INDONESIA'S CAPSULE OF HOPES PLANTED IN PAPUA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 31 (Antara) - After seven decades of development, Indonesia has placed its dreams for another 70 years in a time capsule, which will be opened by the future generation in 2085.          Containing seven wishes that reflect the aspirations of the people in the country's 34 provinces, the "Time Capsule 2085" was planted by Indonesia's seventh President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Hapsana Sai Square, Marauke, Papua, on Wednesday.          Before planting the time capsule, President Jokowi placed in it Indonesia's aspirations that had been gathered from across the country by the capsule expedition team. The time capsule program was launched in Jakarta by State Secretary Pratikno last September.          Its expedition team began their journey from "point zero" located in Weh Island in Aceh on the western tip of the country and traveled across 187 cities and 34 provinces before arriving in Merauke in the easternmost Province of Papua on Dec. 21. It will remain there until Indonesia's 140th anniversary on Aug. 17, 2085, or 70 years from now.

GOVT OPTIMISTIC OF ACHIEVING ITS TOURISM TARGET IN 2015

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 31 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is optimistic that it will achieve the target of attracting 10 million foreign tourists this year, despite natural disasters such as mount explosions and forest fires that triggered haze.          Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said it was his view that although Indonesia's tourism sector faced many constraints such as volcanic eruptions and massive spread of haze, the sector is estimated to witness a rise of 5.81 percent this year.          Due to natural disasters, some people had predicted that the government would not be able to achieve its target of attracting 10 million foreign tourists in 2015.          But based on provisional data at the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), a total of 8,017,589 foreign tourists have visited the country during the January-October 2015 period.         This number increased by 3.38 percent, compared to 7,755,616 foreign tourist arrivals recorded in the corresponding period last year.          Apart from the January-October figure, the government has estimated that about 800 thousand foreign tourists arrived in November 2015 while 1.2 million others visited the country in December.          So, in total, the number of tourist arrivals at the end of the year would amount to 10,017,589, exceeding the target of 10 million.

RI ENTERS 2016, CONFIDENT OF SOLID ECONOMIC FOUNDATION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 28 (Antara) - Indonesia's economy grew at a slow pace in 2015 due to internal and external factors but government is confident of solid prospects as it enters 2016 since it has laid a strong economic foundation.          The global pressures and economic downturns, coupled with internal factors such as a drop in exports, low budget absorption, decline in the rupiah's exchange rate and weakening of the people's purchasing power, contributed to a slowdown in Indonesia's economic progress.          However, Indonesia's economic prospects remain strong as it enters 2016 since it took significant steps over the past few years.          "In 2015, we were able to build a good and strong foundation," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated while opening a plenary cabinet meeting at his office in Jakarta on December 23, 2015.          The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also confirmed that the country's economic prospects remain solid, thanks to the significant steps it took over the past several years.          "They (the Indonesian government) have demonstrated wise monetary and fiscal management policies, supported by historic fuel oil subsidy reforms in 2015," Luis E. Breuer, the IMF team leader in Indonesia, said in a statement made available to Antara last week.

INDONESIA STILL NEEDS TO IMPORT FOOD IN 2016

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 28 (Antara) - Although it claims to have had a surplus of rice in 2015, Indonesia still imported rice throughout the year and will continue to import food items such as rice, beef and raw sugar in 2016.       According to Trade Minister Thomas Lembong, the government will still face difficulties in avoiding the need to import food in 2016 because it needs to maintain supplies to prevent food price hikes throughout the country.          He said he was not yet satisfied, because of the upward trend of food prices. So, he will not be able to prevent food from being imported to strengthen stocks and meet domestic needs, while waiting for larger agricultural harvests in the coming several years.          Based on monitoring in the field, the medium-quality price of rice has now reached Rp10,675 per kilogram (kg), which increased from Rp8,939 per kg in September, while the normal price is approximately Rp8,300 per kg.

INDONESIANS DEMONSTRATE RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE ON CHRISTMAS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 25 (Antara) - Since Christmas Eve on Thursday night, Indonesian Christians have performed services and various religious rituals solemnly and peacefully in the world's largest Muslim populated country, which holds religious tolerance in the highest esteem.         For instance, since Christmas Eve, Jakarta's Cathedral Church, which is located adjacent to Indonesia's largest Istiqlal Mosque, has been thronged by masses of pilgrims.         Thousands of churchgoers continued to flock the Cathedral since Friday morning, while on the other side, Muslims also congregated at the Istiqlal Mosque to offer Friday prayers.         Both Christians and Muslims performed religious rituals solemnly in their respective houses of worship. The management of Istiqlal mosque even allowed the participants of the Christmas mass service at the close by Jakarta Cathedral to access its parking lots.         Erik Muliawan, the spokesman of the church's Christmas celebration committee, stated on Thursday that this demonstrated a form of tolerance developed between the church and mosque so far.

RI TIGHTENS SECURITHY FOR X'MAS, NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 24 (Antara) - The Indonesian authorities have stepped up security measures in an effort to provide peaceful and quiet conditions for the people celebrating the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, Christmas and the New Year 2016.          The Indonesian National Police will field at least 80 thousand personnel across the country to maintain security, particularly on Christmas Eve and will guard churches and church goers throughout the country.          "We have to guard each other because security should be maintained not by the police only, but also by people and societal organizations," Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on the sidelines of a celebration held to observe the birth of the Prophet Muhammad at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta on Thursday.          According to National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, the National Police will deploy 80,197 police personnel across the country to maintain security in the run-up to the advent of New Year 2016.          He said the police personnel will be deployed under a security operation code-named "Operasi Lilin 2015" (Operation Candle 2015). The operation will be carried out from December 25 to January 2.

GOVERNMENT LOWERS PREMIUM GASOLINE, DIESEL OIL PRICES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 24 (Antara) - In a move to usher in the new year on a positive note, the government has significantly lowered the prices of premium gasoline and diesel oil, which will come into effect from January 5, 2016.         Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources announced on Wednesday that the price of premium gasoline will be reduced from Rp7,300 to Rp7,150 per liter, while the diesel oil price will be lowered from Rp6,750 to Rp5,950 per liter.          The reduced prices include government levies for energy resilience funds amounting to Rp200 for premium per liter and Rp300 for diesel oil per liter.          "Through this policy, we are able to stock up Rp200 per liter from premium and Rp300 from diesel. These funds will be used to develop renewable energy in an effort to build national energy resilience," Minister Sudirman Said stated after attending a cabinet meeting here on Wednesday evening.           He further explained that in real terms, the price of premium at Rp7,300 per liter was lowered to its true economic value of Rp6,950, but the government had levied Rp200 per liter, so the consumers would have to pay Rp7,150 per liter.      The same applies to the price of diesel oil, which was lowered from Rp6,750 per liter to its economic value of Rp6,650 per liter. The government has levied Rp300 per liter for resilience funds, and so, the consumers will pay Rp5,950 per liter.

MOST OF 2016 POWER PROJECTS TO USE COAL

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 23 (Antara) - The government has decided to use coal as the main source of energy for its 17,340-megawatt (MW) electricity projects planned to be built in 2016 at a total cost of US$20 billion, or Rp280 trillion.          "Most of the power plants to be built next year will use steam with coal as their fuels. Some 13,049 MW of the total 17,340-MW projects will use coal, while the remaining 4,291-MW projects will use gas, hydro, and geothermal sources of energy," Sofyan Basir, the president director of state-owned electricity company PLN, stated on Tuesday.          The PLN president director noted that agreements on the construction of the 17,340-MW power projects had been signed, and the work on them was expected to commence in early 2016.          The 17,340-MW electricity projects are part of the 35 thousand MW capacity that the government is planning to develop and complete by 2019. This move is aimed at increasing the nation's current electricity generation capacity from some 50 thousand MW now to 85 thousand MW by the end of 2019.          Sofyan remarked that of the 17,340-MW power projects whose contracts had been signed, about 4,291 MW will use clean and renewable sources of energy, such as gas, hydro, and geothermal.

17,000-MW POWER PROJECTS TO START EARLY IN 2016

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 22 (Antara) - The government will go all out to meet the target to provide an additional 35 thousand megawatt (MW) power to people by the end of 2019, though some termed it an unrealistic plan.          Towards achieving that end, the government will begin the construction of facilities to produce 17 thousand megawatts of the planned 35 thousand MW capacity by early 2016.       "We have decided on the price and 11 companies have registered to participate in the pre-qualification process. God willing, by the beginning of 2016, the projects will start to run," President Director of state-owned electricity firm PLN, Sofyan Basyir, said on Tuesday.          Sofyan made these remarks after a meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno and Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution. The PLN president director said the construction cost for the project is 30 percent lower than the standard prices in the previous years because the price of steel has been going down.           President Joko Widodo is determined to complete the construction of the projects to produce 35,000-MW by the end of his term in 2019. Therefore, he called on all the related parties to expedite the projects.

WALKING ON STILTS KEY TO TANOKER'S SUCCESS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 21 (Antara) - Walking on stilts in a traditional play called "Egrang" requires a high level of concentration to maintain balance and move forward dynamically, an essential philosophy that could help usher in change.          This philosophy has become the inspiration of the children in Tanoker Vilage, Ledokombo Sub-district, Jember District, East Java. They have reenacted the Egrang play that has eventually helped to bring about changes in their village.          In the last several years, the local community has organized a festival to preserve the traditional play, which is on the brink of extinction.          On Saturday (Dec. 19), the Tanoker Community in Tanoker, Ledokombo, celebrated the sixth Egrang Festival, which was attended by Education and Culture Minister Anies Baswedan.          "Minister Anies lauded the character education carried out through the medium of traditional plays, such as 'Egrang' in Tanoker Village," Tanoker Community Chief Suporahardjo stated on Sunday.

JAPAN IS POTENTIAL INVESTOR FOR INDONESIA IN 2016

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 20 (Antara) - Indonesia which is intensively carrying out development to  advance its economy needs a lot of funds to develop its infrastructures that are required to facilitate  development in various economic sectors across the country.         In developing its entire planned infrastructure, Indonesia requires a total financing of around Rp5,000 trillion rupiah (about US$360.5 billion).          The government however has no enough funds to finance its projects. It needs to cooperate with the private sector and invite foreign investors.          "It is impossible to source funding of such magnitude from within the country. It means that we need to attract foreign investors," Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno emphasized, after attending an energy forum last month.          Therefore, Indonesia is now actively seeking investors from overseas. One of the foreign countries considered to be potential for investing in Indonesia is Japan.          In 2016 for example, Japan is considered to be a potential source of foreign direct investment.

GOVT HAS DISBURSED 95 PCT OF VILLAGE FUNDS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 19 (Antara) - In Indonesia, based on data at the Ministry of Home Affairs, there were 81,309 villages in 2013, consisting of 72,944 rural villages and 8,309 urban villages.         Of these villages, some 32 thousand were still categorized as least developed. For this purpose, the government has set aside a village fund to help advance village development.         Till December 16, for example, the government has channeled Rp19.764 trillion as village funds to 308 districts/municipalities, or about 95 percent of the disbursement target of Rp20.76 trillion this year.         "The Ministry of Finance has till December 16 transferred 95 percent, or Rp19.76 trillion, of the funds from the state treasury account to the regional treasure account," Budiarso Teguh, the director general for financial balance affairs of the Ministry of Finance, said in Jakarta Thursday (December 17).

INDONESIAN "OJEK" DRIVERS BARELY LOSE JOBS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 18 (Antara) - Indonesia's Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan on Friday allowed the online motorcycle taxi service (ojek) to temporarily continue its operations hours after announcing a ban on it.          The minister told a press conference at the Ministry of Transportation that ojek can temporarily continue to operate to meet the needs of the public for an efficient transport system, pending a revision in Law No.22/2009 on Traffic and Transportation.          "As a temporary solution, please go on (running your service). We can revise the law which has been in effect since 2009," the minister said. The law did not include two-wheeler vehicles as a public mode of transportation.          However, the fact that there is a wide gap between the need and availability of proper and adequate public transportation. "If ojek can be a solution and can provide good service to the public, we suggest that it should continue running for the time being," the minister said.

INVESTMENT BOARD EXPECTED TO EXCEED TARGET

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 17 (Antara) - The realization of investment in Indonesia in 2015 is expected to reach Rp535 trillion-Rp540 trillion, up 16.6 percent from that in 2014, surpassing the Capital Investment Coordinating Board's (BKPM's) target set at Rp519.5 trillion.         The forecast is based on the trend of realized investment, and it has been growing all through the year, BKPM Chief Franky Sibarani stated early this month (Dec. 1).        "This means that this year, the investment level is 16.6 percent higher than that in 2014," Sibarani noted.         BKPM deputy for capital service Lestari Indah remarked at the Bogor Economic Summit in Jakarta on Wednesday (Dec. 16) that the overall investment realization from January to September this year rose by 16.6 percent to reach Rp400 trillion. The value excluded the investment in the financial sector and the upstream oil and gas business.          The BKPM noted that the investment realization worth Rp400 trillion in the January-September 2015 period accounted for 77 percent of the investment target set for this year at Rp519.5 trillion.

GOVT CUTS SHORT CONTAINERS' WAITING TIME AT PORTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 16 (Antara) - One of the factors hampering economic activities at Indonesian ports is the inordinately long time it takes for the imported goods to be released from the container terminals.          At Tanjung Priok Seaport of Jakarta, for example, the waiting time is around 8.9 days before the containers are released as clearance procedures are complicated.          Since the beginning of this year, the government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had set a target to cut this waiting time to an average of 4.7 days only. This meant that while pre-customs processes would have to be completed in 2.7 days, customs processes will take half a day and post-customs handling will have to be cleared in a day and a half.          During an inspection of the Tanjung Priok Port in June, the President threatened to  fire officials because he found them incapable of reducing loading and unloading time at ports. The waiting time was still 5.59 days.         "We must be frank. When I don't get answers for something I ask, I find them myself. It may be difficult but not impossible to dismiss the director general, or officials in the field, or even the minister," he said while visiting Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port on June 17.         Jokowi wanted port services to be quicker and more efficient. He was disappointed when he heard that waiting time at the port still stood at three days, 20 days or even 25 days.

ICP TUMBLES AS WORLD CRUDE PRICES FALL

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 15 (Antara) - The Indonesian crude price (ICP) slid down in the world market as global oil prices continued to fall over the past several months.          Since the falling oil prices and the ICP sliding in the world market are factors that affect the domestic fuel prices in the country, the government is considering lowering the fuel oil price at home.          Actually, the fall in domestic oil price will be good and positive for the country's economy.          "We hope the fuel oil prices will go down in January. If these are lowered, the country's economy will improve,"  Gusti Nyoman Wiratmadja Puja,  the director general of natural oil and gas of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said after attending "Pertamina Refining Day 2015" function on Tuesday (Dec 15).          He said with the fall in the world oil prices, the government will lower the price of fuel oil in the country next month.          The team of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) has recorded that the average Indonesian crude price or the ICP in November 2015 fell by US$2.24 per barrel, compared to the October level.          According to the ESDM statement made available to Antara last week, the Indonesian crude price in the world slid from US$43.68 per barrel in October to US$41.44 per barrel in November 2015.

INDONESIA REJOINS OPEC TO BUILD ENERGY RESILIENCE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 14 (Antara) - Indonesia, which suspended its membership of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at the end of 2008, has since last month rejoined the organization to build its energy resilience.         Indonesia officially became an active member of the OPEC again when it attended its 168th session in Vienna, Austria, on November 4, 2015.         "The reactivation of the Indonesian membership of the OPEC was marked by its participation in the 168th session," Indonesia's Governor for OPEC Widhyawan Prawiraatmadja stated on Friday (Dec. 4).          In the current transition from using fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy, Indonesia has to expand its network and engage in bilateral and multilateral cooperation to build its energy resilience.          Indonesia, which had become an OPEC member in 1962 and had pulled out of the world oil organization in 2008 since it was unable to meet its production quota and became an oil importer country in 2008, rejoined the OPEC not because it wants to become an oil exporter but as it is interested in expanding its global network.

GOVT WANTS ACCELERATION OF MANDALIKA RESORT DEVELOPMENT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 12 (Antara) - The government is impatient to see the completion of the Mandalika tourist resort development, which is also being built as a Special Economic Zone (KEK) to drive local economic activities and boost growth.         Vice President Jusu Kalla, when inspecting preparations for the construction of four star-rated hotels in the area Saturday, asked PT Indonesian Tourism Development Corporations (ITDC) management to accelerate the development of Mandalika which is being 'groomed'  as a world class tourist resort and special economic zone in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province.          The development of the Mandalika Special Economic Zone and Tourist Resort Area should be accelerated so that the local people could soon enjoy its economic benefits and improve their welfare, the Vice President said.           The Mandalika KEK project was planned 25 years ago but several constraints had always hampered its realization, he said.

INDONESIA PROMOTING TRADE, INVESTMENT IN SOUTH KOREA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 12 (Antara) - Indonesia is actively promoting trade and investment in South Korea since both these sectors have shown a downward trend over the past few years.          The value of Indonesia-South Korea trade in 2014 for example was recorded at US$22.47 billion, down from some US$30 billion in 2012. Likewise, South Korean investment in 2012 was recorded at US$1.9 billion but up to the first half of 2015, it accounted for US$790 million only.          Trade Minister Thomas Lembong is committed to increasing the trade and investment values of both nations.          Therefore, he visited South Korea this week to continue negotiations on the Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IKCEPA) in an effort to increase market access and attract more investment from South Korea.          "We will expand market access through the continuation of the IKCEPA negotiations and the promotions of Indonesian products in the South Korean market," Thomas Lembong said in a written statement received by Antara in Jakarta Wednesday.

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 11 (Antara) - The Indonesian government acutely needs to cooperate with the private sector and avail of foreign loans to implement its infrastructure programs in 2016.          It is now preparing to finalize all phases of the 2016 infrastructure projects. Under the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, for example, there are some 1,600 infrastructure projects that need government-private partnership (KPS) and foreign loans.          National Development Planning Minister Sofyan Dajlil said the government will secure US$150 million in foreign loans to help finance preparations for infrastructure projects.          The government will need these loans to accomplish all the phases of the 2016 project preparations by the end of this year, he stated at a meeting of investors in Jakarta here on Monday (Dec.7).          The phases of project preparations include feasibility study, technical engineering design, land clearance, and project documentation.      "A loan commitment of US$150 million has been made to fund project preparations," he noted     According to the Minister of State-Owned Corporations (BUMN), Rini Soemarno, the entire planned infrastructure in Indonesia needed a total financing of around Rp5,000 trillion rupiah.          "It is impossible to source funding of such magnitude from within the country. It means that we need to attract foreign investors," Rini emphasized, after attending the Pertamina Energy Forum on Tuesday (Nov 24).

INDONESIA UNVEILS PASSENGER AIRCRAFT FOR REMOTE REGIONS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 11 (Antara) - The 17 thousand Indonesian islands spread across the archipelago are vastly isolated, and most regions are located in remote areas that need connectivity.          To this end, the government, through its state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), is looking forward to the future trend in passenger aircraft business.          As it would also promote the government's program to boost connectivity and improve the people's welfare thorough equitable transportation services, PTDI, in cooperation with the National Aviation and Space Agency (LAPAN), is producing a smaller yet efficient aircraft that can be used to offer air transportation services to various islands in Indonesia.          On Thursday, PTDI launched the prototype of its N219 aircraft, which is expected to boost the country's air transportation sector through commuter aircraft services in future.          "I welcome the development of the N219 aircraft by the domestic aviation industry. The N219 has been developed in Indonesia for Indonesia," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said in his written address, read out by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan at the unveiling of the aircraft's prototype at the PTDI hangar in Bandung, West Java, on Thursday.

NDONESIA'S PILKADA CAN BE ROLE MODEL FOR THE WORLD

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 9 (Antara) - Indonesia, the world's third largest democracy, showcased its democratic process to the world on Wednesday when it held its first simultaneous regional head elections (Pilkada), a day before a world democracy forum opens in Bali.          The country's General Elections Commission (KPU) recorded that some 100,461,890 eligible voters were expected to cast votes to elect 800 pairs of regional head candidates in 264 regions across the country.          The candidates were running for posts of eight governors and vice governors, 222 district heads and their deputies, and 34 mayors and their deputies. If successful, it will become the first such election in the world.          "If the Indonesian Pilkada is successful it will become the first simultaneous local election in the world and will be a role model for democratic countries,"  Easti Handayani, the director general for Public Diplomacy Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on Wednesday.          After all, the local elections, held simultaneously across the country, were organized only one day before the 8th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), set to be opened by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

GOVT SEEKS TO REDUCE FISH MEAL IMPORTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 8 (Antara) - The government is encouraging production of fish meals using local raw materials to reduce fish meal imports and cut fish cultivation expenses as meals so far account for about 80 percent of the total costs.         "We must seek ways of utilizing our rich local raw materials to produce  fish meals on our own that would benefit both fish meal industry and cultured fish farmers," Director General for Cultured Fish of the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) Slamet Soebjakto, said on Tuesday.          For this purpose, the KKP will strengthen the network and coordination among fish farmers and local fish meal producers, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (UKM).         By producing fish meals from local raw materials both UKM or individuals and fish breeders will enjoy benefit as the production cost could significantly be cut.          As regards, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti expressed the desire that the cost of fish cultivation should be reduced to 60 percent.  Slamet said fish meal production facility should be accorded priority because meals account for the biggest cost component in the fish culture sector.

DEADLY ACCIDENT PROMPTS CALLS FOR BETTER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 8 (Antara) - The commuter train-Metromini bus collision at North Jakarta's Muara Angke railway crossing that killed 17 people, Sunday, prompted authorities to take steps to put in order the operations of public vehicles in the capital city.          Though not all, yet on an average, drivers of Jakarta's public transportation vehicles --- such as "angkot" and "mikrolet" (both minivans), buses, including Metromini buses --- are notorious for their recklessness.      Luckily, apart from trains, Jakarta's residents can still avail relatively convenient public transportation services in the form of taxis and the TransJakarta Busway transportation services. However, passengers have to pay relatively higher fares for these services.          Traffic accidents in the capital city, particularly at railway crossings, have repeatedly occurred, and Sunday's accident was not the first of its kind.          However, the Muara Angke collision involving an electric commuter train and a Metromini bus appears to have raised awareness among the authorities to streamline the operations of public vehicles in order to protect the safety of passengers and ensure their convenience.          President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has promptly ordered his minister to take the necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of accidents involving means of public transportation at railway crossings.

RI SHOULD ADOPT LANDSCAPE APPROACH FOR HANDLING FOREST FIRES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 7 (Antara) - Indonesia, that has the largest tropical forest in the world, needs to adopt an appropriate approach to check the forest fires that happen almost every year.          A forum during the on-going 21st Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France, also touched upon the issue of annual Indonesian forest fires.          The issue was raised during the Global Landscape Forum, organized by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)  at the Palais de Congres, Paris, France, on Saturday.          Director for Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) Indonesia Fitrian Ardiansyah told the forum that the Indonesian government needed to adopt a landscaping approach to overcome the forest fires occurring for the past few years.          He said various countries have successfully used the landscaping approach. It was also mentioned in the 'The Little Sustainable Landscape Book,' launched by the CIFOR  and various environment organizations at the forum.

SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN BEEF PRODUCTION STILL A DREAM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 4 (Antara) - Indonesia has been making efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in meat production for the past several years but that dream has not yet come true due to several factors.          The previous government under former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had set a target for Indonesia to become self-sufficient in meat production by 2014.          However, by October 2013, cattle population had plunged from 16.4 million in 2012 to 14.2 million, clearly inadequate to meet the domestic need for meat, pegged at about 550 thousand tons per annum.          Till date, Indonesia has to import meat or cattle to meet its domestic needs. The meat sector has been witnessing a trend to rather import the commodity instead of breeding cows at home.          Cattle needs two and a half to three years before it could be slaughtered or sold.          The head of the Breeding Division of PT Santori, Dayan Antoni, said in Lampung Province on Thursday that businesses take less interest in breeding cattle due to the high cost and the risks involved. From their point of view, it takes a long time before the cattle could yield economic benefit.

MINISTRY TO IDENTIFY CONTAMINATED WATERS TO PROTECT HEALTHY FISH STOCKS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 2 (Antara) - The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry will map out polluted areas in the Indonesian waters and take necessary steps to preserve the water quality to ensure healthy fish populations.          "We will collect data on polluted areas in the Indonesian waters that contain hazardous waste materials," Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti stated on Tuesday.          The minister made the statement in response to the incident wherein thousands of fish had been stranded ashore and had died at the Ancol Dream Land beach in North Jakarta on Monday.          The deteriorating water quality and climate change phenomenon are believed to be the reasons behind the mass death of fish.          Officials of the Water Police Directorate General (Ditpolair) of the Jakarta Regional Police suspect that hazardous liquid wastes settling on the seabed are causing the mass death of fish.          "We suspect that the sediments of poisonous wastes in river estuaries are being carried down to the seabed," Head of the Law Enforcement Affairs of the Ditpolair Commissioner Edi Guritno claimed on Monday.

RI URGES DEVELOPED NATIONS TO HELP REDUCE EMISSIONS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 1 (Antara) - Indonesia has urged developed countries to help reduce global warming and carbon emissions at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP-21) being held in Paris, France, from November 30 to December 11, 2015.         The country is therefore optimistic that the COP-21 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris would reach an ambitious agreement to make the earth a better place and to improve the people's welfare.        "Reaching an agreement in Paris is a must. I hope we are all part of a solution to make the earth a more convenient place for our children and grandchildren," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) told 147 heads of state and government during the Leaders' Event in Paris on Monday (November 30).         In order to reach an agreement in Paris, he emphasized that all countries, especially developed nations, should contribute in mitigation and adaptation efforts.         The contribution could be through the mobilization of US$100 billion financing until 2020 to be increased in the following years, with transfer of environmentally friendly technology and capacity expansion.

PERTAMINA PREDICTS SURPLUS IN DIESEL PRODUCTION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 28 (Antara) - Under obligation to implement the government's mandatory biofuel mix of 20 percent diesel fuel, state-owned oil/gas firm Pertamina has predicted that it will have pure diesel production surplus of about 400 thousand tons per month.          The government, through the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM), has over the past two years issued a regulation requiring Pertamina to implement a mandatory biofuel mix of diesel oil.          The mandatory biofuel mix policy is expected to have broad implications such as the absorption of 5.3 million kiloliters of biodiesel, which is some 4.8 million tons of the country's crude palm oil (CPO) production, and the retrenchment of US$2.54 billion of foreign exchange from fossil fuel import cuts.          The government through the ESDM minister's regulation number 12/2015 has raised the mandatory biofuel mix of diesel from 10 percent (B10) in 2014 to 15 percent (B15) this year.          It is planning to raise it further to 20 percent (B20) in 2016.          For this purpose, Pertamina established a partnership with 11 biodiesel producers to meet the need for the fuel from November 2015 to April 2016.

GOVERNMENT BEGINS TRANS-SULAWESI RAILWAY PROJECT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 28 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is committed to developing railway projects in provinces across the country, particularly outside Java Island, in an effort to increase connectivity and reduce transportation costs.          President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) Wednesday, November 25, inspected the construction of the first phase of the 2000-kilometer (km) Makassar-Manado Trans-Sulawesi Railway Project, which is being built at a cost of Rp40 trillion and is expected to commence operations in 2018.          "The railway service is expected to commence operations in 2018 and will connect the two capitals," the President told newsmen after the inspection of the first phase.          The first phase of the Trans-Sulawesi section stretches 145 km from Makassar, the South Sulawesi provincial capital, to Parepare Municipality, and is expected to begin operations by the end of 2016.          The government was committed to providing infrastructure in the regions across the country, the President emphasized.          "It is not only here but also in other places. In Papua, we are still conducting a study, which is expected to be completed in the next quarter, so that the construction may possibly start next year," he noted in Barru, a district town of South Sulawesi which is blessed by the project.

INDONESIA TO EXPEDITE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 27 (Antara) - The government hopes to start implementing infrastructure projects by early 2016 in an effort to stem the continuing slide in the economy.          It is in the process of finalizing government-private partnerships (KPS) and foreign loan-funded infrastructure projects that will be implemented soon. Some 1,600 infrastructure projects under the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing are ready for auction.          Minister of National Development Planning and Head of the National Development Planning Board Sofyan Djalil said on Wednesday that the projects are ready for auction and construction can start by early 2016.          "Those (ministries/state institutions), who have received a huge budget for infrastructure development, have been responsive," he noted on the sidelines of an economic seminar.          The government is expediting the implementation of the infrastructure projects because this can help overcome certain problems in the economy, which is still slowing down.          According to Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, infrastructure development is part of the solutions that will help stem the economic slide.         "The economic slowdown is still taking place. We must have a reliable sector that can halt it. We should boost government expenditure in infrastructure development," the Finance Minister noted here on Thursday.

RI READY TO LEAD GLOBAL EFFORTS TO OVERCOME GLOBAL WARMING

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 26 (Antara) - Indonesia will ask developed nations to help reduce the world's carbon emissions and show its seriousness in overcoming global warming during the Paris climate conference being held next week.          Indonesia is also ready to take the lead in global efforts to overcome climate change issues, setting a target to reduce its own emissions by 30 percent by 2030.          "The Indonesian President will raise several issues during the 21st Conference of Parties (COP-21) of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC). This will also show Indonesia's recognition and grave concern for the climate issue and that it is ready to take the lead in overcoming global warming," Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir said here on Thursday.          The ministry spokesman said Indonesia as an island state is one of the countries that is most affected by the impact of climate change.          For this purpose, Indonesia has prepared documents and plans to reveal a special mission during the climate change conference in Paris.

INDONESIA MAXIMALLY PREPARED TO FACE AEC

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 25 (Antara) - Indonesia and other ASEAN member countries have made maximal preparations to enter the common free trade era, when the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will begin on December 31, 2015.          Although many still cast doubts, Indonesia, on its part, says it is now ready to face the AEC as it has completed 94.1 percent of the preparations.          "I think 94 percent is the maximal preparations we have made," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.          Therefore, Indonesia is now ready to face the AEC, which will be implemented beginning next January.          "If we calculate all areas that the ASEAN members need to work on, we have completed 94.1 of the required preparations," President Jokowi noted at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.          He said that some of the ASEAN members had completed 92 percent, 93 percent, and even 94 percent of the preparations.          "This means that like it or not, everything must be prepared," he affirmed.      Indonesia should be able to derive benefits from the implementation of the AEC.          "We cannot expect to get something (easily). All should be seized." Jokowi remarked.          The Indonesian president emphasized on improving efficiency and competitiveness and stressed on revising regulations that create hurdles.         The president noted that if all aspects are taken into account, then the number of areas that had yet to be worked on could reach several hundred.

FISHERY POLICY MUST BENEFIT SMALL-SCALE FISHERMEN

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 24 (Antara) - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has claimed to have achieved success in fighting fish poaching in the country's waters, thereby resulting in an increase in fish catch.         While illegal fishing has been drastically reduced, the KKP also made assurance that fish catch transshipment at sea for direct sales overseas has been stopped. All the caught fish will first be taken to the country's fishing ports.     However, this success should also benefit the 7.8 million poor fishermen living in the coastal areas in order to improve their welfare.          The People's Coalition for Fishery Justice (Kiara) has also called on the KKP to pay attention to traditional fishermen in the coastal areas. It should not merely focus on implementing measures to improve fish stocks in the waters but also increase the prosperity of fishermen.          "We need to emphasize that the management of fisheries resources should not be confined to solely handling fish stocks but also protecting and empowering fishermen, so that the well-being of poor fishermen in the coastal areas would be improved," Kiara Secretary General Abdul Halim noted on Monday (Nov. 23).

CHINA SUPPORTS RI'S LIQUIDITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 23 (Antara) - Liquidity assistance worth US$20 billion provided by China, through a bilateral currency swap scheme, will strengthen Indonesia's liquidity amid the current global economic turmoil, according to Bank Indonesia (BI), the Indonesian central bank.         "This is part of the second line of defense. If there is pressure, it would provide liquidity support," BI Governor Agus Martowardojo stated on Friday.         Therefore, the BI governor hailed the bilateral currency swap arrangement, which increased from the previous scheme valued at US$15 billion.     He said the liquidity support assistance indicated increasing investor confidence in Indonesia's economy, which has been increasingly improved in line with the development of the domestic economy.         "The confidence is reflected in the decrease in the rupiah's depreciation from 19 percent year-to-date (ytd) last August to 10 percent ytd now. This displays the increase in confidence," noted Agus.         Recently, the governments of Indonesia and China held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey, last week (Nov. 15).

LAKE TOBA FESTIVAL EXPECTED TO BOOST FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVALS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 20 (Antara) - Inaugurated by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya on Thursday, the four-day Lake Toba Festival 2015 is expected to attract at least one thousand foreign tourists and 55 thousand local visitors to North Sumatra's lake resort.          "The festival is expected to further promote Lake Toba at the international level to boost foreign tourist arrivals. The annual number of foreign tourists arriving at Lake Toba has so far been recorded at 200 thousand," Tourism Service Head of North Sumatra Elisa Marbun stated on Monday.      Marbun noted that the Lake Toba festival's implementation this year is expected to increase the number of foreign tourists visiting North Sumatra in 2016.     Moreover, the festival this year is being held in Berastagi, Karo District, which is well known for its beautiful panoramas, including scenic mountainous landscapes as well as vegetable and fruit gardens.         Traditionally, seven districts around the strategic area of Lake Toba take turns to host the festival. After the Toba Samosir District hosted the event in 2014, it is now (2015), Karo District's turn to organize it, Ikrimah Hamidi, a member of the North Sumatra Legislative Assembly (DPRD), stated last week.

BANKS ACCELERATE DISBURSEMENT OF MICRO LOANS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 20 (Antara) - Banks assigned by the government to distribute micro loans (KUR) to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are accelerating efforts to provide credits, so that the amount would reach over Rp20 trillion this year.          Moreover, the amount of credits that had been extended until November 17 by distributor banks -- Bank BRI, Bank Mandiri, and Bank BNI -- only reached Rp11.7 trillion, or less than half of the government's target to extend KUR worth Rp30 trillion this year.          "The distributor banks are making various efforts to expedite the realization of KUR to small businesses," Braman Setyo, the deputy for business restructuring and development of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, stated here on Thursday (Nov. 19).          He noted that the distribution of KUR credits until November 17, through Banks BRI, Bank Mandiri, and Bank BNI, had only reached Rp11.7 trillion. Therefore, the three executing banks are doing their best to expedite the provision of KUR, so that the amount disbursed this year could reach over Rp20 trillion.

BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO REDUCE LOGISTICS COSTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 19 (Antara) - Indonesia needs to build adequate infrastructure to facilitate the flow of 150 thousand tons of goods per day and reduce its logistics costs, which still account for 26.4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).          Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan stressed that the government must ensure the development of infrastructure in an effort to reduce logistics costs.          "I am confident that if infrastructure is developed and improved, logistics activities will become more efficient and effective," Minister Jonan said during a "Tempo Economic Briefing" in Jakarta on Tuesday.          The minister said that even development and improvement of infrastructure across the country will smooth the dispatch of goods and reduce the logistics cost that the people should spend.          "We all know our ultimate goals in this respect. We want our logistics activities to be more efficient and more effective. The problem of infrastructure and logistics should be solved not only by the private sector, but also by the government and state-owned enterprises (SOEs)," the minister said.

POLICY PACKAGES EXPECTED TO BOOST GROWTH NEXT YEAR

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 19 (Antara) - The series of economic policy packages announced by the government since September will start impacting the economy in the fourth quarter of 2015 and boost growth to about six percent next year.          Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Resources Rizal Ramli believes that several instruments in the government's economic policy packages will encourage aggressive economic growth, taking it to six percent in 2016.          The government has, since September, announced six chapters of the economic policy packages and is expected to soon unveil the seventh installment of the package.          "I think that we would be able to grow by six percent in 2016. Our target over the next two years is that our growth should surpass that of India and the Philippines," Rizal stated in a presentation at the Center of Reform on Economics' (CORE's) Economic Outlook 2016, in Jakarta on Wednesday.

GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE SMEs IN TOURISM, EXPORT-ORIENTED BUSINESSES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 17 (Antara) - The government has been urged to lend support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they use local raw materials and absorb numerous workers and serve as the strong economic pillars of the nation.          "In the face of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), we hope that the government would work to develop micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises," Dr M. Firmansyah, an economic observer of the University of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, stated on Friday, last week.           After all, the progress of SMEs will benefit the local people as their products will also be consumed locally, he noted.           Therefore, the government has urged banks to provide financing support to SMEs doing business in the tourism sector and also to offer funding assistance to export-oriented SMEs.          The government, through Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank), has indicated its efforts to prepare incentives for banks, which will increase their credits to SMEs doing business in the tourism sector.

GOVT DEVELOPS 10 DESTINATIONS TO ATTRACT MORE TOURISTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 14 (Antara) - Besides waiving visa requirements for 90 countries, the Indonesian government is also focusing on the development of 20 tourism destinations in an effort to boost its foreign exchange revenues from this sector to US$20 billion.          "The development of tourism destinations is expected to increase the state foreign exchange earning to US$20 billion in the next five years, from the current US$10 billion," Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Agus Martowardojo said on the sidelines of a coordination meeting between the central-regional governments and Bank Indonesia (BI) in Yogyakarta Friday (Nov 13).          One of the challenges in the development of tourism is how the central and regional governments, as well the private sector, can make a tourism destination attractive, according to the central bank governor. This is needed due to the fact that the neighboring countries in Southeast Asia are also preparing their tourism destinations.          The Indonesian government has set a target to attract more foreign tourists and increase its annual foreign exchange earnings in the tourism sector from currently US$10 billion to US$20 billion in the next five years.

PRESIDENT YET TO DECIDE SECOND CABINET RESHUFFLE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 14 (Antara) - Even though a second cabinet reshuffle has become a public discourse of late, President Joko Widodo has yet to decide to revamp his cabinet immediately again after he replaced a number of ministers last August.          "Last night the President and the Vice President met with the leaders of political parties grouped in the Great Indonesia Coalition(KIH). A cabinet reshuffle will not be imminent but the President and Vice President know when it will be carried out," Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said in East Java Friday night.          Promono was reluctant to speak much about the possible replacement of a number of ministers who are considered to have not yet contributed well to the government. He only stated that the government now was trying to strengthen its support to political parties so that they will be strong in the Parliament and in the government.          Therefore, supporting political parties will be reinforced, according to Pramono. So, the term of the KIH, which is an alliance of political parties supporting Jokowi during the election, will no longer be popularized.          "It is now time not to use the KIH term, but support political parties," Pramono said, as there are political parties which will become new supporters of the government.

COMPANIES GIVE POSITIVE RESPONSES TO GOVT TAX CUTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 13 (Antara) - The government step to offer cuts on income tax for firms willing to revaluate their assets, as promised in its economic policy package, has received positive responses from many companies.         Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro is convinced that numerous companies have been interested in conducting asset revaluations to obtain tax incentives in the form of tax cuts.         "Many companies, particularly in the financial sector, have positively responded to the policy and expressed their intention to carry it (the revaluation) out this year," the finance minister said on Monday.          Through this policy, the government offers tax incentives in the form of tax cuts on income tax from the previous 10 percent to the reduced six percent, four percent and three percent.          Bambang said that positive responses from companies convinced the government that it will be able to increase its tax receipts from companies carrying out asset revaluations. Companies will happily pay their income taxes after seeing reductions from 10 percent to six, four and three percent.

INDONESIA STILL NEEDS FURTHER PREPARATIONS TO FACE AEC

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 10 (Antara) - Indonesia still needs to improve in the economic field to face the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities posed by the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which will be implemented beginning next January.          "Some quarters still harbor doubts regarding the readiness of Indonesian businesses in the face of the ASEAN free market," Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution stated on Wednesday, last week (Nov. 4).          The minister remarked that in the economic field, Indonesia still has several notes on areas of improvement, which have to be prepared in the short term and long run. Therefore, preparations are very important in the face of the AEC. This is particularly crucial for major economic issues.          "The volume of intra-ASEAN trade has increased significantly, and Indonesia must face it with further preparations," noted the chief economic minister.          He affirmed that the AEC offered opportunities as the ASEAN region is a huge market, with a combined population of 600 million and a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$2.4 trillion in 2014. This is attractive to investors.

SIXTH POLICY PACKAGE FOCUSES ON SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 10 (Antara) - The government announced its sixth economic policy package on Thursday, last week, focusing on the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), water exploitation, and implementation of the National Single Window Service (INSW).          The policy on incentives for investors is aimed at reinvigorating the economy of the country's rural areas through the SEZ development scheme.          "Based on this package, the government has designated eight areas as SEZs to develop the local resources," Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution stated while announcing chapter six of the government's economic policy package during a press conference at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Thursday (November 5).          National Development Planning Minister Djalil had earlier noted that the government, through the policy, will provide income tax incentives, licensing facilities, easy license extension, immigration incentives, and import tax incentives for investors in SEZs.          On tax incentives, Djalil remarked that the government will provide income tax cuts. However, he did not reveal the percentage of cuts on income tax as well as on the time frame for the tax holiday facilities.

BETTER GROWTH FORECAST IN FOURTH QUARTER

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 6 (Antara)- Indonesia's economy is expected to perform better in the fourth quarter of this year in the wake of the higher expenditure made by the government, the impact of economic policy packages and investment development projects.         The improvement in the economic performance is reflected in the upward trend in growth, recorded at 4.73 percent in the third quarter of this year. In the second quarter, the economic growth had fallen to 4.67 percent from 4.72 percent in the first quarter.         Therefore, there is optimism that the economic growth in the fourth quarter will be better.         Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro has forecast that Indonesia's economic growth in the fourth quarter would reach 4.8 percent. Bank Indonesia (BI, or the central bank) has also made a similar predication.         BI has predicted that the economy will grow by 4.85 percent in the fourth quarter.         The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) expects that Indonesia's economic growth in the fourth quarter of this year will be better than in the third quarter when it was recorded at 4.73 percent.         "We hope that the economic growth in the fourth quarter will be higher because the capital expenditure in the third quarter was beyond expectation," BPS Deputy for balance and statistical analysis, Suhariyanto, said on Thursday.