VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) hopes that the potential of Bunaken National Park tourism, known for its underwater beauty and rich biodiversity, must be maintained and maintained properly, because it can become one of the largest tourism forces in North Sulawesi in the future.

"I think this is a very good potential, but it must be maintained and guarded not to get plastic garbage into here. In the past, I have seen it (clean) because routine from the regional government always cleanses its marine debris, "President Jokowi said when with First Lady Iriana reviewing Bunaken National Park, North Sulawesi, Friday (5/7) morning.

The President and his entourage left for the location of the pier in the hotel area where they stayed by boarding the Bunaken Crystal 7.

After approximately 45 minutes of travel, the group arrived at Bunaken Pier and changed a special boat equipped with a ship's lower space to go to the high seas and enjoyed the beauty of tropical fish and exotic coral reefs in one of the waters in the highest biodiversity place in the world.

Aware of the great potential of Bunaken National Park, the central government immediately moves to make one of the tourist areas more organized and integrated.

Looking ahead, the underwater tourist destination is expected to be much more visited by tourists, especially foreign tourists, along with the development of North Sulawesi tourism supporting infrastructure by the government so that it requires careful planning.

President Jokowi left Pelindo Port to visit Bunaken National Park, in Manado, North Sulawesi, Friday (5/7) morning. (Photo: JAY / PR)
President Jokowi left Pelindo Port to visit Bunaken National Park, in Manado, North Sulawesi, Friday (5/7) morning. (Photo: Jay / PR)

"This plan is to be made first to make clusters so that the residents on the side are clear, where tourist attractions are clear, where the conservation area is also clear," said the Head of State.

The Bunaken National Park area is indeed one of the tourism magnets of North Sulawesi Province. Every year, the local government holds the Bunaken Enchantment Festival which is always in demand by foreign tourists.

Regarding this, the President stressed that he was competing with time and increasing demand from tourists. For this reason, the central government is committed to providing full support for the development of tourism in North Sulawesi.

"We are going to the field to pursue it. If we are mediocre we may not (effort), but this is an extraordinary situation that tourists want to enter and we must prepare, "said President Jokowi.

Improvement and similar development, the President continued, will also be carried out in tourist destinations in other provinces that have the potential to be developed further.

In the near future, the President plans to start going down to other destinations, one of which is Labuan Bajo in NTT, to help provide support to the local government in developing tourism potential that has an impact on the regional economy.

"This means that the budget we use must have an impact on economic growth to the community. We start there. So that infrastructure really has an impact on investment and the impact on the community, "he added.

Also accompanying the President and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo in this review, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Minister of Public Works Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning / Head of BPN Sofyan Djalil, and North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey. (setkab) 

"The Indonesia-Iran Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition Agreement is expected to become the legal basis of the two countries in increasing the effectiveness of cooperation in preventing and combating organized transnational crime," said the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, A.M. Fachir, representing the Government at the DPR RI Plenary Meeting on the discussion of the Ratification Bill on the RI-Iran MLA Agreement and the Draft Bill for Ratifying the Republic of Indonesia Extradition Agreement at the DPR on July 4, 2019

Both bills are approved by plenary to be passed into law. Furthermore AM Fachir underlined that the cooperation between the two countries based on the two Agreements still pays attention to the general principles of international law which focus on the principle of respecting state sovereignty and legal sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit.

Both agreements were signed in Tehran, Iran on December 14, 2016.

MLA agreements include search, blocking, confiscation, and seizure of proceeds of crime. While the Extradition Agreement regulates the cooperation in the search and repatriation of fugitives which includes investigations, prosecutions and examinations in court proceedings or other legal processes. (kemenlu)

The Government aims to develop tourism in North Sulawesi to boost economic growth in the region, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“The central government provides support in road development, coastal area development, and in expanding airport terminal to accommodate six million passengers, from the existing capacity of two million passengers,” President Jokowi said in his remarks during distribution of land certificates at Graha Bumi Beringin, Manado, North Sulawesi, Thursday (4/7).

The President added that the Government has decided to start the terminal construction in Sam Ratulangi Airport in September this year and is expected to complete the project in August 2020. The Government, he added, has also decided to extend the runway so that large aircraft could land in Manado.

President Jokowi went on to say that the Government will also redevelop the plaza at the coastal area to attract more visitors.

He further said that the residents of North Sulawesi should keep maintaining their hospitality, as well as maintaining cleanliness at restaurants, food stalls, and toilets in order to develop tourism in the region, including in Bunaken, Likupang, and Lembeh island.

He added that the construction of various infrastructure facilities in the regions is expensive, but it will generate income and foreign exchange from tourists.

“We carefully calculate every state expenditure and revenue,” President Jokowi concluded.

Also present during the event were First Lady Ibu Iriana, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, and Governor of North Sulawesi Olly Dondokambey. (setkab)

Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in digital economy.  The MoU was signed by Indonesian Communication and Informatics Minister Rudiantara and Saudi Minister of Communication and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha in Riyadh.

"We are committed to making this cooperation not just an MoU or a Memorandum of Understanding, but MoA, notably a Memorandum of Action," Rudiantara said in a press statement Thursday.

In the digital economy field, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have the potential to establish cooperation in Umrah (minor Hajj) Digital Enterprise, as many Indonesian Muslims are eager to go to Saudi for Umrah.

Umrah Digital Enterprise, it is believed, will be able to address problems concerning the Umrah departure process.

The Communication and Informatics Ministry will invite two Indonesian unicorns - Tokopedia and Traveloka, to run the Umrah Digital Enterprise.

"We are proud to present the two Indonesian unicorns - Tokopedia and Traveloka. I believe, this is a beginning of our collaboration in the digital economy to support the 2030 Vision of Saudi Arabia, and the vision of Indonesia, which is the largest digital economy in ASEAN," he said.

Saudi Minister Alswaha lauded the cooperation with Indonesia.

"I believe that this partnership is very unique and special. We establish collaboration with the country having the largest Muslim population in the world. I am sure we could do more extraordinary things," he said. (ant)