GOVT AIMS TO IMPROVE WORKER'S WELFARE, ENHANCE JOBS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 30 (Antara) - Two weeks after the government announced its fourth economic policy package aimed at improving workers' welfare, thousands of workers took to the streets in Jakarta, Thursday, to protest a government regulation on wages.          At least 50 thousand workers representing various labor unions and workers' confederations across the country held rallies in protest against the government's new ruling on labor wages.          They asked for revocation of Government Regulation (PP) No. 78/2015 on Provincial Minimum Wage System (UMP), which was signed by President Joko Widodo last Friday (Oct 23). The PP No. 78/2015 is the legal basis to implement measures in the employment sector, that being one of the points contained in the fourth economic policy package announced by the government on October 15.          Based on the fourth economic policy package, the government will apply regulations on how to improve the welfare of workers through a formulated wage hike system to improve their social life and put in place a system to activate social dialogs at bipartite forums within companies.

INDONESIA NEEDS TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT DECISION TO JOIN TPP

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 29 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has been advised to conduct a comprehensive study and increase its efficiency before taking a decision to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) so that it will not merely serve as a market destination.         Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) is of the view that Indonesia might weaken its bargaining position if it takes part in the TPP as it will not have enough room for negotiations.         "Indonesia's bargaining power will become weak if it joins the TPP after the TPP is agreed upon by 12 countries," Research and Monitoring Manager at IGJ, Rachmi Hertanti, said in Jakarta on Wednesday.         Such a weak bargaining position will result in Indonesia having no choice other than agreeing to the standards already set previously. She also reminded that the TPP will open access for foreign companies to the procurement of government goods and services, whose values could reach trillions of dollars set in the state budget.         "This is a lucrative business for the United States corporations. That is why the TPP applies non-discriminatory regulations and national treatment for foreign companies in this business activity," she said.

INDIA, INDONESIA TO FOSTER CLOSER ECONOMIC RELATIONS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 28 (Antara) - India and Indonesia will further step up their trade and investment relations and boost cooperation in other sectors such as new energy and renewable energy development.          The two-way trade value between the two countries last year was recorded at US$19 billion while investment by Indian businesses in Indonesia stood at US$15 billion.          In order to increase the two countries' trade and investment relations, Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari will be visiting Indonesia at the invitation of his Indonesian counterpart, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, early next month.          Ansari will bring along some 50 representatives of Indian businesses who are expected to help strengthen the bilateral economic relations.          "We will sign a number of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during the (Vice President's) Indonesian visit. The most important of these is an MoU on cooperation in the new and renewable energy field," Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Gurjit Singh said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

GOVT SEES NO URGENCY TO SET UP SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON HAZE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 28 (Antara) - Though it will not interfere in the House's affairs, the government thinks that there is no need for the lawmakers to establish a special committee to investigate the haze problem being faced by the country.          "There is no need to indulge in polemics about the establishment of a special committee on haze," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said in Jakarta on Wednesday.         Until Tuesday, October 27, eight of the 10 factions in the House of Representatives (DPR) had agreed to a proposal to set up a special committee to investigate the handling of forest and land fire-triggered haze which has, of late, shrouded three quarters of the country as well as neighboring nations such as Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.         The eight factions are the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Democratic Party (PD), the United Development Party (PPP), the Golkar Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB).          Two other factions, the National Democratic Party (NasDem) and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), have yet to take a stance on the debate to establish a special committee on haze.          Chairman of the House Commission IV on forestry and plantation affairs of DPR Edhy Prabowo said the objective of the special committee is to encourage the government to overcome the haze problem.      Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is in charge as the coordinator of the country's handling of forest and land fires, said the rhetoric about the DPR's plan to form a special committee on haze should not be raised in a hurry.         "Let's stop the polemics for the time being while we are making our efforts. We can overcome it, and it is a matter of humanity. We can take along our politician colleagues to see the conditions in the field," Luhut said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

RI, U.S. BUSINESS DEALS DURING JOKOWI'S VISIT VALUED AT US$20 BILLION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 27 (Antara) - Indonesia and the United States are expected to conclude business deals valued at US$20 billion in the on-going visit of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to Washington this week.          As part of the US$20 billion deals, the Capital investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) mentioned a U.S. investment plan worth US$2.4 billion, agreed to during the President's visit.          The Head of the BKPM, Franky Sibarani, said in a written statement made available in Jakarta on Tuesday that of the total investment plan, about one billion US dollars were for investment expansion, US$600 million for electricity development, US$750 million for downstream agro industry and US$12 million for heavy equipment/machinery industry.          "The US$2.4 billion investment plan that has been identified by the BKPM is part of the business deals between Indonesia and the United States, worth US$20 billion," Sibarani said.

GOVT URGED TO END LICENSES FOR PEATLAND EXPLOITATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 27 (Antara) - Forest and peatland fires have protracted over the past several months and triggered widespread haze in the country and in neighboring nations, namely Singapore and Malaysia.          The haze disaster which is among others caused by peatland fires has become an annual problem during the dry season. Therefore, the government is urged to stop exploiting its peatland.          House Speaker Setya Novanto has said the government must stop issuing licenses for allowing plantations on peatland because these have a dangerous impact during the dry season.          During drought, peatland areas are prone to fires which could cause a haze disaster, he told reporters in Palemang,South Sumatra on Tuesday.          Setya Novanto made the remarks when making a transit halt at Palembang's Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II airport, together with Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya and Health Minister Nila F Moeloek , while on a visit to monitor the impact of haze in Jambi province.

GOVT ISSUES NEW REGULATION ON LABOR WAGE SYSTEM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 26 (Antara) - Beginning next year, workers will start receiving annual wage which is raised based the increase in the inflation and economic growth rates.          The policy to introduce the annual increase in the labor wage system was included in the government's fourth economic policy package issued last month.          In order to carry out the policy, the government issued a Government Regulation (PP) on Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) on Friday, October 23. The UMP will become the basis for the annual wage increase for workers.         "We are grateful that the Government Regulation on Regional Minimum Wage has been signed by President Joko Widodo. It has been enacted into law. Thus, it is now in force. Governors will be required to use the law when deciding the provincial minimum wage (UMP) for next year (2016).  They should use the formula as provided in the Government Regulation," Manpower Minister H Hanif Dhakiri said after opening a coordination meeting on supervision and control at the Manpower Ministry's Office in Jakarta on Monday.         The minister said the issuance of the Government Regulation on the Provincial Minimum Wage is a breakthrough in the employment sector in Indonesia. This was because the decision to formulate the UMP was earlier dominated by various kinds of politics, leading to irrational wage hikes and uncertainty.

HAZE SHROUDS MOST PARTS OF INDONESIA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 26 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is intensifying efforts to extinguish forest and land fires as haze, which so far covered some parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, has reached Java and is shrouding three-quarters of Indonesia.          "The government has made various efforts and taken several steps to tackle the problem of forest and land fires as well as their impacts," Head of the Information Data Center and Public Relations of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho noted in Jakarta on Monday.          He earlier stated that the haze emanating from forest fires, which had hit the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, had affected Jakarta.          "Parts of Jakarta have been shrouded by thin haze originating from Sumatra and Kalimantan," he remarked.          Sutopo agreed that the current haze disaster had covered three-quarters of Indonesia as smoke from land and forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan had continued to spread.          "Now, more than three-quarters of Indonesia is covered by thin and thick haze," the BNPB official remarked on Sunday.

PERTAMINA LAUNCHES 5.5-KG GAS VARIANT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 24 (Antara) - State-owned oil and gas company, Pertamina has launched a new gas variant, Bright Gas, in 5.5-kilogram cylinders of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which is expected to attract 23 percent of subsidized gas consumers.          Pertamina's target in the launch of the non-subsidized Bright Gas, is to attract 23 percent per annum of subsidized LPG consumers so that it would reduce the government's burden in providing subsidies to LPG gas, particularly the consumers of subsidized 3-kg gas cylinders.          "Our concept is to attract 23 percent of subsidized gas consumers to non-subsidized Bright Gas in 5.5-kg cylinders. That is our target," Pertamina's Marketing Director Ahmad Bambang said when launching the Bright Gas 5.5-kg cylinders in Jakarta Friday (October 23).          Beginning next month (November 2015), Bright Gas will be developed and its market will be expanded to the Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi (Jabodetabek) regions through the Pertamina LPG dealers, 54 Pertamina Refilling Stations (SPBU) and 150 outlets in minimarkets, he said.

RI MIGHT STOP EXPANSION OF PEATLAND EXPLOITATION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 24 (Antara) - Having been plagued by annual peatland fire-triggered haze that has caused tens of thousands of people to suffer from respiratory infections over the past few months, Indonesia is considering stopping the exploitation of its peatlands.          As a preliminary step, the government will impose a moratorium on the issuance of exploitation permits to companies willing to cultivate peat forest areas. It will also revitalize the peatland that has been exploited and burnt.          The policy was raised in a limited cabinet meeting Friday which was chaired by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). The limited cabinet meeting with relevant ministers was held to discuss the haze problem and its impacts plaguing the country over the past three months.          During the meeting the President issued instructions on efforts to tackle the on-going haze and its impacts, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, chief public relations officer of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said.         "The president stated that the haze disaster arising from forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan is at a dangerous level," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said Friday.         The president's instructions included an order to the environment and forestry minister to stop issuing licenses for the exploitation of peatland areas and start conducting land revitalization.

GOVT'S PLAN TO BUILD 35,000 MW POWER PLANTS REALISTIC

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 23 (Antara) - Indonesia has so far only managed to meet one-quarter of its electricity demand, and hence, the government has vowed to continue its 35 thousand-megawatt (MW) power plants' project, which it views as a realistic plan.         The government plans to build power plants, with a total capacity to generate 35 thousand MW of electricity by 2019. The development of the project is crucial to meet the increasing public demand for electricity, although it is believed that only 16-18 thousand MW of the target would be achieved during the coming five years.          "The capacity of the power project will remain unchanged. It will not be reduced to (16 to 18 thousand MW)," Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated on September 8.           President Joko Widodo also emphasized late last month that the government is determined to continue to implement its plan to develop power plants to generate 35 thousand MW of electricity.          Therefore, Kalla held a meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 20), which was attended by President Director of state-owned electricity firm PLN Sofyan Basir, to discuss the continuation of the power project.      According to Vice Presidential Spokesman Husain Abdullah, the vice president reminded that the development of the 35 thousand-MW electricity project is essential to meet the public's power requirement.

INDONESIA CONSIDERING CASTRATING CHILD SEX OFFENDERS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 22 (Antara) - Indonesia is planning to impose castration punishment on child rapists, or pedophiles, in a bid to combat the alarming rise in the cases of sexual violence against children in the country.          The government is still studying the legal aspect of adopting policies or a government regulation in lieu of the law on imposing gelding punishment on child sex abusers.           Relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Women and Children Empowerment, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, non-governmental organizations, and other related agencies are studying the matter.         "We are studying the legal aspect of imposing castration punishment on child rapists before we decide to issue a regulation on it," Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly stated after attending the opening of the ASEAN Law Ministers' Meeting (ALAWMM) in Bali on Thursday.           The punishment can be imparted through various approaches to reduce the libido of the offenders, such as libido neurosurgery and injections. Castration does not necessarily mean the removal of the testicles of the offenders.          Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa stated that the discourse on the imposition of a gelding punishment through a libido neurosurgery surfaced as part of the efforts to protect children from sexual abuse.

INDONESIA TRYING TO DIVERSIFY ITS EXPORT MARKETS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 22 (Antara) - Indonesia is intensifying efforts to expand its export markets, including non-traditional markets, through various promotions, such as exhibitions both at home and abroad.          At home, it is now organizing its 30th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2015, an international export promotion event being held in Jakarta on October 21-25 that is expected to open access for Indonesian products in non-traditional markets.          "The Ministry of Trade is making continued efforts to diversify the country's export markets. At the TEI 2015, for instance, most of the registered overseas buyers' delegations came from non-traditional markets, such Nigeria, India, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, and Malaysia," Trade Minister Thomas Lembong noted while opening TEI 2015 in Jakarta on Wednesday.          The TEI 2015 aims to provide latest developments on international export market regulations for exporters, buyers, and investors by organizing activities, such as a seminar on Trade, Tourism and Investment (TTI).          Other activities included business consultation and counseling by trade attaches and the chiefs of the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC). Exporters are given information on access and penetration to overseas markets.

HAZE VICTIMS AT RISK OF DEVELOPING CANCER IN LATER LIFE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 21 (Antara) - The haze disaster in several provinces of Sumatra and Kalimantan over the past few months has led to respiratory infections among tens of thousands of residents.         In Riau province alone, during the period between June 29 and October 20, 2015, a total of 78,879 people were recorded to have suffered from respiratory ailments and other related diseases. According to experts, such haze disaster victims should undergo a comprehensive medical checkup as they could develop cancer later on in life.         According to Wahono, the rector of the University of Pancasila, the victims of haze, arising from forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, need to undergo a health examination as they are at a risk of developing cancer in future.         "The impact of inhaling the haze is not instant, but in the long run, the ill-effects become visible after some five to 10 years. Therefore, they need to take good care of their health," Wahono said on the sidelines of a pharmacy fair at the Pharmacy Faculty of the Pacasila University in Jakarta on Sunday.

RI NEEDS TO IMPROVE ITS LEGAL CREDIBILITY

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 20 (Antara) - Legal observers have opined that the government has to improve law enforcement in the country to restore public confidence, which has dropped due to alleged criminalization against anticorruption officials and activists.         President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is facing a major challenge to restore the credibility of its government in enforcing the law in the second year of his administration, according to the Transparency International Indonesia (TII).        "The credibility of his government with regard to legal enforcement has been tarnished as a result of criminalization against anticorruption activists and leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)," TII Secretary General Dadang Trisasongko stated on Sunday.         Dadang noted that the Jokowi government in its second year should focus on ensuring the implementation of reforms in the police and prosecutor institutions.         President Jokowi's government has completed a year in office on Tuesday, October 20, 2014.          After a year of his government, several problems still remain unsettled based on his Nawacita (nine national development priority) programs that he promised during the election campaigns.

GOVT NEEDS TO TAKE FARMERS' SIDE TO PROTECT THEM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 19 (Antara) - With a population of about 250 million and an annual growth of 1.5 percent, Indonesia is facing a challenge in raising its food production.          "We have numerous challenges, but foremost among these is the increase in population. The acreage under rice fields continues to shrink at a time when we need a two-fold increase in food production," Vice President Jusuf Kalla said while addressing a World Food Day anniversary celebration in Ogan Ilir District, South Sumatra, on Saturday.          Indonesian farmers who account for 31 million or about 12 percent of the population, play a crucial role in enhancing the country's food production. Therefore, the government should also pay more attention to farmers, instead of merely thinking of raising production through increasing the role of corporations.          According to the National Alliance for Prosperous Villages, the government, in its efforts to increase food production, is giving too much attention to corporations.          "The government gives more attention to corporations in its efforts to increase food production, especially regarding use of seeds, fertilizers and tractors, with farmers only being treated as captive users," Coordinator of the National Alliance for Prosperous Villages, Tejo Wahyu Jatmiko, stated on Friday.

PROVINCES MUST FULFIL WORKERS' DECENT LIVING COST CRITERIA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 17 (Antara) - For Indonesian workers and employers, the government's announcement of its fourth economic policy package brought good news since it provided a sense of certainty to both, laborers and companies.          The package, which also deals with recipients of smallholders' credit and financial assistance for export-oriented small businesses, covered policies in the employment sector and is aimed at improving the welfare of workers through an annual wage hike scheme.          Based on the new policy, worker's minimum wages will increase every year, based on the economic growth and inflation.          The monthly minimum wage is the most crucial for workers since it will serve as the basis for the annual pay rise. If the economic and inflation rates increased by five percent each, the wage hike will be 10 percent of the monthly minimum wage.          As such, the minimum wage should meet the realistic cost of living, based on the decent living cost (KHL).          Therefore, all provinces in the country should meet the decent living cost in working out their provincial or regional minimum wages for workers.

GOVERNMENT PREPARES RP1.5 TRILLION FOR EXPORT-ORIENTED BUSINESSES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 16 (Antara) - The government will provide Rp1.5 trillion for 30 export-oriented small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs; UKMs) as working capital to ensure their survival and prevent them from laying off workers amid the economic slowdown.           The funds worth Rp50 billion to be given to each recipient company are included in the fourth tranche of the government's economic policy package announced on Thursday, October 15.           Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro affirmed that the working capital to be provided by the Indonesian Export Financing Institution (LPEI) for businesses will save some 27 thousand workers from being laid off.          "After making a calculation, we find a potential (working capital) that could safeguard 27 thousand workers from being laid off," Minister Brodjonegoro stated while referring to the LPEI credit extension scheme, which is included in the government's fourth installment of its economic policy package announced on Thursday.          The minister explained that the credit assistance will be provided for SMEs whose businesses are export-oriented or supporting exports in a bid to ensure their survival and prevent worker layoffs.          The working capital will be given to 30 small companies, each having at least 50 workers though not exceeding 5,520. The assistance will be channeled by state-owned or private banks as well as capital venture and leasing companies that are partnering with the LPEI.

GOVT ISSUES FOURTH INSTALLMENT OF ECONOMIC POLICY PACKAGE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 15 (Antara) - The government on Thursday announced the fourth installment of its economic policy package, aimed at enhancing employment, increasing the number of micro loans (KUR) recipients and facilitating export development by small businesses.          Thursday's policy package is a follow up of the first and second phases of the policy package issued in September and the third installment announced on October 7.          The fourth installment is primarily aimed at solving the problems in the manpower sector, enhancing the number of KUR recipients and boosting exports for small-scale businesses.          "We hope the latest economic policy package can easily boost the business world. This policy is expected to facilitate of the growth in job opportunities and incoming investment," Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said on Thursday.          He said the newly announced policy package, therefore covered policies on the deregulation of the wage system, expansion of KUR recipients and the extension of credit by the Indonesian Export Financing Institution (LPEI) to small-scale businesses so that they can ramp up their exports.

MPR SUPPORTS STATE DEFENSE PROGRAM FOR CIVILIANS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 14 (Antara) - The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) supports the Defense Ministry's idea to launch a state defense program for civilians to raise awareness on the importance of maintaining the safety and integrity of the nation and state.          "I fully support the defense minister's idea to provide state defense training to civilians," MPR Chairman Zulkifli Hasan stated at the Parliament building here on Tuesday.          The program is important to raise the people's awareness on the urgency to maintain the nation and state. After all, several countries have adopted the concept and are implementing it.          He pointed out that after 18 years of the Reform Era, there is a pressing need to raise state and national level awareness among the younger generation.          The Ministry of Defense has revealed its plans to recruit 100 million state defense cadres within a decade to anticipate ideological attacks from home or abroad. Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu noted that the cadres were needed in view of the increasing problems being faced by the nation.          Hasan noted that the House of Representatives (DPR) should also support the program.          "Indonesia's neighboring countries, such as Singapore have implemented state defense programs," he affirmed.

BENGKULU OBSERVES ISLAMIC NEW YEAR WITH 'TABOT' FESTIVAL

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 14 (Antara) - The Sumatran province of Bengkulu is celebrating the arrival of the Islamic New Year 1437 Hegira on the first day of the Islamic month of Muharram on Wednesday with a ten day religious ritual and cultural festival.          Bengkulu governor Junaidi Hamsyah, who opened the annual Tabot Festival 2015 on Tuesday night, said he expected it to attract more tourists, including foreign visitors, to the province.          "The Tabot festival has become a tradition and an identity symbol of Bengkulu province," the governor said.          The festival, starting from Wednesday, 1st Muharram or the first month of the Islamic calendar, will last for ten days. It  has a strong religious nuance, linked to the murder of a grandchild of Prophet Muhammad in the Karbala desert in Iraq.          The infamous tragedy of Karbala is remembered by all Muslims on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram as the saddest day in the history of Islam.          The Karbala massacre is notoriously known for being one of the darkest and saddest days in Islamic history.          On the tenth day of the sacred Islamic month of Muharram, in the year 61 A.H., approximately 50 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad, his grandson Imam Hussein was martyred along with all the members of his family, including women and children.

BUSINESSES EXPECTED TO MAKE INNOVATIONS AMID RUPIAH'S APPRECIATION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 13 (Antara) - The strengthening of Indonesia's rupiah currency, which has appreciated from about Rp14,709 per US dollar a week earlier to Rp13,483 on Monday, will offer a good momentum for industries to develop creativity and innovations.         General Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Suryo Bambang Sulisto affirmed that companies, as part of their business governance, needed a concerted vision in order to increase their creativity and innovations.         "Creativity and innovations in business governance can double business expansion and company profits," Sulisto noted in a written statement on Monday.          Therefore, Kadin has suggested that the subsequent policies to be issued by the government should support the positive momentum of the rupiah, which has been appreciating over the past few days against the greenback.        "The positive momentum needs to be supported by the government's correct and accurate policies," Deputy Chairman of Kadin for banking and financial affairs Rosan Perkasa Roeslani noted.          He expressed hope that the positive indication, in the form of the appreciation of the rupiah and the stock composite index values over the past few days, would be the early signs of the improving Indonesian economy.

FOREIGN COUNTRIES' ASSISTANCE EXPECTED TO END HAZE MENACE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta,  Oct 12 (Antara)- The problem posed by land fires in Indonesia, and the resultant haze which also affected neighboring countries, is expected to end soon as teams from foreign countries commenced fire extinguishing operations on Monday.              The fires and haze have affected health and disturbed daily life in Indonesia and neighboring countries.              The teams from Singapore and Malaysia joined the local forest and land fire prevention task force to commence fire extinguishing operations on Monday, focusing on the hotspots in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) district in South Sumatra.              "Today, teams from Singapore and Malaysia, along with South Sumatra's Forest and Land Fires Prevention Task Force, have begun aerial and land operations to extinguish the fires in Ogan Komering Ilir and Musi Banyuasin District," South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin stated on  Monday.              The operations were commenced in OKI and Musi Banyuasin, the two districts hit by forest and land fires so badly that they made South Sumatra the biggest haze exporter province in Indonesia during the current drought.     Hence, Ogan Komering Ilir District was accorded priority in fire extinguishing operations because OKI has been the biggest source of haze, compared to other districts in Indonesia, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Luhut Pandjaitan, told the press on Monday.

BKPM EXPECTS NEW INVESTMENTS FROM SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 10 (Antara) - The Indonesian Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) is vying for new investments from Japan's Okayama Prefecture in the automotive component factory and from South Korea in various sectors.         The South Korean investments being expected are estimated to be worth US$600 million.         A major automotive component company, which so far supplied components for Mitsubishi cars, is interested in developing an auto component factory in Indonesia.          On investment from South Korea, BKPM Chairman Franky Sibarani said on Friday his board has identified that South Korea is interested in making a new investment in Indonesia, worth US$600 million.         The BKPM said various firms have evinced an interest to invest in different business sectors, such as a ferronickel smelter, valued at US$300 million, biomass worth US$100 million, palm oil refineries and its derivatives, and the animal food industry and fruit processing, with a combined value of US$200 million.          Sibarani said the South Korean interest was identified through an investment and business seminar on Indonesia, organized by the Indonesian Investment Promotion Center (IIPC) and the Asean Korean Center, on Tuesday.

BUSINESSES WELCOME GOVT INCENTIVES IN ELECTRICITY SECTOR

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 10 (Antara) -- Businesses belonging to the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) welcomed the government policy providing electricity incentives for industries.          "The government's third tranche economic policy package, which covers electricity incentives with a tariff cut, is very helpful to businesspeople in the industrial sector," HIPMI Chairman for Trade, Industry and State-owned Enterprises Ian Dafy Fachry said on Friday.          According to Fachry, the lowering of the basic electricity tariff will have direct impacts on the nation's industries, while the reduction in diesel oil prices will have indirect benefits.      "We cannot deny that the lowering by Rp200 per liter of diesel fuel will help industries, particularly in the transportation sector. But its impact is not direct, while that of the electricity tariff will have a direct impact," he said.          Earlier, the government issued a number of policies in the electricity sector for industries, which it included in its third economic policy package.          Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said remarked on Wednesday that the government has provided three types of incentives in the electricity sector, including an adjusted electricity tariff cut, a 30 percent tariff discount, and installments for paying electricity bills that are in arrears.

POLICY PACKAGE WIDENS MICRO LOAN ACCESS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 9 (Antara) - The third phase of the government's economic policy package offers a chance to get micro loans (KUR) for entrepreneurs and for families with routine income, who wish to do business in the productive sector.          Chief Presidential Communication Team leader Ari Dwipayana said in written statement on Wednesday that the third economic policy package included efforts to expand the recipients of micro loans for small businesses, known as KUR.          "In order to widen banking access for entrepreneurs through the KUR scheme, the government has lowered the interest rate for KUR loans from about 22 percent to 12 percent," Ari said.          Under the new policy package, the government said families with routine income, who are willing to do business in the productive sector, would receive KUR credits.          With this policy, banks that have been assigned to distribute the KUR credits have been asked to actively offer the loans to such families. "This is expected to boost the number of KUR loan recipients and to facilitate the emergence of new entrepreneurs," Ari said.

FUEL PRICE CUTS EXPECTED TO BENEFIT MANUFACTURING SECTOR

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 9 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has included new fuel oil prices in the third phase of the economic policy package to benefit the real sector, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said stated.         "Since the beginning, we have decided a pattern of fuel oil price adjustment to be implemented every three months," Minister Said remarked at an energy seminar in Jakarta on Thursday.          He was referring to the government's third phase of the economic policy package, which included lowering the prices of diesel oil, aircraft fuel (avtur), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Pertamax gasoline, and Pertalite fuel.          Besides this, the minister also explained the government's reasons to lower the prices of fuels, except that of premium gasoline whose price remains unchanged.          "In nature, it is a multiple price-cut on fuels, such as avtur (aircraft fuel) and diesel oil, which are commonly used for transportation," Said explained.          On Wednesday, Sept. 7, the government announced the third phase of its economic policy package focusing on several fields, which are expected to benefit businesses in the manufacturing sector.          "In this third tranche of the policy package, the government emphasizes on how to reduce (production) costs," Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution noted in press statement on Wednesday.

GOVT SHOULD IDENTIFY MAIN CULPRITS OF LAND FIRES AND HAZE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 7 (Antara) - The government needs to identify the main culprits behind the land fires and haze that have caused health problems and hindered daily activities in Indonesia and the neighboring countries.         The main culprits of forest and bush fires must be identified to ascertain whether they are plantation companies, nomadic farmers, or individuals, so that effective steps can be taken to overcome the problems.          Environment expert Mohammad Hasroel of the University of Indonesia affirmed that the haze in several parts of the country was caused by land clearing activities for conducting rice farming.          However, according to the environmental forum Walhi, most of the hotspots in Indonesia are found in the concession areas of companies.         The environmental forum pointed out that from January to September 2015, the Institute of National Aviation and Space (LAPAN) recorded 16,334 hotspots, while the NASA FIRM noted 24,086 cases of fires in the five provinces of Jambi, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and Riau.