SECOND ECONOMIC PACKAGE AIMED AT ATTRACTING INVESTMENT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 29 (Antara) - The Indonesian government announced a second tranche of economic policy package on Tuesday, aiming to attract more investment by providing facilities to investors and exporters to do business in the country.          According to Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution, since the aim is to draw more investment, the government is determined to cut the bureaucratic red tape and the time taken to wrap up licensing procedures to only a few hours from the several days it used to take so far.          Unlike the first economic policy package announced by President Joko Widodo himself on September 9, 2015, the second economic policy package was announced on Tuesday (Sept 29) by the working cabinet ministers.          Several policies issued by the government are aimed at simplifying procedures and expediting the licensing process to draw more investment.          "(We) hope that it would need only three hours," Minister Darmin Nasution said when announcing details of economic policy package at the presidential office on Tuesday.

RI MAKING ALL-OUT EFFORTS TO FIND CITIZENS IN HAJJ TRAGEDY

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 29 (Antara) - The Indonesian government, through the Religious Affairs Ministry, in its capacity as the Indonesian Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH) has increased the number of its team members to find Indonesian victims in the recent Mina stampede.          Indonesia has increased the number of its rescue team members as the death toll of Indonesians has risen to 46, while 90 others were still missing following the Mina stampede tragedy last Thursday, September 24, which according to the latest reports, has claimed the lives of about 1,150 Hajj pilgrims.          "Based on the directives of the religious affairs minister (Lukman Hakim Saifuddin), the members of the rescue team are increased from four to nine persons," PPIH Head for the Mecca Working Area (Daker) Arsyad Hidayat stated in the wee hours in Mecca on Tuesday.          He noted that the addition of new members into the team is expected to speed up the efforts to find the Indonesian victims of the Mina stampede tragedy.

GAS FIRMS WELCOME PLANNED LAUNCH OF NEW GAS VARIANT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 28 (Antara) - Private businesses grouped in the National Gas and Oil Entrepreneurs Assocation(Hiwana) has welcomed the government's plan to launch a new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) product in the market next month.          The government through state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina has revealed that it will launch into the market new non-subsidized 5.5-kilogram (kg) gas cylinders early next month to provide gas alternative for household consumers.          Pertamina Marketing Director Ahmad Bambang earlier remarked  that his office had made intensive preparations for the launch of Pertamina's new 5.5-kg gas variant to provide a viable alternative to consumers.          "Just wait until next month as I am still conducting a survey to finalize its logo. We want its logo, size, and color to be attractive to consumers. Its color can be pink, orange, or purple. The survey to decide the shape of the cylinder is still being conducted, whether it should be skinny, slim, or chubby," Bambang stated recently.

PERTAMINA MULLING COOPERATION DEAL WITH ARAMCO

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 26 (Antara) - State-owned oil company Pertamina is evaluating the aspects of a proposed collaboration with Saudi oil company Aramco, which has committed to invest US$10 million in Indonesia.          Pertamina Corporate Secretary, Wisnuntoro said in Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday that his company is studying several aspects of the deal that has been proposed by Aramco, adding that Pertamina hopes to find a solution that could benefit both sides.          "We are studying several points proposed under the cooperation. Aramco wants certain provisions to be included in the deal, such as a tax holiday for a period of 20 years. They are also interested in doing business in the downstream sector," said Wisnuntoro, after a discussion on maritime and energy business.          Earlier, the Director General of Natural Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), I Gusti Nyoman Wiratmaja Puja, had said that Aramco is also keen on investing in the downstream sector.          "Aramco is not only interested in oil refinery and storage, but also in the downstream sector," Gusti said on September 14.

INDONESIA CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF HAJJ MANAGEMENT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 26 (Antara) - In its capacity as the largest predominantly Muslim country, Indonesia is calling on the Saudi government to continue to improve management of the hajj following the September 24 stampede at Mina that killed over 700 pilgrims.          Indonesia will advise or present a proposal to the Saudi government with suggestions to improve the management of the pilgrimage     "In the current situation, there are still a lot of people mourning, so President Joko Widodo does not want to apportion blame for the accident," the Chief of Presidential Staff, Teten Masduki, said on Friday.          However, after an investigation is conducted, the President will certainly advise or present a proposal to the Saudi government with regards to improving the management of the pilgrimage, he said.          President Joko Widodo has offered condolences for the dead and said he hoped that a similar incident can be avoided in the future.          Masduki pointed out that the Indonesian government certainly has an interest in discussing the matter with the Saudi government, in context of ensuring the security of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims.

BUDGET MAINLY ALLOCATED FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 23 (Antara) - The government will prioritize its budget allocation in 2016 for programs and development projects, which will have multiple and significant effects on alleviating poverty and reducing the unemployment rate.          "One of the indicators of the quality of economic growth is its ability to provide jobs for workers. We set a target to provide 300 thousand to 350 thousand jobs for each percent of the economic growth," National Development Planning Minister/Head of National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Sofyan Djalil stated after a working meeting with Commission XI on financial affairs of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday night.          The government and the DPR on Tuesday night discussed a revision in the assumptions made in the draft 2016 state budget, which was proposed by the government through its financial notes in August.           On Tuesday night, the government and the DPR agreed to maintain several people's welfare targets as set in the draft 2016 state budget, but the macro economic growth assumption was revised down from 5.5 percent to 5.3 percent.

GOVERNMENT EXPECTED TO ISSUE SECOND PHASE OF POLICY PACKAGE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 22 (Antara) - After announcing the first phase of the economic policy package on September 9, the government is planning to unveil the second phase of the same package at the end of this month.          "We will complete the process in the second half of September as the president will return from his visit to the Middle East on Sept. 15," Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution stated.          The minister made the statement at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport on Friday (Sept. 11) after bidding farewell to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who departed on a four-day visit to several Middle Eastern countries.          Nasution stated the government would soon issue a second phase of the policy package comprising four groups of regulations to overcome various economic problems.          "There will be four groups (of regulations) in the second phase of the policy package," Nasution said.

GROWTH TARGET SET IN DRAFT STATE BUDGET NEEDS REVISION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 21 (Antara) - In the face of major and complex external challenges next year, the economic growth target set at 5.5 percent in the draft 2016 state budget needs to be revised.          "The government of President Joko Widodo is facing complicated external challenges. After all, he formulated his Nawacita (nine national priority) programs before the external challenges emerge. In the 2016 draft state budget, the growth target is set at 5.5 percent. It is likely to be revised down to 5.2 percent," economist A. Prasetyantoko of the Atma Jaya Catholic University noted on Tuesday, last week.          Prasetyantoko explained that an economic growth target set in range of 4.7-4.9 percent is reasonable amid the sluggish economic conditions.          The economist stated that the external challenges, which had affected the economic growth in 2015 and were forecast to protract until 2016, included the weakening of China's economy that had affected commodity prices; the global economic turmoil; and the Fed's plan to raise its interest rates.         Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro remarked that the economic growth assumption set at 5.5 percent in the 2016 draft state budget could be revised down in keeping with the economic conditions and uncertainties next year as a result of the unfavorable global economy.

GOVT INVESTIGATES HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES OVER HAZE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 20 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is now investigating a total of 276 business entities suspected to have caused forest fires which create haze that shrouds Sumatra, Kalimantan, Singapore and Malaysia over the past few days.          The investigation of the 276 business entities, including private companies, cooperatives and other land business title holders, is carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (LHK).          "In total, there are 276 suspected business entities. Some are not yet identified as they turned out to be cooperatives and HGU (land title for industrial purposes) business holders," Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said in Pekanbaru, Riau provincial capital, on Saturday night.          She said some 147 of them were now under examinations process by the National Land Agency (BPN) because they were outside the forest areas.          "But in terms of environment, the likelihood of their violation is strong. I think they have caused damage to the environment because they burnt land," Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said.

RI PROMOTES EXPORTS TO CHINA TO BALANCE TRADE DEFICIT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 19 (Antara) - Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to promote its exports to China in an effort to balance its trade deficit with Beijing, which last year reached US$13 billion.         The efforts include promoting products to Chinese provinces, inviting Chinese businesspeople to its trade expo and establishing production design centers to improve its export products.         "We have to think of what products we have to export to equalize our trade balance," Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas T Lembong said after inaugurating the Indonesian Pavilion at the Twelfth China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO)  in Nanning, China on Friday.          He noted that Indonesia¿s export products to China should have added values and a high competitive edge so that Indonesia would be able to balance its export volumes with its imports from China.          Indonesia will establish a Jakarta Regional Design Center (JRDC) early next month in order to improve the quality of its products and increase its competitive edge in the export market, particularly in China.

INDONESIA, CHINA MOVING CLOSER TO FAST TRAIN PROJECT DEAL

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 18 (Antara) - China and Japan are competing stiffly to win an Indonesian multi-billion dollar high-speed train project but this week Jakarta and Beijing held follow-up talks, after Japan has promised to propose a new feasibility study.         "We held follow-up talks to discuss various matters relating to the plan to build a fast train network. We hope that an agreement would soon be reached, so that the project would be developed immediately," State-owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Rini Sumarno informed Antara in Beijing Wednesday night.          The Japanese government is lobbying Indonesian President Joko Widodo over the planned construction of Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung fast train project.  Japanese Prime Minister's Special Envoy Hiroto Izumi met President Widodo at the presidential office late last month (Aug. 26) to discuss the project.          Japan had earlier conducted a feasibility study. According to the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas), the Japanese feasibility study had put the investment value for the project at US$6.2 billion.          In the meantime,  China conducted a feasibility study after Japan. In the Chinese proposal, the investment needed for the construction of the high speed train development was only US$5.5 billion.

FARMER'S STORES TO SHORTEN GOODS DISTRIBUTION CHAINS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 18 (Antara) -  Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman has said his ministry is planning to build 1,000 farmers stores across the country through 2016, in a bid to shorten the distribution chains of agricultural products and stabilize prices.          The development of Indonesian Farmer Stores (TTI) is one of the efforts the government is making to shorten the distribution lines of basic necessity supplies in reaching consumers.          With a fund of Rp200 billion, the farmer shops will be built in a number of cities, such in the Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi), Bandung (West Java), Surabaya (East Java), Medan (North Sumatgra) and Makassar (South Sulawesi).          "In principle, the farmer stores will be built in cities with high food commodity consumption rates," the minister was quoted as saying on Thursday, Sept 17 by online media Tempo.Co.      In order to fulfill the plan, the Ministry of Agriculture will cooperate with the Ministry of Trade and state-logistics board Bulog.  Further, the ministry of agriculture will provide guidance and subsidies to farmers.

PERTAMINA READY TO MARKET 5.5-KG LPG CYLINDERS

By Andi Abdussalam           Jakarta, Sept 19 (Antara) - State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina is now ready to market its 5.5-kilogram (kg) cylinders of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Jakarta and its satellite towns of Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi from October 1, 2015.          "The 5.5-kg LPG cylinders will be officially launched on October 1, 2015. They will be sold only in Jakarta and its satellite towns of Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jadetabek)," External Relations Manager of PT Pertamina's Marketing Operations for Region IV (Central Java and Yogyakara), Roberth M.V. Dumatubun, stated in Semarang, Central Java, on Friday.           According to Pertamina's plan, the target consumers of the 5.5-kg LPG cylinders are the middle and upper class people such as apartment residents who do not consume LPG in large volumes.          "Apartment residents are a market segment and rarely carry out cooking activities. For apartments, particularly with women residents, the 5.5-kg LPG cylinders are suitable as the apartment residents can carry the cylinders themselves since they are not too heavy such as the 12-kg variant," he noted.          The non-subsidized 5.5-kg LPG cylinders, which are packed similar to the 12-kg sized Bright gas cylinder, will be sold at a price of Rp80 thousand per cylinder.

INTENSIVE STEPS PLANNED TO OVERRCOME POVERTY

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 17 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is planning to take labor intensive measures to develop retention basins and extend seed assistance as part of short term efforts to deal with increasing poverty rate among farmers.          These measures will be taken through the Ministry of Agriculture. Therefore, the minister will obligate regional governments and the farmers to plant assistance seeds on new land in an effort to increase production.          "We appeal to farmers to plant all seeds provided by the government such as soybean, maize and rice seeds on new fields," Minister Sulaiman said in Padang, West Sumatra, on Thursday. He made the remarks when opening the Archipelago Food Exposition 2015 at Tarandam Square, West Sumatra.          He said there was a region which received maize seed assistance worth Rp300 billion but it could not plant it on new farmlands so that the agriculture ministry asked that the assistance should be returned  to the government.          "Many other regions can plant it on new land. So, if the district head is unable to do it, the assistance should be returned," he said.          He said that the policy is taken to launch intensive agricultural programs as one of the efforts to boost production.

LOCAL CATTLE ENOUGH TO MEET DEMAND FOR SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 16 (Antara) - Indonesian Muslims who comprise about 90 percent of the country's 250 million population will observe the Islamic holiday of Eid Adha next week and will slaughter sacrificial animals as part of the religious rituals.          The Ministry of Agriculture said there was no need to import cattle to be used as sacrificial animals as local breeders could meet the demand.          An expert working with the Investment Affairs Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Syukur Iwantoro, said on Tuesday that 28,000 heads of cattle have been made available so far by local breeders in Jakarta to be used as sacrificial animals.         "There is adequate stock of local cows. We may even have a surplus situation," he said during a meeting on stock and price of beef, convened by the state logistics board, Bulog. The cattle stock is available in West Java, Central Java and East Java.

VISITORS BEGIN FLOCKING TO KAYUBURA BEACH TO WITNESS SAIL TOMINI

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 16 (Antara) - Several days before the main event of Sail Tomini is held, thousands of people have begun to flock to the Kayubura beach in Parigi Moutong District, Central Sulawesi, on Sunday to witness the international sailing event activities.          Preparations for the holding of Sail Tomini 2015 which will peak on the Kayubura beach on September 19 next Saturday, are now 100 percent ready.          Therefore local people and residents from other regions have also begun flocking to the location of the international maritime festivity.      "Since last week, many people from other regions outside Central Sulawesi Province have begun thronging this place to witness the liveliness of Sail Tomini," said Burhan, one of the community leaders in Central Parigi Sub-district, Parigi Moutong, on Tuesday.          He said that some of the visitors came from the provinces of Gorontalo, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi. They hire local residents' houses for a stay until after the main event of Sail Tomini is concluded on September 19.          According to him, the international sailing event contributes a lot to the welfare of people living around Tomini, one of the Indonesia's largest gulfs.      The economic activities of the local people over the past one month had been increasing, Burhan said. The locals take the opportunity to do various kinds of businesses.          Thus, Sail Tomini will boost the region's tourism and improve the welfare of the local people.

MECCA ACCIDENT KILLS 2, INJURES 42 INDONESIAN HAJJ PILGRIMS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 12 (Antara) - The collapse of the contraction crane at Mecca's Grand Mosque, Saudi Arabia, on Friday evening killed two Indonesian Hajj pilgrims and injured 42 others.          "The number of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims injured in the accident has risen from 33 to 42," the Chief Organizer of Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims (PPIH) for Mecca Desk (Daker), Arsyad Hidayat said in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.          The PPIH had earlier reported that two Indonesian Hajj pilgrims were killed in the accident and 33 others were injured. With the additional 11 victims, the toll of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims injured in the incident has risen to 42.          Of the 11 victims, 10 are currently being treated at the Saudi Arabia Hospital. They have been identified as Mudjianingsih Maktiran Hubait, Bachtiar Tara Saridano, Kariadi Abdil Muin Mahmud, Yanto Sugianto Subandi, Kamsanah Sari Kamsin, Surachman Karsun  Hasan, Iriani Widid Ningsih, Dewi Laila Mufida, Rubiah Muhammad Zailani, Maman Rahman Rahmat and Eniwari Muhammad Syari, who is being treated at the BPHI medical center.          Meanwhile, the deceased victims have been identified as Iti Rasti darmini and Masnauli Sijuadil Hasibuan, Hidayat said.          It has also been reported that the number of dead Indonesians might be six instead of two.

THIS YEAR'S LAKE TOBA FESTIVAL REMAINS UNCERTAIN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 12 (Antara) - The office of the coordinating minister for maritime affairs is responsible for the agenda to boost economic activities in the tourism sector in the coming five years.          One of Indonesia's interesting tourist destinations is Lake Toba in Samosir District, North Sumatra. In order to further promote tourism, the local government has plans to organize another Lake Toba Festival, after it sponsored this festival over the past few years.          Samosir District Head Mangindar Simbolon said recently that the local government had been entrusted to organize another Lake Toba Festival. The plan was developed following a meeting between the local government and the Ministry of Tourism.          Simbolon said, in organizing the festival, which was initially scheduled for mid-September, his government would consistently adopt a theme which promotes various cultural and tourism potentials of Lake Toba.

HAZE CAUSED BY FOREST FIRES IN INDONESIA WORSENING

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 12 (Antara) - Thick haze that has blanketed various parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, continued to worsen on Saturday, forcing airlines to cancel flights at several airports and schools to close.          The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said the number of hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan has continued to increase despite the government's efforts to intensify emergency operations.          "Although, we have launched emergency operations, hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan are continuing to spread, reaching 1,887 points," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a press statement in Jakarta on Saturday.          Some 1,887 hotspots were detected by the Terra and Aqua Satellite on Friday at 5 a.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB). It reported 575 hotspots in Sumatra and 1,312 in Kalimantan.          In Sumatra, the hotspots were mostly detected in South Sumatra Province with 449 points, Jambi Province 93 points, Bangka Belitung Province 49 and Riau Province 11. In Kalimantan, a total of 1,312 hotspots were detected, namely 508 in West Kalimantan, 127 in South Kalimantan, 579 in Central Kalimantan, 95 in East Kalimantan and four in North Kalimantan.

ECONOMIC PACKAGE SHOULD BENEFIT GENERAL PUBLIC

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 11 (Antara) - The economic package policy issued by the government on Wednesday should focus not only on investment that benefits businesses, but also on improving the welfare of the general public, including fishermen in the coastal areas.         The working cabinet of President Joko Widodo should not give second priority to the economy of the people in the coastal areas, a fisheries representative said.         The People's Coalition for Fishery Justice's (Kiara's) Secretary General, Abdul Halim expressed concern on Friday that the economic policy package would reduce the state's role and give free access to investors through new market mechanisms.         "If there is an emphasis only on investment, it will not improve the fishermen's welfare. Fishermen will be adversely deprived of their basic rights through economic policy deregulations," Halim said.         He further said that it would become impossible for the government to improve the welfare of fishermen, fish pond cultivators and salt farmers if it depends on deregulation.         But according to President Joko Widodo, the economic policy package will also improve the welfare of fishermen.        "The stimulus package is expected to facilitate inter-regional trade and tourism, as well as increase fishermen's welfare and the production of fish catch. The package will also economize fuel by 70 percent through the conversion of diesel fuel into liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)," the President said on Wednesday.

GOVT TO PROCEED WITH BUILDING MEGA ELECTRICITY PROJECT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 8 (Antara) - The government has resolved to continue building the proposed electricity project with a total capacity of 35 thousand megawatts (MW) to meet the shortage of electricity supply in the country.          The installed capacity of electricity nationwide is predicted to be 50,000 MW this year. This capacity will be used to supply electricity to about 250 million people.          Thus, with the country's current capacity estimated to be 50 thousand MW, the completion of the power plants, with their targeted capacity of 35 thousand MW, is expected to raise the country's total electricity generation capacity to 85 thousand MW by the end of 2019 or when President Widodo's term ends.          The government reaffirmed its resolve on Tuesday to continue with the development of the massive power plant.          "The capacity of the power project will remain unchanged. It will not be reduced to (16 to 18 thousand MW)," Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Tuesday.          Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Rizal Ramli had said on Monday that the 35 thousand megawatt (MW) power project was unlikely to be completed within five years.          "After we discussed it, we realized that it is impossible for us to complete the construction of the 35 thousand MW power project in five years. It is likely to be achieved only in 10 years," he said.

SAIL TOMINI EXPECTED TO BOOST SULAWESI'S TOURISM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 8 (Antara) - The international sailing festival of Sail Tomini, launched in May and scheduled to conclude in Parigi Moutong District, Central Sulawesi, on September 19, is expected to boost tourism in Indonesia's eastern region.         "Tomini Bay is being developed as the main maritime tourism destination," Coordinating Minister for Culture and Human Resource Development Puan Maharani stated during the launch of the sailing event in May.         As Tomini Bay borders the provinces of Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi, the international sailing festival will directly have a positive impact on the development of tourism in the three provinces.         Sail Tomini, which is expected to be attended by 10 thousand guests, includes 24 events, such as the Boalemo Festival in Gorontalo province, a yacht rally, the Surya Baskara Jaya healthcare operation, a village development movement, national seminars, a diplomatic tour, a Tomini Bay research expedition, and visits by media publications.          Some 100 foreign yachters from various countries are expected to participate in Sail Tomini 2015. Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti expressed hope that the event would help to promote tourism in Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo.          Haswan Yunas, Minister Maharani's deputy, had remarked earlier that scores of tourists were expected to attend the event.

SAIL TOMINI TO BRING ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO SULAWESI PROVINCES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 7 (Antara) - The ongoing Sail Tomini, an international yacht rally and festival organized in Indonesia's largest bay of Tomini, will have a long-term economic impact that will attract investment and improve the welfare of the local people.         The international maritime event was launched by the Coordinating Minister for Culture and Human Resource Development, Puan Maharani, in May and will conclude in the Parigi Moutong District Central Sulewesi on September 19.         "I hope investors will see the potential of Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Sulawesi¿s marine, human and natural resources. Indonesia has potential other than Bali, Yogyakarta and others," Minister Maharani had said after a ministerial coordination meeting held in Jakarta in June.         The Tomini Bay borders the three provinces of Sulawesi, namely Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Sulawesi.         "Sail Tomini should not be reduced to a mere ceremony. We must ensure that this event can be beneficial for the improvement of public welfare and boost economic progress in the provinces and the nation in the long term," Maharani stated after launching the event.

JAMBI RESIDENTS COMPLAIN OF CHOKING HAZE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 5 (Antara) - Residents of Sumatra's Jambi Province have over the past few days complained of forest fire-triggered  haze that reduced visibility to 300 meters and forced Jambi airport to shut down.         "Jambi is floating on smokes," Andi Amirullah, a resident of Muaro Bungo District, said on his Facebook wall on Friday. Using face masks, Amirullah advised his colleagues to postpone any planned visit to Jambi as local people are now forced to use face masks to avoid being choked.          Antara Correspondent Azhari reported on Thursday choking haze blanketed Jambi City. Schools were ordered to close, yet locals still seemed to be doing activities normally.          Traffic in Jambi City was also still normal despite limited visibility.     However, Jambi's Sultan Thaha Syaifudin Airport continued to remain shut on Friday as thick smoke blanketed the province.          By Friday evening, 12 flights from the airport were cancelled due to the smoke, the airport's Operations Chief, Parolan Simanjuntak, said.

RI TOURISM BOOMING DESPITE GLOBAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN

 By Andi Abdussalam

          Jakarta, Sept 3 (Antara) - The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia appears unaffected by the current global economic gloom and is evident from the data provided by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) for the January-July 2015 period.

         According to the BPS, the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in the first seven months of 2015 increased 2.69 percent to 5.47 million compared to 5.33 million recorded during the same period last year.

         BPS Chairman Suryamin noted on Tuesday that the number of tourist arrivals in July 2015 also rose 4.76 percent to 814.2 thousand from 777.2 thousand arrivals in July 2014.

         However, compared to June 2015, the number of tourist arrivals in July 2015 fell slightly by 0.11 percent.

LABOR UNIONS URGE GOVT NOT TO USE FOREIGN LABOR

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 1 (Antara) - Thousands of workers staged a rally on Tuesday, urging the government to not provide easy access to foreign workers looking to work in Indonesia.         Thousands of laborers grouped under the Indonesian Workers Movement (GBI) conducted a long march from the Bank Indonesia traffic circle to the Presidential Palace to voice their demands on Tuesday.         The scores of workers came from three labor union confederations, namely the Indonesian Workers Union Confederation (KSPI) headed by Siad Iqbal, the All Indonesian Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI) under Andi Gani and the All Indonesian Laborers Confederation (KSBSI) led by Mudhofir.         One of the workers' agenda during the rally was to reject the government policy, which provides easy access to foreigners wanting to work in Indonesia by lifting the requirement for them to master the Indonesian language.         "Workers rejected the policy because the rates of unemployment and layoffs in Indonesia are currently high. Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the number of unemployed people rose by 300 hundred thousand to 7.45 million in February 2015," Mirah Sumirat, the President of the Indonesian Workers Unions Association (Aspek Indonesia), said in press statement on Tuesday.