VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta : The Republic of Indonesia delegation from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marves) participated in the 2024 Annual General Assembly (AGA) and 35th PIANC World Congress, at the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) Cape Town, South Africa, from 26 April to 3 May 2024.

In a written statement on Tuesday (7/5/2024), the Indonesian delegation was led by the Assistant Deputy for Connectivity Infrastructure, Rahman Hidayat (President of PIANC Indonesia); Assistant Deputy for Basic Infrastructure, Urban Affairs and Water Resources, Lukijanto; Middle Expert Policy Analyst/ Shipping Infrastructure Coordinator, Velly Asvaliantina (Secretary of PIANC Indonesia).

Deputy Rahman said that Indonesia's participation in the Annual General Assembly meeting and World Congress was very important to strengthen the global network of water transportation infrastructure, there was a lot of progress and learning that could be gained.

PIANC President, Francisco Esteban Lefler, called on all stakeholders to join hands in advancing Smart Port Technology for the common good, taking advantage of this moment to chart a course towards a more sustainable and prosperous maritime future.

PIANC, as a professional organization in the field of Water Transport Infrastructure founded in 1885, and based in Brussels-Belgium, reaffirms its commitment to promoting Smart Port Technology at the forefront of maritime development.

With a focus on cutting-edge advances such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twins and other emerging technologies, PIANC aims to catalyze the transformation of ports into smart and environmentally friendly ecosystems.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday (08/05/24), the Congress, which raised the theme "Future Ready Water Transport - Unlocking Africa" ​​("Future Ready Waterborne Transport - Unlocking Africa") aims to address the efforts needed to create a sustainable maritime sector.

The congress included 295 paper presentations divided into dozens of theme groups, including: Inland Navigation and Waterways, Ports and Planning Development, Ports Structure, Port Dredging and Reclamation, Environment and Climate Change, Ports-Green Energy and Related issues.

Lukijanto stated that the sustainability issue raised by PIANC is in line with Indonesia's commitment to sustainable development, apart from that, this is in line with Indonesia's commitment to sustainable infrastructure and transportation development.

"This is very good as a lesson in organizing the 2024 Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF), which will be held on 4-6 September 2024 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC)," said Luki.

Apart from that, the 2024 AGA resolution and the PIANC Congress Results also emphasize the importance of working with nature. "This material is one of the things that will be discussed at the 10th World Water Forum (WWF), in Bali, 18-25 May 2024," added Suraji//VOI

Press conference ahead of the 2024 National Coordination Meeting for Libraries which was held in Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/5/2024) ; (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas) will hold a Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) in the Library Sector in 2024.

National Library Main Secretary Joko Santoso said that the National Coordination Meeting would discuss three major programs which will be the main focus of National Library in 2024.

These programs are strengthening reading and literacy culture, mainstreaming Indonesian manuscripts as well as standardization and training of library staff aimed at mapping libraries according to national library standards ( SNPs).

"This is our effort to continue to accelerate various activities related to the latest program changes in the era of disruption of demographic change," he said in a press conference ahead of the 2024 National Coordination Meeting for Libraries which was held in Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

He said the millennial generation and generation Z were the focus of National Library, especially in strengthening reading culture.

Many things have been done, he continued, one of which is accelerating the use of devices for the digital library platform, namely iPusnas.

"Now there are millions of digital books that can be accessed, one of which is iPusnas. "iPusnas has also been replicated in 256 digital libraries in the regions," he said.

Apart from that, efforts are being made to place digital reading corners in public areas, not in libraries. National Library also provides assistance with mobile library cars (MPK) which serve remote areas of Indonesia, especially villages that have access far from the library.

“Mobile libraries stop at certain points, such as schools and busy centers. "This is our effort to strengthen literacy culture," he continued.

The 2024 National Coordination Meeting for Libraries carries the theme "Rearranging Concepts and Practices of Literacy Development".

The 2024 National Coordination Meeting for Libraries will be held in a hybrid manner on 14-15 May 2024. Plt. The Director of the National Library is scheduled to officially open the National Library and explain the policy direction of the National Library.

"This year's National Coordination Meeting is different from previous years, this year it will emphasize user experience, where regional speakers will share good practices in increasing literacy in society," he explained.

Meanwhile, Deputy for Human Development, Society and Culture, Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Amich Alhumami, explained that literacy was placed as one of the priority programs because it is an indicator of the quality of Indonesian people.

"Literacy skills are considered important in increasing access to knowledge and community productivity," he explained.

Through the National Coordination Meeting, he explained, National Library and regional libraries will be strengthened. He added, literacy is the scope of the 2020-2024 RPJMN. In the future, literacy will be continued in the 2025-2029 RPJMN.

"Literacy remains an important part of development to support human development and cultural development," he said.

The National Coordination Meeting was filled with policy sessions featuring resource persons from the Ministry of Villages PDTT and the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas.

Meanwhile, the panel session will be filled with resource persons from regional governments who implement good practices in developing the three main National Library programs, namely the Regent of Berau, the Regent of Kendal, and the Head of the East Java Province Library and Archives Service.

Apart from that, there will be parallel sessions featuring resource persons who are actively involved and can share good practices that can be imitated by local governments, institutions, organizations, literacy activists and the general public.

The offline National Coordination Meeting will be held at the Grand Mercure Hotel Jakarta Kemayoran and will be attended by 1,000 participants.

Offline participants consist of regional heads, heads of provincial and district/city library services, heads of library forums/publishers/recording entrepreneurs and parties who have collaborated with the National Library.

The public can take part in a series of activities online via the Zoom application with a capacity of 10,000 or via live streaming on the National Library's YouTube channel.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday (08/05/24), the 2024 National Library Coordination Meeting is close to the National Library's 44th anniversary.

The National Library's anniversary is celebrated every May 17, which is also celebrated as National Book Day.

This year, the National Library carries the anniversary theme, namely "44 Years of Cultivating the Hope of Serving the Country to Make the Nation Smarter".

Head of the Human Resources (HR) and General Affairs Bureau, Janti Suksmarini, said that during May a series of events were held to support the sharpening of National Library's main issue programs for 2024.

"A total of 27 series of activities will be held from May 7-31," he said.

At the peak of the event, he continued, on May 17 2024, the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia will launch the "Village Literacy Movement".

In this activity, 10 million quality reading materials will be launched to village libraries and 21 million books will be launched to schools.

On 13 May-22 May 2024, a number of interesting activities will be held including thematic exhibition of the National Library Anniversary from Time to Time, thematic exhibition of Bung Karno, thematic exhibition of Bung Hatta, Historical Literacy Week, Archipelago Literacy (Culture) Festival, Indonesian Education History Exhibition , book launch and book review, as well as workshops//VOI

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto (right), speaks to British Minister of Trade, Greg Hands, in London, the United Kingdom, on April 29, 2024. (ANTARA/HO-Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs/rst) - 

VOInews, Jakarta - Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, and the British Minister of Trade, Greg Hands, have discussed strengthening economic and trade cooperation in London.

"The close relationship between the two countries is marked by the agreement between the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO)," Hartarto said in a statement issued by his office on Tuesday.

He expressed hope that JETCO will soon produce concrete results, including in the energy and digital economy sectors.

During the meeting, Hands highlighted his country's expertise in clean energy and proposed a clean energy collaboration tailored to an archipelagic country like Indonesia.

The implementation of clean energy will later be linked to the management of subsidy policies.

Moreover, Hands said he hopes that trade in dairy products and their derivatives within the JETCO framework will run smoothly despite obstacles in the registration process.

In response, Hartarto underscored Indonesia's deregulation efforts, aimed at streamlining the registration process for milk products and their derivatives.

This initiative supports the growing demand for such products, particularly under the next government program that provides free milk to students.

During the meeting, Hartarto also addressed the impact of British due diligence regulations on Indonesian palm oil products. He expressed hope for fair regulatory treatment.

"Currently, Indonesia is voicing its disagreement with the implementation of European Union policies on sustainable products. Indonesia and Malaysia are working on managing the rules regarding sustainable products," he said.

The two ministers also discussed the idea of free trade cooperation, Indonesia's accession as a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and regional cooperation.

Hartarto said that Indonesia is open to free trade with the United Kingdom//Antara-VOI

Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin (right) during a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, Tawfiq Fawzan Muhammed Alrabiah, in Jakarta on Tuesday (April 30, 2024). (ANTARA/Benardy Ferdiansyah/rst) - 

VOInews, Jakarta - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin met with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, Tawfiq Fawzan Muhammed Alrabiah, on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of the 1445 Hijriah/2024 Hajj and additional Hajj quota for Indonesia.

"During the meeting, Indonesia expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for providing an additional quota amounting to 20 thousand for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims," special staff to the vice president for communications and information, Masduki Baidlowi, informed.

According to him, Vice President Amin expressed the hope that the Saudi Arabian government would continue to provide additional Hajj quota to Indonesia every year.

"Our waiting time for Hajj is too long. With a continuous additional quota with the current number, it is expected to ease the burden for the Indonesian government in the next five to ten years," Baidlowi added.

He informed that in certain areas such as South Sulawesi or East Java, the waiting time for the Hajj pilgrimage can reach more than 20 years.

He said that the Vice President often receives complaints about it when he visits the regions.

"Every time the Vice President visits various regions, the question is always whether we can go on Hajj or whether we will die before the time for the Hajj comes," Baidlowi added.

During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed the overall implementation of the Hajj, including efforts to improve the quality of management and implementation of Hajj in the field.

"The Vice President also conveyed his hopes for the cooperation between the two countries. He wanted the two parties to continue the management of Hajj with better and more efficient management, including financing for government and Indonesian Hajj pilgrims as well," Baidlowi said.

He explained that this is important because the Saudi Arabian government is intensively trying to improve the tourism sector, including Hajj and Umrah religious tourism, to reduce its economic dependence on the oil and natural gas sector//Antara-VOI