JAKARTA WELCOMES NEW YEAR WITH JAKARTA NIGHT FESTIVAL

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 31 (Antara) - White tents and entertainment stages bedeck the roadsides along Jalan Thamrin and Merdeka Selatan, in the central business district of Jakarta, on Tuesday, to hail in the New Year 2014.          This year, Jakarta will welcome the New Year by holding the 'Jakarta Night Festival' (JNF), which has been chalked out by Governor Joko Widodo as the annual event.          "We have made preparations and set up entertainment stages and tents," Head of Jakarta Tourism and Cultural Service Arie Budhiman stated at the City Hall.           He informed that the preparations for the festival, which included setting up the stages, required a lot of time, hence, the work had begun two days before the New Year's Eve.           "Of the total 12 stages planned for the JNF, three were set up on Monday. The main stage is located around the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle," Arie added.          The Jakarta administration has also installed 300 stands for street vendors along the Jalan Thamrin, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, and Dukuh Atas Trains Station area.

CENTRAL BANK HOPES RUPIAH TO APPRECIATE IN 2014

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 30 (Antara) - The Indonesian central bank, Bank Indonesia (BI), hopes that the rupiah, which has depreciated over the past four months, will appreciate in the first semester or at the beginning of the second semester of 2014.          The rupiah has been weakening since September, this year, when it tumbled to Rp10 thousand per US$1, from below the Rp9.7 thousand level, in May and July.  This month, the rupiah has been hovering around Rp12 thousand per US dollar.          On Friday evening, the rupiah exchange rate against the Greenback, weakened 73 points at the interbank market, from Rp12,201 to Rp12,274.       "The dollar bounced back again following strong data that the US economy is recovering and strengthened its market perspective that the Federal Reserve will continue its tapering-off program," stated Monex Investindo Futures's Head of Research, Ariston Tjendra, on Friday.          According to Tjendra, the current US economy is strong enough to sustain the appreciated US dollar until the year-end, as well as to convince the investors that the Federal Reserve will continue its tapering off initiative.          "However, the currency market tends to flatten on presumptions that no major event will take place during the last week of 2013," he noted.          On Monday (Dec.30), the rupiah value was unchanged against the US dollar in the opening trade, analysts remarked.      The rupiah traded at 12,274 per US dollar in interbank transactions, during the first minute of trading on Monday, chief researcher of Trust Securities, Reza Priyambada, claimed.

TORAJA EXPECTED TO BECOME MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 30 (Antara) - Well-known for its burial caves and preserved cultures, Tanah Toraja District in the South Sulawesi Province is bracing itself to become the country's major tourist destination besides Bali Island.          To introduce Tanah Toraja as an international tourist resort, the local government has been holding the Lovely December event for the last six years. This year, the Sixth Lovely December was held along with a three-day Toraja International Festival 2013 (TIF 2013).          Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu inaugurated the Toraja International Festival (December 29-30) in Tanah Toraja district.          The word toraja comes from the Bugis language to riaja, meaning "people of the uplands".          The Dutch colonial government named the people Toraja in 1909. Torajans are renowned for their elaborate funeral rites, burial sites carved into rocky cliffs, massive peaked-roof traditional houses known as tongkonan, and colorful wood carvings.          Toraja funeral rites are important social events, usually attended by hundreds of people and lasting for several days, according to Wikipedia.          The TIF 2013 aims to further promote Tanah Toraja's preserved cultures, local traditions and tourism attractions, to make the 'Land of Torajans' into one of the country's major tourist resorts.          During the opening of the TIF 2013, Minister Mari Elka Pengestu stated that the government was committed to making Toraja the second major tourist destination in the country after the tourist resort province of Bali. It would serve as an international tourist destination attracting both domestic and foreign tourists.

RI PROMOTES USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR TRANSPORTATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 28 (Antara) - Indonesia has begun to develop and encourage the use of biofuel for transportation, including aviation, in an effort to promote renewable energy and reduce the impact of climate change and greenhouse gasses.          For the development and use of renewable energy in the transportation sector, two ministries have established cooperation to develop and use biodiesel for aircraft and for other types of transportation.          The two ministries involved in the utilization of renewable energy in the transportation sector are the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.          "The initiative to utilize biodiesel for aircraft and renewable energy use is part of the government efforts to carry out its commitment to maintain the environment," Transportation Minister Evert Erenst Mangindaan said on Friday.          The government, through Presidential Decree No. 61/2011 and Presidential Decree No. 71/2011, has provided a legal basis for ministries and institutions to participate in development in the energy sector.

RI FALLS SHORT OF CPO PRODUCTION TARGET

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 27 (Antara) - Indonesia is expected to fall short of the CPO production target, set at  28 million tons this year, but the country's palm oil council predicts production will increase slightly to 29.5 million tons in 2014.          "This year, Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) production is forecast to reach only 26.2 million tons, thereby falling short of the target set between 28 and 28.5 million tons. We hope that next year, Indonesia's CPO production will show a slight rise and reach 29.5 million tons," the General Chairman of the Indonesia Palm Oil Board (DMSI) Derom Bangun stated in Medan, North Sumatra, on Thursday.           Thus, with a remainder of 2.1 million tons from 2013, the country is expected to have a stock of 31.6 million tons of CPO in 2014.           Indonesia, the world's largest crude palm oil producer, fell short of the target this year, as a result of extreme weather conditions that affected the harvest.       "Initially, the production in 2013 was estimated to be between 28 million tons and 28.5 million tons, but due to bad weather conditions, it is estimated to only reach around 26.2 million tons," noted Derom Bangun.

RI ACHIEVES 2013 FOREIGN TOURIST TARGET

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 26 (Antara) - The Indonesian government expresses optimism about achieving its moderate target of 8.6 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2013, and places yet another target for 2014 at 9.2 million.          The country's target to receive foreign tourist arrivals in 2013 will be achieved due to an annual growth in foreign tourist visits noted over the years, stated Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu.          "Every year, the growth of international tourist arrivals reaches about seven to eight percent. So, we are optimistic that this year's target will also be achieved," the minister remarked during a year-end press conference, here on Tuesday.          Pangestu noted that based on her ministry's estimate, the number of foreign tourist arrivals in 2013 will reach about 8,637,275, or a growth of 7.37 percent from the previous year (2012), which reached 8.04 million tourists.

CENTRAL BANK TO HAND OVER BANK SUPERVISION TO OJK

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 23 (Antara) - Beginning January, the Indonesian central bank, Bank Indonesia (BI) will hand over the bank supervision task to the Financial Service Authority (OJK) based on Law No. 23 /2011.          "The transfer of the supervision authority from the central bank to the OJK will be implemented on December 31, 2013," stated Ari Lajiji, group supervision head of the OJK for Sulawesi, Maluku, North Maluku, Papua and West Papua (Sulampua), in Ambon, Maluku, on Thursday last week.          He noted that the OJK, which was set up in accordance with the Law No. 23/2011, has been operational since January 1, 2013. But, Bank Indonesia has not yet handed over the banking supervision task to the OJK.          However, the supervision of financial services, such as the capital market, insurance firms, and other financial services, has been handed over to the OJK.          The OJK aims to guide all activities in the financial services sector to ensure that they develop in a fair, orderly, stable, and accountable manner to protect the interests of consumers and the public, in general.          "Therefore, beginning January 1, 2014, the OJK will begin supervision of all financial service providers, including banks," Lajiji remarked.

RI SEES BETTER INVESTMENT PROSPECTS IN 2014

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 21 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has predicted that the country's investment target, set at Rp390 trillion this year, could be achieved, expressing optimism that interest by foreign investors in Indonesia will increase in 2014.          Deputy Finance Minister Mahendra Sirgar said he was optimistic that the 2013 investment target of Rp390 trillion will be achieved, regardless that the country's economic growth was slowing.          "If we look at the figure, we can achieve it. I can see that the investment target at Rp390 trillion for the entire year of 2013 can be realized," Mahendra said during a recent seminar.          In the meantime, head of the Finance Ministry's Macro Economic Study Center, Luky Alfirman, said on Thursday that interest by foreign businesses in investing capital in Indonesia would increase in 2014.          "Indonesia will remain a main target for investments by foreign investors," Luky Alfirman said.          He added that the strong interest by foreign investors to make investments in Indonesia was inseparable from the country's promising potential and domestic economic growth, which could exceed five percent.          "Besides that, Indonesia has investment opportunities which are better than those found in other countries," Alfirman said.

2013 STATE EXPENDITURE EXPECTED TO REACH 96 PCT

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 21 (Antara) - The government hopes that state expenditures through the end of 2013 will reach 96 percent of the allocation set in the Revised 2013 State Budget of Rp1,726.2 trillion.          "We expect that about 96 percent of the total state expenditure set for 2013 at Rp1,726.2 trillion will be absorbed up through the end of the year," Finance Minister Chatib Basri said, commenting on  the budget spending for 2013 late last month.          He added that the budget expenditure so far used was the amount that had been disbursed, not the values of the projects covered by the budget.  "The projects are ongoing, but we only calculate expenditure of budget that has been disbursed, not the project values," Basri said.          Data at the Ministry of Finance indicated that until November 29, 2013, state expenditures had only reached Rp1,224 trillion, or 80.3 percent of the allocation set in the Revised 2013 State Budget, amounting to Rp1,726.2 trillion.          In the meantime, the collecting of state revenues in the same period has also reached Rp1,224 trillion, or 81.5 percent of the Revised 2013 State Budget of Rp1,502 trillion.

GOVT ANTICIPATES PASSENGER INFLUX DURING X'MAS, NEW YEAR

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 20 (Antara) - The government is taking necessary steps to handle the anticipated surge in the number of air and sea passengers during the 2013 Christmas and New Year 2014 celebrations.          This year, the flow of air passengers is forecast to increase by 10 percent, while the number of passengers taking the sea route is forecast to increase by 20 percent from 2012.          A total of 93,364 additional seats will be available on flights operational from 27 airports spread across the country. A total of 23 airports operate domestic flights, while four operate international flights.      Since early this year, 403 flights by 18 airlines are in operation.          The Ministry of Transportation will also monitor the flow of passengers at 52 seaports in various parts of Indonesia during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, which are expected to last from December 23, 2013 to January 6, 2014.         "We will monitor the flow of passengers at 52 seaports. We forecast the passenger flow will peak on December 23, 2013 and the return flow will peak on January 6, 2014," Director General for Sea Transportation Bobby S Mamahit remarked on Monday.         He stated that his side will install closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitors at 25 out of the 52 seaports to monitor the movement of passengers during the year-end festivities. This is because the number of passengers using sea transport increases every year.

RI'S ECONOMIC GROWTH PREDICTED AT 5.5 - 6.0 PCT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 18 (Antara) - Indonesia's economy this year is forecast to grow below targets previously set at 6.3 percent as a result of the current account deficit, the central bank's increased benchmark rate and postponement of investments by investors.          The National Economic Committee (KEN) predicted that the Indonesian economy would grow 5.7 percent this year, slightly higher than the World Bank's forecast of 5.6 percent.         "What happens in 2013 is worse than the worst scenario we made in the economic outlook 2013. It turns out that it is difficult to predict what is to come, even for only a year," KEN Chairman Chirul Tanjung said at a seminar recently.          In the third quarter of this year, the country's economy grew only 5.6 percent.  He said imports have grown faster than exports because of the relatively strong growth of the country's economy amid the global slump.          "As a result, Indonesia suffered a trade deficit followed by the current account deficit," he said.          He added that Bank Indonesia¿s (BI/the central bank) policy of raising the benchmark interest rate had both advantages and disadvantages. BI raised its benchmark rate to a four-year high of 7.5 percent in November to prop up the weakening rupiah and reduce the persistently high current account deficit.

POLICE RAMP UP SECURITY AHEAD OF X'MAS, NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 17 (Antara) - The Indonesia National Police has said it will launch a Candle Light Operation and deploy 92,000 officers across the country to maintain security ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.          "The operation will involve more than 92,000 personnel throughout the country. The security officers will come from the Police Headquarters and Regional Police Commands," Brigadier General Boy Rafli Amar, the Head of the Public Information Bureau at the National Police's Public Relations Division, said on Monday.           Security must be tightened to ensure that public safety and order is maintained during Christmas and New Year celebrations, especially given that 2014 will be a politically crucial year as the Indonesian public will go to the polls in a legislative and presidential election.           President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday had urged security officials to be on their guard against certain parties, who would probably take advantage of the festive mood during Christmas and the New Year to disturb the security situation.          "It is a political year and we are sensing the escalating political climate in our country. Therefore, I urge all political elite and politicians to exercise self-restraint," he noted.          To anticipate any unwanted happenings, the head of state also encouraged security and law enforcement officials to work extra hard to ensure security. "I have received a report from the National Police Chief about the plans of certain elements to disturb security and order at certain places," the President stated.          Brigadier General Boy pointed out that as a result, a Candle Light Operation will take place from December 23, 2013 to January 1, 2014, wherein the police will divide operation areas into two priority regions, namely Priority I and Priority II.          He revealed that the Priority I region would cover 14 regional police commands overlooking the provinces of North Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, East Kalimantan, Papua, Yogyakarta, East Nusa Tenggara, Central Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Maluku and Central Kalimantan.          "The regional police commands in other provinces will launch a Candle Light Operation in the Priority II category," Boy said.

IDEAS EMERGING TO REVIVE INDONESIA'S PAST STATE POLICY GUIDELINES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 16 (Antara) - Some quarters have come up with the idea of reviving the obsolete State Policy Guidelines (GBHN) amidst concerns that the country in the current reforms era has no clear developmental goals.          But others pointed out that the reintroduction of the GBHN, which was earlier used by the President during the New Order Government for over three decades to direct national development, was difficult to implement and even described it as a setback to the Constitution, an amendment for which has been made.          "The targets and direction of development of the current government over the past decade are still unclear. As a result, some quarters raised the idea to revive the GBHN," Member of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission II on Home Affairs Jazuli Juwaini stated on Thursday.          "The directions should be made clear so that the people can evaluate the government's performance after five or ten years," the legislator added. Jazuli said that people will not raise the idea of reviving the GBHN if they can clearly see the direction and targets of development.          The idea to return to the GBHN was raised during a Nationhood Congress carrying the theme "The Nation's Directions In the Run-Up To 100 Years Of Its Independence," which was organized by the Media Editors' Forum on Tuesday, last week.

RI NEEDS 30 YEARS TO BECOME ADVANCED NATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 14 (Antara) - Having been classified as a middle-income country since the early 1990s, Indonesia needs about 30 years to come out of what is called the 'middle-income trap' and move into the high-income group of countries.          Indonesia, according to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forecasts, is expected to shift from a middle-income nation to a high-income, or advanced country, by 2042.          "That is much slower than Malaysia, which is expected to make that transition by 2020, China (by 2026) and Thailand (by 2031)," the Head of the Asia Desk, OECD Development Centre, Kensuke Tanaka, told participants at a seminar last week.          The middle income trap refers to a situation in which a country that has become a middle-income nation fails to become a high-income country and experiences stagnation.          Based on international standards, a country is said to have fallen into a middle-income trap if it stays at the middle income level for 42 years.          Indonesia, Tanaka said, is only leading the Philippines, which is forecast to shift to an advanced nation by 2051, Vietnam by 2058 and India by 2059, because of being late in carrying out institutional developments and in anticipating changes.

RI'S UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE PLAN TO TAKE OFF NEXT MONTH

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 12, (Antara) - About 140 million people will have medical insurance coverage next month when Indonesia's Law No 24/2011 on Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) in the health sector becomes effective in January.          The 140 million covered under the scheme will include 86.4 million poor, who were earlier covered by the Jamkesmas community health insurance.           Also included in the 140 million are those who were earlier covered by various other health insurance firms, such as PT Askes (state-owned health insurance company), PT Jamsostek (workers insurance company) and the military/police institutions.          Based on Law No. 24 / 2011 related to BPJS, the social security management agency will consist of two administrations, namely the BPJS-Health on health security (to be administered by PT Askes) and BPJS-Manpower on social security schemes for workers (to be administered by PT Jamsostek).          As Law No. 24/2011 will become effective as of January 2014, the government hopes that the PBJS health scheme will cover 140 million people beginning next month and Indonesia's entire population (about 250 million) by 2019.          Vice President Boediono visited the headquarters of the state-owned medical insurance company PT Askes on Wednesday to inspect preparations for the implementation of social health insurance.

FISHERIES MINISTRY TO CHAMPION BLUE ECONOMY APPROACH

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 11 (Antara) - After achieving most of the targets set out in its development programs, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) plans to emphasize on the blue economy approach during its fishery industrialization program in 2014.          The Ministry is placing an emphasis on the blue economic approach, owing to the fact that it has been successful in implementing most of its programs based on the blue economy direction provided by the government.          "Most of the performance indicators based on the Ministry's Strategic Plans have been achieved," Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo said on Tuesday.          The Ministry has even exceeded its targets in a number of sectors. Fisheries production in 2012 was recorded at 15.3 million tons and fisheries exports reached US$4 billion.          The Ministry had set a fish production target for 2011 at 12.26 million tons - an increase of 13 percent from 2009's production of 10.85 million tons.          According to data from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Indonesia's fishery exports in 2010 stood at US$2.86 billion. These jumped to US$3.52 billion in 2011 and US$3.85 billion in 2012.          Minister Sutardjo revealed recently that the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country's fishery sector in 2012 had risen by 6.48 percent or Rp57.69 trillion to Rp255.3 trillion.          This is the first time that Indonesia is said to have become self-sufficient in salt production, which has reached two million tons. Its per capita fish consumption has reached 34 kilograms a year.

RI MUST ACCELERATE MINERAL SMELTERS' DEVELOPMENT

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 7 (Antara) - Indonesia must quicken the development of its mineral smelters so that reduced revenues from mineral ore exports will not be ongoing following the ban on exports of raw minerals, which begins next month.          "The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) hopes that the development of smelters in the country will be accelerated for the interest of the nation," Kadin Deputy Chairman for Regional Empowerment Natsir Mansur said.          The Indonesian government will implement Law No.4/2009 on Mineral and Coal Development, which will ban the export of raw minerals beginning January 12, 2014. Under the law, mining companies are required to process minerals inside the country before exporting them.          "Based on the law, we are no longer allowed to export (raw minerals) as of January 12, 2014. We should consistently abide by it," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said on Thursday.

BROADCASTING FIRMS WARNED ABOUT COVERT ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 6 (Antara) - Four months before the start of Indonesia's general elections in 2014, covert campaigns to promote the election candidates have appeared in broadcasting media and billboards, which have forced the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) to reprimand TV news stations.          At least six TV stations are believed to have broadcast programs containing subtle campaign messages by legislative candidates or political parties that plan to contest the general elections on April 9, 2014.          The KPI has reprimanded the TV stations for their disproportionate coverage of political news, talk-shows and advertisements.          "The six broadcasting stations reprimanded by the commission are RCTI, MNC TV, Global TV, ANTV, TV One and Metro TV," KPI chairman Judhariksawan told the media here on Thursday.          Judhariksawan said the KPI had reprimanded the six television stations and urged them to change their broadcasting coverage, since campaigning for the upcoming general elections could not be carried out before March 16, 2014.          "We are of the view that several broadcasters have given disproportionate coverage to political news, including advertisements containing political messages, which, according to the KPI, contain elements of campaigning," the KPI chairman noted.          Bawaslu has also reprimanded three national TV stations -- the MNC Group, Metro TV and TV One  -- because they are believed to have engaged in covert political campaigns through their programs.          "We find that there are potential violations of election campaign rules. We remind the MNC Group, Metro TV and TV One that they should not broadcast programs that could violate the rules," Bawaslu chairman Muhammad had said earlier.