VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Yemen plans to build an Indonesia-Yemen Cultural Centre (Markaz ar Tsaqafah al Indunisi wal Yamani) to strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries. The plan was revealed by the Yemeni Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Dr Abdulghani Nassr Ali Al Shamiri to Voice of Indonesia on Friday (17/5/2024) in Jakarta. "The Yemeni government strongly encourages the construction of the Indonesia-Yemen Cultural Centre here in Indonesia. And this will strengthen cultural relations between the two nations," Ambassador Abdulghani Nassr Ali said. 

Ambassador Abdulghani Nassr Ali believes the Yemen-Indonesia Cultural Centre will further strengthen cultural cooperation, education and other sectors more intensively and better in the future. The construction of the Indonesia-Yemen Cultural Centre is planned to be completed by the end of 2024. "Insha Allah, the construction of the Indonesian-Yemeni Cultural Centre will be built by the end of 2024 in Jakarta and there will be (followed by) branches in other major cities," Ambassador Abdulghani Nassr Ali said. 

It is known that the relationship between Indonesia and Yemen has been established since the 9th century through trade and Islamic propagation. Ambassador Abdulghani Nassr Ali praised the success of the early generation of Yemenis in Indonesia who were able to present a good portrait for the Yemeni and Indonesian people through noble morals and good relationships so as to successfully preach Islam through a cultural approach. 

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian hajj pilgrims need to be aware of the transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which is caused by the Middle East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

According to a press release from the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Thursday (16/5/2024) the MERS-CoV virus is sourced from camels. "MERS-CoV has been identified and associated with human infection from camel mounts in several Middle Eastern, African and South Asian countries," wrote the Indonesian Ministry of Health. 

Most confirmed cases of MERS, according to the Ministry of Health, experience severe acute respiratory syndrome. The initial symptoms most often found, namely fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Some cases also have symptoms of diarrhoea and nausea or vomiting. In addition, severe complications can include pneumonia and kidney failure. 

Previously, Director of Health Quarantine Surveillance at the Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Dr Achmad Farchanny Tri Adryanto, M.K.M in Jakarta, on Tuesday (14/5) said that hajj pilgrims who suffer from fevre or headache should report their condition to the Indonesian Hajj Health Workers (TKHI). "All infectious diseases due to viruses and bacteria are generally preceded by fever. It is very important, and we have also conveyed this to our hajj pilgrims, if they start to feel unwell, start to feel feverish, they must immediately report to their TKHI in the kloter to get further examination and treatment," Farchanny said.

According to Farchanny, when hajj pilgrims are examined by health workers or doctors, questions that will be explored more deeply include the history of the pilgrims' contact with camels and the history of consumption of products from camels. The potential for transmission of MERS-CoV, continued Farchanny, is mainly transmission from virus-carrying animals to humans. However, there is a possibility of transmission from human to human. "The criteria for human-to-human transmission of MERS-CoV is the first when there is close contact between the patient and his family members at home. Second, there is close contact between the patient and health workers at the hospital or health facilities," he said.

Given the potential for MERS-CoV transmission, Farchanny urged pilgrims to always take precautions. First, always wear a mask when in crowded places. Second, always implement a Clean and Healthy Lifestyle (PHBS), especially washing hands with soap or using hand sanitiser. Third, avoid contact with camels. "In addition, maintain your physical condition because Hajj is a physical act of worship. Don't forget to get enough rest, don't be forced to travel. MERS-CoV is a virus, if our immune system is good, the potential for transmission will be small," said Farchanny.

Source: Indonesian Ministry of Health

KBRN, Santiago: The Indonesian Ministry of Trade (MoT) is encouraging the penetration of Indonesian products to South America through Chile. It was conveyed by the Director General of National Export Development (PEN) of the Ministry of Trade Didi Sumedi as the leader of the Indonesian Trade Mission Delegation to Chile on 9-10 May 2024. "The Ministry of Trade is committed to continuing to encourage Indonesian products to enter non-traditional markets, one of which is the South American region. Chile has a strategic position among other South American countries because it can be an entry point for Indonesian products to the South American region," Didi said.

Didi also said that this trade mission aims to encourage increased trade potential and economic partnership between the two countries after the implementation of IC-CEPA in 2019. "Through the utilisation of the IC-CEPA trade agreement, the potential value of trade between the two countries can still be increased to USD 1 billion. The Trade Mission to Chile is also a form of the Ministry of Trade's contribution in supporting the National Export Enhancement Task Force, and Chile is one of the priority countries targeted to increase exports," Didi said.

Chile is a country with a very open economy. Chile has signed 34 free trade agreements (FTAs) with 64 countries including Indonesia. IC-CEPA alone eliminates 89.6 per cent of the total tariff posts. Therefore, Indonesian businesses can take advantage of it through the use of the Certificate of Origin (SKA) Form IC-CEPA. "IC-CEPA has had a positive impact on increasing the value of Indonesia-Chile trade by 21.73 per cent compared to the value of trade before IC-CEPA," said Djatmiko.

In this trade mission, there were nine business players and associations participating. The businesses and associations are engaged in various sectors such as palm oil products and their derivatives, pesticides, chemical products, vehicle parts, and packaging. Meanwhile, the Indonesia-Chile business forum attended by more than 70 Chilean business players, followed by one on one business matching between Indonesian companies and Chilean business players, has successfully recorded potential transactions worth USD 7.45 million or Rp 119.20 billion. Potential transactions were generated from palm oil products and their derivatives, motor vehicle parts, and plastic packaging. In addition, a business meeting was also held with the Chilean Confederation of Industries (Sociedad de Fomento Fabril/ SOFOFA) and representatives of the Chilean Government in the field of international economic relations (Subsecretatia de Relaciones Economicas Internationales Chile/SUBREI).

The meeting aimed to encourage the involvement of Indonesian and Chilean businesses, as well as broader cooperation and mutual benefit for both countries. In a series of trade missions to Chile, a number of business visits were made, namely to Jumbo Supermarket, an importer of Mannheim automotive parts, an importer of Area Design furniture, and an importer of Indonesian bicycles, Cross Mountain. Jumbo Supermarket, which is the largest retailer in South America, has imported noodle products from Indonesia with several variants and flavours. Jumbo Supermarket expressed interest in trying coconut products from Indonesia. In response, Didi welcomed and will facilitate Jumbo's meeting with Indonesian companies that produce coconut products.

In addition, during a visit to Chile's leading importer of vehicle parts, Mannheim, the Ministry of Trade facilitated a meeting between Indonesian vehicle parts businesses and Chilean importers. The Ministry of Trade also supports other potential automotive parts products to enter the Chilean market. Didi Sumedi, the leader of the Indonesian trade delegation, said that in addition to food and vehicle parts, the growth potential of the furniture industry in Chile is also very promising. During a visit to Area Design, a prestigious furniture supply company in Chile, Didi found that 70 per cent of its products come from Indonesia.

Didi believes that through the preferential tariff scheme of the IC-CEPA, which has entered the implementation stage, the performance of Indonesian furniture exports to Chile will continue to increase. "Moreover, because Indonesian furniture products can compete in the Chilean market in terms of price with similar products from other countries," Didi added.

Meanwhile, at a meeting with Cross Mountain, which is a well-known importer of sports products in Chile, Didi invited Cross Mountain, which has also imported mountain bikes from Polygon Indonesia, to take advantage of the IC-CEPA tariff reduction scheme to increase the volume and value of bicycle imports from Indonesia. "Bicycles are one of the products that receive preferential tariffs on import duty reductions under the IC-CEPA scheme," Didi concluded.

Source: Indonesian Ministry of Trade

VOInews, Jakarta: The Indonesian Embassy in Suva, Fiji, encourages Fijian civil society to understand and encourage the strengthening of cooperation between Indonesia and Fiji in various fields through the establishment of the Fiji-Indonesia Friendship Association (FIFA). This was conveyed by the Indonesian Ambassador to Fiji Dupito D Simamora to Voice of Indonesia, via Zoom connection on Wednesday (8/5/2024). Ambassador Simamora revealed the support of the Fijian people for the formation of FIFA which became a forum for grassroots diplomacy of the Indonesian and Fijian communities.

"Many tribal chiefs, many political figures, even some rectors from universities and big businessmen in Fiji have declared themselves joining this association. So we think this is an important capital, so that now in the future FIFA will become our partner in various efforts that we make at the government level. And of course, later we hope that FIFA can consolidate relations between the two countries, especially after we celebrate 17 June as the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations or diplomacy between Indonesia and Fiji," Ambassador Dupito Simamora said.

Ambassador Simamora further explained that FIFA is intended to build trust between Indonesia and Fiji as well as understanding between the people of the two countries so that they are not easily instigated by NGOs or parties that are less friendly to Indonesia. "We want to encourage Fijian civil society to be able to understand and also support the cooperation that is being built between the two nations. This is one of the important infrastructure buildings of diplomacy in supporting cooperation in various fields, including education, vocational training, agriculture and most importantly for us in addition to understanding, a relationship of mutual respect and trust must be built between the two countries which is also agreed upon or supported by civil society so that they are not easily influenced by some NGOs that may be less friendly to Indonesia," Ambassador Simamora explained.

As quoted from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry website (kemlu.go.id), Indonesia has established diplomatic relations with Fiji since 1974, and has an embassy in Suva City which was established in 2002. The Fiji-Indonesia Friendship Association was inaugurated by the President of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere on 26 March 2024 in Suva.