 million. (kemenperin) 

President Joko Widodo wants the first estuary reservoir in Indonesia, the Muara Nusa Dua Reservoir in Denpasar, Bali, to function as a tourist attraction after the rehabilitation and arrangement project was completed later this year.

"Not only the function of raw water, but also for restaurants, for tourist attractions," Jokowi said.

While showing the masterplan of the reservoir revitalization project, President Jokowi said that in the future the reservoir would be a good tourist attraction.

"Yes, this left and right will be like a restaurant, cafe. Here is the picture. Yes, if possible, the function is not only raw water, it can be used for tourism, it can be used for restaurants, "he said.

Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono who guided President Jokowi during the review added that so far many anglers had come to fish in the reservoir area. Until the future the reservoir is also potential to be used as a fishing tourist destination of interest.

The President claimed that so far when the reservoir revitalization project had reached 80 percent, the process was relatively satisfying. "I think the right arrangement is good," he said.

The Muara Nusa Dua Reservoir was built in 1996, which is the estuary of Tukad Badung with a river flow length reaching 19.6 km with a watershed area of ​​40.95 km2.

With a pool area of ​​35 hectares, the reservoir can accommodate 770,000 cubic meters with an effective storage volume of 595,000 cubic meters.

The Rehabilitation of Reservoir is based on emerging problems including very high sedimentation in the reservoir, reduced effective storage, meeting the increasing need for raw water, and the amount of waste entering the reservoir area so that water quality decreases.

So far, Bali has a number of tourist attractions that are already well-known to tourists, so it is considered necessary to develop new tourist attractions so that Bali is still in demand by both domestic and foreign tourists. (kemenpar)