VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Bank Indonesia (BI) Board of Governors Meeting on 17-18 March 2021 decided to keep the benchmark interest rate, or the BI 7-Day Reverse Repo Rate at 3.5 percent. On February 18, BI announced a cut in interest rates from 3.75 percent to 3.5 percent. Since the beginning of last year, BI has cut its benchmark interest rate by 150 basis points (bps). This 3.5 percent figure is the lowest interest rate of BI in the history since Indonesia’s independence.

According to Governor of the Central Bank (BI), Perry Warjiyo, this decision is in line with the need to maintain the stability of the Rupiah exchange rate from the increasing uncertainty of global financial markets, amid the predicted low inflation. In addition, BI also maintains the Deposit Facility rate at 2.75 percent and the Lending Facility rate at 4.25 percent as the economic recovery process continues.

To support the sustainability of the national economic recovery, Bank Indonesia will also further optimize accommodative macro-prudential policies, accelerate money market deepening, support international policies, and digitize the payment system. In line with this, BI is taking policy steps as a follow-up to the synergy of the Financial System Stability Committee's policies in an Integrated Policy Package for Increasing Business Financing. In addition, it continues to strengthen policy coordination with the Government to accelerate the distribution of credit / financing from banks to the business world, especially in priority sectors that support economic growth in the context of national economic recovery.

The statement from the US Central Bank (Federal Reserve) regarding no indication of raising the benchmark interest rate until 2023 is a breath of fresh air for currency movements in developing countries, including Indonesia. If Bank Indonesia follows this step, the Rupiah is expected to strengthen again this year after being under enough pressure throughout 2020. Thus, it is hoped that the process of economic recovery can be faster.

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Russia in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation held a virtual business forum with the theme Russia-Indonesia Online Business Forum: "Digital Economy and Tourism Investment Opportunities" on Tuesday (16/3).  The forum aims at approaching Indonesian and Russian businesspeople and boosting bilateral relations in the field of digital economy and tourism investment. The event was opened by Deputy Minister for Economic Development of Russia, Vladimir Ilichyov. He expressed the hope of a productive dialogue among the businesspeople of both countries.  Indonesian Ambassador to Russia and Belarus, Jose Tavares in a statement received by Antara News Agency in Jakarta, Wednesday (17/03) explained that the business forum was an opportunity to encourage digital economic cooperation of both countries.

Moreover, he further said that the forum was also an opportunity to promote Indonesian tourism investment in Russia due to the huge potential for cooperation between the two countries.  Ambassador Jose Tavares also expressed his hope that the business forum can produce mutually beneficial collaboration between the business communities of the two countries to promote economic cooperation between Indonesia and Russia.  Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Lyudmila Vorobieva mentioned the bright prospects for the information and communication technology (ICT) sector between Indonesia and Russia in supporting education, data security and banking.

Indonesia was excluded from the All England 2021 Badminton competition because on a flight that was boarded by Indonesian athletes from Istanbul to Birmingham, a passenger tested positive for Covid-19. Certainly, this is not good news for Indonesia.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, this prohibition makes sense if it is applied equally to other participants. However, the fact is that some participants from other countries, who are on the same plane, can still participate in the match. Has the Badminton World Federation -BWF acted discriminatively against the Indonesian contingent? BWF stated that the decision for the Indonesian badminton contingent to self-isolate was not theirs. It was made directly by the National Health Service (NHS) of the British Government, which saw the Indonesian team being on one plane with a passenger who was positive for Covid-19. The NHS also gave a message to all Indonesian team players and officials to undergo quarantine for 10 days. Even though all Indonesian players have carried out a series of tests and the results are negative. The isolation rules are also applied to Indonesian players, such as Hendra / Ahsan, Jonatan Christie and Kevin / Marcus who have come out as winners in the first round of All England 2021.

The General Chairperson of the Indonesian Badminton Association, Agung Firman Sampurna is now continuing to strive so that the Indonesian Team can still join the competition. He contacted Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi to facilitate so that the Indonesian contingent can continue in the All England 2021. Then, Minister Retno gave some directions to ensure that there is no discrimination and unfair treatment of the Indonesian participation in the event. In a statement, the Indonesian Embassy in London explained that the British government still imposes a lockdown and strict health protocols in every activity. The All-England tournament was held with a special arrangement, tight and closed without spectators.

The Covid-19 pandemic has indeed changed many things, including the rules for sport tournaments. The procedures and stages of conducting matches are added with the Covid-19 test which inevitably has to be passed and made the basic stages. However, if the regulations are not enforced equally or differently between institutions in one country, this will create confusion and threaten the spirit of sportsmanship.

This discriminatory action triggered the resignation of a Turkish badminton athlete from the All England 2021 event. Neslihan Yigit, is known to have resigned or walked out from the YONEX All England Open 2021 competition on Thursday (18/3) afternoon Indonesian time. Previously, it was reported that Neslihan Yigit could still compete in the All England 2021 competition even though he was on the same plane as the Indonesian Badminton Team. It seems that Neslihan is uncomfortable with the conditions that befell Indonesian badminton team.

Indonesia is certainly waiting for the follow-up development of Minister Retno's diplomatic communication with the British Government regarding this matter. Hopefully, the best results will come out to uphold the sportsmanship and good diplomatic relations established so far.

Indonesian Ambassador to Colombo, I Gusti Ngurah Ardiyasa released the departure of the Indonesian Warship (KRI) Sultan Iskandar Muda (SIM) -367 from Colombo to conduct world peace missions in Lebanon.  The Indonesian Embassy in Colombo in its written statement on Saturday (13/3) stated that KRI SIM-367 commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Haris stopped over in Colombo for two days on March 11 and 12, 2021 for the purposes of logistics supply and fuel.  KRI SIM-367 carries 119 soldiers who are members of the Konga XXVIII (28) -M / UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) Maritime Task Force (Satgas) and one US helicopter unit 565 Mbe Panther to carry out the task of securing Lebanese waters for one year ahead.

Ambassador I Gusti Ngurah Ardiyasa in his remarks stated that it has been the duty of the Indonesian Embassy to contribute to the success of the peace missions conducted by KRI SIM-367 by facilitating the process of logistic supply activities during the stopover in Colombo. He also conveyed a message to the Task Force to obey the set health protocols while carrying out peace missions in the area of operation and congratulations on duty to the Konga XXVIII (28) -M / UNIFIL Maritime Task Force (MTF) Task Force.

KRI SIM-367 departed from Colombo at 17.00 local time to the next port of transit in Salalah, Oman. This was also attended by   the Indonesian Defense Attaché in India, Marine Colonel Asdi Yasin Yanuar Pribadi, Commodore Pujitha Vithana and Commander J.H.I.T Jayawardhana from the Sri Lanka Navy and officials from the Indonesian Embassy in Colombo.