VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits - 

As Indonesia hosts the first of two Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits this year in Labuan Bajo on Tuesday (May 9), key issues on the agenda include the acceleration of negotiations on the text of a code of conduct with China.

The code seeks to serve as a guideline for conduct to prevent military incidents and manage conflict in the South China Sea. 

Despite the ongoing negotiations, “we are not optimistic that there will be a signing this year”, said Ms Sharon Seah, senior fellow and coordinator at the ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

“The train may have already left the station because of events that are happening on the ground,” she said. 

The conversation on the code of conduct is in addition to the eradication of human trafficking, preparation of a roadmap for Timor Leste’s full membership in ASEAN and signing of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Protocol.

On the cards are also strengthening health architecture, energy security, regional food and financial stability, and digitisation of the economy and the tourism sector. The three pillars of Indonesia’s chairmanship based on its theme are ASEAN matters, epicentrum of growth, and the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Experts expect Jakarta to show its leadership in tackling some of the region’s most sensitive issues.

“Particularly in the areas of political security issues, people tend to look up to Indonesia, and that's where Indonesia has a special expertise,” said research professor Dewi Fortuna Anwar.

The first ASEAN summit was hosted by Indonesia, which came up with “the most important document”, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, noted Prof Anwar from the Research Center for Politics, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Jakarta.

The document forms the regional code of conduct for Southeast Asia, she said. Experts said the road ahead will be challenging. There is a “sharpening of grip” multilaterally by the United States and China, with potential flashpoints likely in Taiwan and South China Sea, said researcher at the Centre for Strategic & International Studies Muhammad Waffaa Kharisma.

“There's a pressure for ASEAN to be relevant in that sense. And then internally, for example, (for it to deal with) the economy and development issues (and) how ASEAN can stay resilient in the middle of crises like the climate,” he said.

The issue of ASEAN unity and centrality will be “foremost in the minds of the leaders”, said Ms Seah.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a press conference in Jakarta previously that it is important to strengthen ASEAN’s capacity and ensure the bloc works more effectively to overcome future challenges.

“It is important to continue to maintain the unity and centrality of ASEAN so that ASEAN is able to continue to be a locomotive for regional peace and stability,” she said//VOI-CNA

Sorong Regency Literacy Festival which was held at the Ball Room Aimas Convention Center, on Monday - 

The Sorong Regency Government (Pemkab) is committed to instilling literacy in an effort to improve the quality of human resources (HR). Literacy is an essential factor in efforts to build a knowledgeable, innovative, creative and character-driven society. The Sorong Regency Government has three efforts to increase literacy. First to build a literacy house, Acting Regent of Sorong, Yan Piet Moso said, the illiteracy rate in Sorong Regency is still high. For this reason, it is necessary to have budget support and policies through the Library and Archives Service.

"We are building literacy houses on campuses or in the main square. Of course, this commitment must be collaborated and synergized with various stakeholders, both academics and literacy activists," he said at the Sorong Regency Literacy Festival which was held at the Ball Room Aimas Convention Center, on Monday, (8/5/2023).

Second, coordinating with various parties in supporting literacy programs. Real collaboration with various parties, one of which is the mother of literacy. Third, changing and building a positive new mindset in viewing literacy.

"In developing strategies and grounding literacy, it must be holistic and thematic, it is very important to build and change the mindset of the millennial generation towards literacy," he explained.

The Acting Regent of Sorong added, Sorong Regency won the Most Innovative Predicate in 3rd place in the underdeveloped area category in the 2022 Innovative Government Award (IGA) assessment for the innovation of the Fun and Innovative Agile Reading Park (TABAGASI).

"This innovation has many enthusiasts, to date there have been approximately 3,000 applicants who have entered online and offline. I hope that in the future this can be implemented in a system," he added.

In an effort to instill literacy in Sorong Regency, the Central Government through the National Library (Perpusnas) provides its support by providing Special Allocation Funds (DAK) assistance in the education sector in the library sub-sector.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday, Head of National Library Muhammad Syarif Bando explained, Sorong District has received DAK of Rp 10 billion for the construction of library service buildings, plus another Rp 1 billion for ICT, furniture and collections. Apart from that, a mobile library car (MPK) has also been handed over.

"This is an affirmation and attention from the central government to realize President Joko Widodo's program on improving the quality of human resources. Of course we are very selective in choosing areas that will receive assistance," he explained.

Not only in Sorong Regency, Head of National Library of Indonesia said that the construction of library buildings has also been built in Merauke Regency and Jayapura Regency.

"The central government's attention to the people in Papua is extraordinary, but a joint commitment is needed, both from the government, community leaders and academics," he continued.

On this occasion, the Head of the National Library of Indonesia received two books by the Acting Regent of Sorong, with the titles Secrets behind Prophetic Prophecies and Prophecies for Theophanic People Tribe A3 and Anu Beta Tubat Mutual Mutual Assistance for the True People of Maybrat. On the same occasion, the Acting Regent of Sorong, Yan Piet Moso confirmed Dr (Can) Anace Mosso as Mother of Literacy for Sorong Regency. The Acting Regent also confirmed 30 District Literacy Mothers throughout Sorong Regency.

Mother of Literacy in Sorong Regency, Dr. (Can) Anace Mosso said that the existence of Mother Literacy acts as an inspirational figure for the community in increasing the cultivation of a love of reading.

It is said, there are various programs that will be carried out by the mother of literacy. Among them, setting up reading corners in each district, reading aloud campaigns, and storytelling.

"This activity is a step towards mother literacy to increase the literacy of the people of Sorong," he said.

The Sorong Regency literacy festival was also enlivened by a literacy exhibition which was attended by a number of schools in Sorong Regency. Each literacy exhibition stand held various activities. One of them, at the SMA N 5 literacy exhibition stand in Sorong Regency, asked school students to rewrite local wisdom stories based on the fairy tales read. Apart from that, there is also a writing competition, activities to make pencil cases from ice cream sticks, decorations from balls and coconut shells//VOI

Capital Market Talk activity - 

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf) in collaboration with the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) held a Capital Market Talk activity as an effort to increase understanding and opportunities for tourism and creative economy business actors (parekraf) regarding the capital market, especially schemes Initial Public Offering (IPO).

The activity took place in Bekasi City and is the second city in a series of program activities "Roadshow of Parekraf Business Towards IPO".

The Director for Access to Financing of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Anggara Hayun Anujuprana, in his statement, Thursday (13/4/2023), said that this activity aims to introduce and inspire companies in the tourism and creative economy sector about the capital market, especially the Initial Public Offering (IPO) scheme.

He said the opportunities and potential for parekraf business actors to penetrate the capital market were very high. Data from the Indonesian Central Securities Depository (KSEI) states that the number of retail capital market investors has exceeded 10.31 million investors as of December 2022. This number has increased by 37.68 percent compared to the end of December 2021 or as many as 7.48 million investors.

"This opportunity is expected to encourage and accelerate Tourism and Creative Economy business actors to be able to take the floor on the Indonesia Stock Exchange with an initial public offering scheme or better known as an Initial Public Offering (IPO)," said Hayun.

Therefore, said Hayun, Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf prepared various tiered programs that could support the capacity and capability of parekraf business actors in penetrating the capital market as an effort to obtain capital.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday, in addition to literacy activities related to the capital market in the Capital Market Discussion activity, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy also developed the "KreatIPO Coaching Clinic" which is a one on one meeting activity with supporting professionals in order to identify IPO readiness for regulatory, financial, legality and underwriter readiness aspects.

Apart from that, there is also selection to enter the IDX Incubator, coaching by IDX Incubator and monitoring by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, as well as holding a Demoday to bring together companies with supporting professionals who will help prepare for the IPO.

Head of IDX Incubator, Aditya Nugraha, explained, IPO is not the finish line in fundraising companies in the capital market. Rather, it is a starting point because companies can raise funds through the issuance of new shares through a rights issue or private placement.

"Besides aiming to seek unlimited funding, an IPO is also useful for enhancing corporate image, accelerating GCG, obtaining tax incentives, and others," said Aditya.

Meanwhile Claudia as the Main Commissioner of PT Taurindo Guide Indonesia Tbk or better known as Pigijo, revealed five main keys for business actors to be able to penetrate the capital market through the IPO scheme. Namely business strategy (product market, technology, agility), timing (external conditions and trends), having a professional support team, equity story, and networking.

"Companies with fewer than nine employees or even small companies can do an IPO. Because now the government is opening up opportunities by providing acceleration boards," said Claudia//VOI

The Head of National Library, Muhammad syarif Bando durig a talk show - 

To achieve the target of increasing public literacy, it is necessary to improve the quality of library service facilities. Such as the transformation of the library as an open public space is also needed, so that it can shift the old mindset about libraries.

One of them is through the Social Inclusion-Based Library Transformation (TPBIS) program, which has been running for four years.

Now it is able to make the library a center of knowledge, a vehicle for learning, giving birth to community innovation and creativity. Even encouraging economic recovery after the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Head of the National Library, Muhammad Syarif Bando, said that the TPBIS program targets marginalized communities, such as people in slum areas, people in poor areas, small farmers, small farmers, workers, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to mothers. -Housewife.

"Through this program, the community is given training to improve skills through applied books in the library," said Syarif, in a talk show with the theme 'TPBIS Smart Solutions for Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery', Thursday (13 /4/2023).

The Head of National Library continued, the purpose of launching TPBIS was to solve problems starting from the grassroots. This is because one of the characteristics of a developed country is being able to provide solutions to problems at the lowest level.

"This is irrelevant attached to anyone who has a position as a state administrator. So, it has to be inclusive. In the past, traditional libraries only collected books and waited for the public to read them, but now that has changed.”

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday, the 18th century the library became a symbol for the nobility, and rulers. Then the library in the modern era how can reach the community. The most fundamental is about how to cultivate a reading culture.

“Don't ask someone who is hungry to read. But, you have to have a strategy on how to look at books that have solutions for solving economic problems, especially during a pandemic," said Syarif.

Syarif continued, in the implementation of the TPBIS program, his party had never guided the public to choose certain skills. The library actually adjusts to the community's desired economic choices in accordance with the existing potential.

"We will contribute to optimizing with all our capabilities to facilitate relevant sources of information," he said.
As for the TPBIS mechanism, continued Syarif, the National Library opens space for regional governments starting from neighborhood associations (RT), community associations (RW), village/lurah heads to regional heads.

TPBIS which is implemented in libraries at the provincial, district/city, to village/kelurahan levels is considered effective and the benefits are felt by the community. TPBIS is a library service approach that is committed to improving the quality of life and welfare of the library user community.

"Bung Karno's message was to stand on one's own feet, starting from imagination by reading (applied) books," said the Head of National Library.

According to Syarif, training and skills improvement for marginalized communities is very important. This is because they have been poor for four reasons. First, mastery of knowledge is lacking. Second, minimal innovation and creativity. Third, access to capital is lacking. Fourth is the culture of the people who speak more than read.

Meanwhile, since 2018, the TPBIS program has provided assistance to 34 provinces. For nearly five years, the TPBIS program has touched more than two million beneficiaries, from the initial target of 100 thousand people. This shows great public interest, and many people have experienced the positive benefits of this program in an effort to improve their quality of life and welfare.

The TPBIS program was enthusiastically welcomed by Member of Commission X DPR RI, Putra Nababan. He supports, and appreciates National Library of Indonesia's breakthrough program, which according to him exceeds the duties and responsibilities that should be//VOI