VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Gua Belanda which means Dutch cave was built by the Dutch Colonial Government in 1912. This cave was used as a canal for the water supply of the Cikapundung River which flows near the location of the tunnel for the Hydro Power Plant. During the independence era, the colonial government also used this cave as a military facility. They devised strategies, stored artillery and weapons, and turned it into a radio communications station. Its location was hidden and high, making this cave a strategic area for the Dutch army.

Now, the Gua Belanda is a tourism attraction that is visited by many people, especially on weekends. There are two sides of the entrance to the cave, which are connected to each other by 15 alleys in it. Visitors can also see several other rooms, such as the room which was previously used for resting or sleeping for Dutch soldiers. There is also a detention room or prison, an interrogation room for detainees. There are also other interesting sights that visitors can see in the cave, namely the former trolley rails for the transportation of goods or the like that extends in the alley of the cave and the room of the former Dutch East Indies military telecommunication radio station.

To access this place, visitors can use private vehicles or public transportation. For private vehicles, they can directly enter and park at the gate area. Meanwhile, if visitors use public transportation, there are 2 tracks of city transportation that pass through it. The first is from Ciroyom to Ciburial. These public vehicles are green and white in color and usually stop at Simpang Dago. While the second alternative is from Dago to Caringin, which is orange. This public transportation usually passes the Holy Way, Pahlawan, and Cikutra. If using this public transportation, visitors have to get off at the T-junction towards Tahura Djuanda. The direction is that there is a mini market near the T-junction. From there, visitors can walk for about 500 meters to the Tahura gate. Gua Belanda is about 1 km from the entrance. Entrance ticket for this tourism area is Rp 11,000 per person.

National economic growth is already on the right track and is heading towards a positive growth. Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for National Entrepreneur Development, Arsjad Rasjid in his statement in Jakarta, Wednesday (12/59() said that the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2021 was something to be grateful,  because it took place amid the Covid-19 pandemic that is till hitting Indonesia. He perceived that the smaller contraction in the first quarter of 2021 shows signs of increasingly real economic recovery and is believed to be heading in a positive direction.

Based on the data from the Central Statistics Agency, in the first quarter of 2021, national GDP was still minus 0.74 percent on an annual basis, yet,  improving compared to the fourth quarter of 2020 which was minus 2.19 percent. Another positive factor was that a number of business sectors experienced a positive growth, namely information and communication, water supply, waste management, waste and recycling, and health services and social activities.

Arsjad is optimistic that in the second quarter of 2021, economic growth will be more expansive, with initial estimates in the range of 5-7 percent on an annual basis. This is in line with the increasingly massive implementation of the Covid-19 vaccination, both by the government and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also explained that in May 2021, it is scheduled to start a mutual cooperation vaccination program for workers and their families.

Mutual cooperation vaccines are distinguished from vaccines used in the government programs. This is based on the Regulation of the Minister of Health concerning the Implementation of Vaccinations in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The vaccines that the Chamber will use in the program are the Sinopharm vaccine from China and the Moderna vaccine from the United States. Previously, on April 30, 2021, over  480,000 vaccines from Sinopharm arrived in Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Arsjad also described  that the optimism for economic growth is supported by the Mutual Cooperation vaccination program as a game changer. Vaccination is a major factor in stimulating economic and social activity while still implementing strict health protocols.

Indonesian students and people in Hungary celebrate Idul Fitri amid the Covid-19 pandemic by enjoying Opor and Ketupats sent by the Indonesian Embassy in Budapest.  Like the previous year, for this year's Idul Fitri, the Hungarian Government still imposes restrictions on movement so that Muslims, including those from Indonesia, cannot hold Idul Fitri prayer and Halal Bi-halal activities. However, the Indonesian Embassy in Budapest continues to carry out Halal Bihalal virtually with Indonesians living in Hungary. Amidst of the restrictions on movement due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the happiness of Idul Fitri could still be felt by the Indonesian people in Hungary. A week before the holiday, the Indonesian Embassy in Budapest sent packages of Idul Fitri cookies to Indonesian people and students in various cities and regions in Hungary. A number of Opor, Rendang and Ketupat Lebaran gifts were distributed right on the Idul Fitri 1442 Hijriah for Indonesian students and people in Budapest centered in three locations, which have been mutually agreed upon.

The Indonesian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina has held a series of Idul Fitri activities for the Indonesian people in Argentina, both face-to-face and virtually, remembering the lockdown that the local government still enforces to prevent the second wave of the Covid-19 transmission. A series of Idul Fitri activities began with Takbir broadcast online from Wisma Duta on Thursday morning (13/5), followed by Idul Fitri prayers at the residence of each Indonesian citizen simultaneously. More than 50 Indonesians attended the virtual Halal Bihalal with Indonesian Ambassador to Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, Niniek Kun Naryatie. In her remarks as conveyed through the release of the Indonesian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Friday (14/5), Ambassador Niniek expressed her joy because she was able to welcome the Indonesian people to the Halal Bihalal event, even though it was virtual. She hopes that next year, the Indonesian people can celebrate Idul Fitri face-to-face.

Indonesia's economic growth in the second quarter of this year will be on the positive track. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, in a press conference on Saturday (15/5) estimated that Indonesia's economic growth could reach 7% this year. According to Minister Airlangga, the economic recovery has been seen from the Purchasing Manager's Index -PMI which reached 54.6. The Consumer Confidence Index -IKK is also close to normal figures. Currently, it has reached around 90 to 100. He also said that Indonesia's export and import performance growth has returned to a positive direction. The government spending also experienced the same thing. Several sectors, such as information, communication, health services, agriculture, property and industry, with the Luxury Value Added Tax (PPNBM) borne by the government and other policies, made quite a high increase. Gross Fixed Capital Formation (PMTB) is close to 0% or now minus 0.23%. Meanwhile, exports reach 6.74%. In fact, this is higher than before Covid-19. Imports of capital goods and production were recorded at 5.27%.

Meanwhile, the ASIAN Development Bank -ADB at the end of last month estimated that Indonesia's economic growth in 2021 would reach 4.5%. Economic growth will also increase in 2022 to 5% amid the national and global economic recovery. According to ADB's Director for Indonesia, Winfried Wicklein, with the continued recovery of trade, the revival of the manufacturing sector and a large national economic recovery budget for 2021, ADB is also optimistic that Indonesia will return to its growth track next year. This can be realized as the Covid-19 vaccination program progresses and more sectors of the economy are back in operation. In addition, investment is also expected to increase, along with improving economic prospects. However, the pace of recovery in financing or credit will still lag behind due to the uncertainty of investor sentiment. Inflation, which reached an average of 1.6% last year, is estimated to rise to 2.4% in 2021, or before falling again to 2.8% in 2022. This inflation rate is still within Bank Indonesia's target range, due to inflationary pressures, currency depreciation and higher food demand.

There are, of course, some significant risks to this estimate. Economic recovery can slow down if there is a spike in Covid-19 cases during Ramadan and Idul Fitri holidays. From the news in the media, the government has tried hard to ban people from going home in a bid to reduce the rate of transmission of the Covid-19. But in fact, there were millions of people who went to their hometowns or villages. In addition, delays in vaccination efforts, especially during Ramadan and the government’s weak revenues can also bring about a significant impact on achieving economic growth forecasts in the second quarter of this year.