GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO PUSH INVESTMENT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 29 (Antara) - Although the realization of investment in the country over the past two years has always overshot the set targets, the government believes there are still barriers hindering investment growth.         In order to boost growth, the government is making every effort to identify and remove barriers hampering business development and investment growth in various parts of the country.         Regulations still exist that are viewed as constraints to expansion of business and investment and are now being evaluated.      According to Thomas Trikasih Lembong, the head of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board, President Joko Widodo had announced that 23 ministerial regulations were considered to hinder investment and business.         Hence, the government is holding in-depth discussions on the possible revocation of the 23 ministerial regulations and several other regulations.         President Jokowi has also assigned 12 ministers to serve as liaison officers for investment matters. The president gave the special assignment in an effort to seek investment opportunities as well as to identify and solve problems that hinder investment in Indonesia. They should guard and ensure that the investment process is realized.

HOUSE MOVE TO INVESTIGATE KPK GETS MIXED REACTIONS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 28 (Antara) - The House of Representatives' (DPR's) decision to exercise its right to launch an inquiry into the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over its probe into the alleged electronic identity (e-ID) card graft scandal is getting mixed reactions.          The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said the decision to carry out the inquiry right has its legal flaws, because it has been decided upon without following a mechanism as regulated by law.          Yogyakarta-based Gajah Mada University's Anticorruption Study Center (Pukat) said the initiative to exercise the right to conduct an inquiry into the KPK is against the law. It said the House inquiry right should be used against the government, not against a law enforcing agency, such as the KPK.          DPR, in its plenary session on Friday, had approved a controversial move by several lawmakers to exercise its right to inquiry on the performance of the KPK. The motion came after the anti-graft agency rejected an earlier request of Commission III of the DPR to hand over a recorded copy of the dossiers of lawmaker Miryam S. Haryani, who is implicated in a Rp5.9 trillion scandal over the procurement of e-ID cards.

GOVERNMENT UNLIKELY TO ACHIEVE POWER TARGET OF 35 THOUSAND MW

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 27 (Antara) - The government, since the start of President Joko Widodo's administration in October 2014, has set a target to build power plants, with a total capacity of 35 thousand megawatts (MW) by 2019.          With the current national power capacity of 51 thousand MW, the implementation of the 35 thousand-MW project is expected to increase the national power capacity to 86 thousand MW.          However, after about 2.5 years of administration, the program's target seems unlikely to be achieved in 2019. The most ideal capacity that could be realized under the program until 2019 is only about 19 thousand-20 thousand MW. Hence, by that time, the total national electricity capacity is forecast to reach 70 thousand to 75 thousand MW.          Though the target is unlikely to be achieved in 2019, the government will continue to build power plants until the 35 thousand-MW target is achieved.         "A capacity of 19 thousand-20 thousand MW is the most logical one that could be achieved in 2019," Arcandra Tahar, the deputy energy and mineral resources minister, noted in a discussion on the harmony of the national and regional general energy plans for national energy resilience and reliance at the Gajah Mada Univeristy, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday (Apr 24).

RI TO INCREASE PROTECTION FOR OVERSEAS MIGRANT WORKERS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 26 (Antara) - Indonesian migrant workers (TKIs) employed overseas are major contributors to the country's foreign exchange, with an average remittance of Rp100 trillion per annum.         However, many of them in various countries face problems, such as inadequate skills, inappropriate immigration documents, or illegal employment, as they are dispatched by illegal manpower supplier firms. They are less paid and involved in legal cases and in other issues too.          Hence, the government is determined to improve its services and protection for TKIs. For this purpose, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is expected to visit Hong Kong later this month to meet and collect first-hand information from Indonesian migrant workers there.          Last Sunday, the head of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Oversees (BNP2TKI), Nusron Wahid, met hundreds of TKIs in Hong Kong.          He met the Indonesian migrant workers to obtain information as part of an advance visit before Jokowi's arrival. Wahid discussed various problems experienced by the migrant workers and the solutions to tackle their problems.

INDONESIA, FRANCE COOPERATE TO DEVELOP NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 24 (Antara) - Indonesia should continue to develop its new and renewable energy (ETB), which is expected to be instrumental in reducing the major role of conventional fossil fuels in future.         Moreover, the air quality in major cities in the country has been declining due to pollution as a result of gas emissions arising from various modes of transportation, among others.         "We are facing global warming, which is posing a serious threat," Satya Widya Yudha, deputy chairman of Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR), noted in Jakarta on Monday (Apr 24).         Hence, the government, through the National Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), has intensified its studies and research work for the development of ETB in the country.         Among other efforts made by the BPPT is cooperating with overseas institutions in conducting research work and developing ETB. It is cooperating with the Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) of France.

RI, MALAYSIA POISED TO SET WORLD CPO PRICE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 22 (Antara) - Indonesia and Malaysia, the world largest Crude palm oil (CPO) producers hope they will eventually be able to set the world's reference price for the commodity in future.          "Indonesia and Malaysia are expected to increase collaboration to set the global price and marketing. The most important thing is the price of CPO," Malaysia's Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) Chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad said in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.          Indonesia and Malaysia are the world's number one and number two CPO producer countries with respective production of about 35 million tons and 18 million tons per annum. As they control more than 80 percent of the CPO market in the world, these countries have the potential to control its price too.          Indonesia is predicted to produce about 35 million tons of CPO in 2017, of which about 23 to 25 million tons are for exports. By 2020, Indonesia's CPO production is expected to reach 40 million tons.

RI OBSERVES BIRTHDAY OF WOMEN'S EMANCIPATION PIONEER

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 21 (Antara) - Indonesia's greatest woman, who is the pioneer of emancipation of and equality for women and men, was born some 138 years today in an aristocratic Javanese family in Jepara, Central Java.          RA Kartini, who was born on April 21, 1879, when Indonesian women lived in the darkness of feudal culture and died on September 17, 1879, opened her mind and fought for the progress of indigenous women.          As a greatest pioneer for the fate of women, RA Kartni's ideas became the role model for Indonesian women's resurrection. She was awarded the status of National Hero by the government on May 2, 1964.          On Friday, the Indonesian people commemorated RA Kartini Day.          Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Yembise, said that in the current era, Indonesian women should become the driving force behind change. "The commemoration of Kartini Day is a very good moment to reflect on women being very important figures in the progress of a nation," she said during the celebration of Kartini Day.

JAKARTA GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION ENDS PEACEFULLY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 19 (Antara) - The second round of Jakarta gubernatorial election ran smoothly and peacefully on Wednesday with Anies Bawedan-Sandiaga Uno pair winning the runoff based on quick counts.          According to the results of the quick counts of a number of pollsters, Baswedan won the election against incumbent Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok who paired up with Vice Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat.          "We have just received reports that 90 percent of the votes have been counted, and based on the quick count results, Jakarta will have a new governor and a new deputy governor," Prabowo Subianto, the general chairman of Gerindra, stated at his residence. Gerindra is the political party which nominated Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno in the Jakarta regional head election.           Based on the quick count conducted by Indobarometer, Baswedan won 58.50 percent of the votes against Ahok who grabbed 41.50 percent; Charta Politika gave Baswedan a victory of 57.87 percent against Ahok with 42.13 percent; and Voxpul Center quick count revealed the victory of Baswedan by winning 59.40 percent of the votes against Ahok who won 40.60 percent.           "On Dec 23, 2016, we started in this place, and today we are here again. I congratulate Baswedan and Uno. This is the victory of all Indonesian people, the victory of democracy. It is inseparable from the support of national figures," Prabowo noted, congratulating Baswedan-Uno for the success.

BUILDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S WELFARE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 18 (Antara) - Income disparity among the Indonesian people is very high and needs to be overcome with expansion of entrepreneurship so that the state would not face difficulties in feeding its 258 million people.          Entrepreneurs promote economic growth. But today, business owners account for less than 2 percent of the Indonesian population. Neighboring countries, such as Singapore and Malaysia, have much higher rates, according to Tasa Nugraza Barley in an article in the Jakarta Post in Dec 2014.          In advanced countries, entrepreneurs grow rapidly and help increase the economic growth. Indonesia should therefore develop its entrepreneurship like that of developed nations, particularly among those that are marginalized.       Prosperity development in advanced states is promoted by expansion of entrepreneurship, while in developing countries, such as in Indonesia, it still depends on the state. "Unluckily, in reality, the development of our entrepreneurship is still lagging far behind," legislator Jazuli Juwaini of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) said in Jakarta on Monday (April 17).

STOCKS OF BASIC NECESSITIES SECURE AHEAD OF FASTING MONTH

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 17 (Antara) - The government always does its best to secure stocks and stabilize prices of basic commodities ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which this year begins in the fourth week of May.          The public consumption during the fasting month and its subsequent post-fasting Lebaran festivities usually increases significantly. This often leads to shortage of stocks and rise in prices.          To secure stable prices and availability of stocks, the government, in this case the Trade Ministry, has continued to monitor basic commodity stocks in the market since last month.          As far as the government's assessment till the middle of this month, stocks are secure and prices are stable. The government guarantees that this will be maintained until the post-fasting Eid el-Fitr Lebaran festivities.          According to Agriculture Minister Arman Sulaiman, prices and stocks of basic necessities are stable. It is expected that there will be no stock scarcities during the fasting month.          "After conducting field observations, we conclude that stocks and price of rice are secure until the fasting month and the Lebaran festivities," Sulaiman said in press statement in Jakarta on Thursday (April 13).

COMPETITIVENESS OF FERTILIZER DEPENDS ON GAS PRICE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 17 (Antara) - Indonesia is now going all out in developing its agricultural sector to increase food products, rice in particular, in efforts to maintain its food resilience and achieve food self-sufficiency.          Towards this end, fertilizer plays a central role in boosting agricultural products. However this commodity still lacks competitiveness in the face of imported one as fertilizer industry at home uses gas in its production process.          Moreover, gas sold to fertilizer and petrochemical industries is still expensive, notably about US$6 per million metric british thermal unit (mmbtu), or far higher than that of overseas where fertilizer and chemical industries purchase gas with an average price of $2 per mmbtu.          The relatively high gas price supplied to domestic fertilizer and chemical industries weakens the competitive edge of fertilizer against the same product imported from other countries.          Hence, lawmaker Dito Ganinduto, a member of Commission VII on energy affairs of the House of Representatives (DPR) urged the government to protect national fertilizer industry by lowering gas prices sold to industry so that fertilizer industry at home could compete with imported fertilizers.

WAKATOBI DEVELOPMENT TO BE MAXIMIZED TO ATTRACT TOURISTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 15 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has decided to accord priority to the development of 10 regions considered to have potential to attract foreign tourists, one of which is Wakatobi Park in Wakatobi District, Southeast Sulawesi.          Wakatobi Park in Southeast Sulawesi is one of the country's 50 national parks. It consists of four larger islands: Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko, as well as many smaller islands such as Tokobao, North Lintea, South Lintea, Kampenaune, Hoga, and Tolandono.          Wakatobi is also one of the 10 tourist destination regions accorded priority development so that they which will be in par with the country's tourist resort island of Bali.          However, recently it was reported that the development of Wakatobi does not live up to expectations.          Hence, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on the local authorities to pay more attention to Wakatobi. The president himself will in the near future inspect it.          Southeast Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam stated that the president is scheduled to visit the tourist destination. "I just met Jokowi at the National Palace yesterday, and he has already stated that he will visit Wakatobi in the near future," Nur Alam said, after attending a discussion on Southeast Sulawesi Province, on Tuesday. At the meeting, the president paid special attention to the region, calling for its accelerated development.

REGIONS INCREASINGLY ATTRACTED TO DEVELOP MANGROVES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 15 (Antara) - Mangroves trees are increasingly attracting people given their important functions in providing sanctuary to marine ecosystem, holding sediments, and serving as habitats for a variety of fishes, crabs, shrimps, and mollusk species.          Moreover, mangroves offer increased economic benefits given the diversity of lives inhabiting them and their proximity to other tourist attractions such as coral reefs and sandy beaches.           Now many regions across the country have started to intensively preserve mangroves trees while trying to tap its commercial benefits, such as developing tourism and harvesting their fruits to produce different kinds of cakes that could earn economic benefits.          Hence, many regions across the country, such as North Penajam Paser District of East Kalimantan and other provinces such as West Kalimantan, Gorontalo, Southeast Sulawesi, and East Java, are developing mangrove trees and preserving them.          In order to promote the development of mangrove forests, North Penjam Pasar District of East Kalimantan holds a four-day mangrove festival from April 13 to 16, 2017.

RI AGGRESSIVELY EXPANDING TRADE AMIDST HEAVY CHALLENGES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 14 (Antara) - Indonesia is aggressively expanding its trade overseas in the face of heavy challenges in international trade this year.          According to Ari Satria, secretary of the National Export Development Directorate General, Indonesia this year is facing heavy challenges with regards to its economic growth, export performance and policies of other countries against Indonesia.          "Economic growth of Indonesia over the past several years has relatively slowed down. We hope to increase it this year with a growth projection of between 5.1 percent and 5.3 percent," Ari told ASEAN Business Talks in Jakarta on Thursday.          Apart from the economic growth projection, the Trade Ministry also set a target for an increase in exports by 5.63 percent for non-oil and non-gas products. Market share for Indonesian products also expanded to Africa, particularly South Africa and other countries, such as Pakistan and Russia.          In African countries, especially in South Africa, Indonesia saw considerable potential and established cooperation through bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Efforts to expand trade were also made through the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) instrument, such as in Johannesburg.

AIRLINES EXPAND DOMESTIC FLIGHTS IN EASTERN REGIONS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 13 (Antara) - A 70-seater ATR-72-600 aircraft that took off from the Pattimura International Airport in Maluku Province, Wednesday, landed at West Papua Province's Utarom Airport at 9:40 a.m. local time.          The arrival of the aircraft was welcomed by West Papua regional government officials and local residents with a traditional dance performance.          The aircraft took off from the Pattimura Airport an hour and 25 minutes earlier and was seen off by Vice President for Region IV of state-owned airlines Garuda Indonesia Sentot Mujiono, Deputy Chairman of Commission V of the House of Representatives, and Assistant I of the Maluku Regional Government Angky Renyaan.          It was a maiden flight by Garuda Indonesia that has opened new routes from Maluku Province to West Papua serving several regions in Indonesia's two eastern provinces.          The eastern regions of the country have, so far, been less developed as compared to their western counterparts, thus creating disparities in economic development and advancement. Yet, of late, the government has shifted its attention to also advance development in the eastern provinces of the country.

UNCOVERING TAX EVADERS AFTER DEADLINE OF AMNESTY PROGRAM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 11 (Antara) - The Indonesian government, which is in dire need of funds to finance its development programs, is harboring high hopes of collecting adequate taxes and is optimistic that taxpayers would meet their tax obligation.         However, several big fish tax evaders hide their assets in banks under the bank secrecy regulation or stash them overseas.         In its efforts to track down tax evaders, the government will cooperate with other countries in the launch of what is called the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI), while at home, the Finance Ministry and the Financial Service Authority (OJK) will issue a policy for the launch of a licensing system to provide access to bank accounts for tax investigation.         Before tightening the nook around tax evaders, the government had given them an opportunity to take part in the tax amnesty program it had launched for nine months from July 2016 until March 31, 2017.         The government has estimated that assets parked abroad were worth Rp4,000 trillion and hopes to repatriate about one thousand trillion rupiah. Thus, the government will be able to collect some Rp165 trillion in redemption money and asset declaration funds in the nine-month period.         However, until the end of the tax amnesty program on March 31, 2017, only Rp1,032 trillion worth of assets were declared overseas, Rp147 trillion others were repatriated, while assets declared at home amounted to Rp3,687 trillion.

RI NEEDS MORE DIRECT FLIGHTS TO LURE FOREIGN TOURISTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 10 (Antara) - As an island nation rich in natural bounty and cultures, Indonesia has extraordinary tourism potential to increase the arrivals of foreign tourists.          Yet its tourism development is still behind those of neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.          Hence, the government is committed to advance the country's tourism by developing 10 major tourist destinations. In addition, Indonesia, which was visited by about 12 million foreign tourists in 2016, has set a target to attract some 15 million foreign tourist arrivals this year and about 20 million by 2019.          However, the government has to provide better transportation facilities, including direct flights from tourist potential countries, to reach tourism destinations in different regions, apart from popular destinations  such as Bali and Yogyakarta.          Moreover, Indonesia still needs some 2 million more flight seats to meet its target of 15 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2017.          "We need 2 million more seats this year. We cannot compete with Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam (in attracting) Chinese tourists. We do not have direct flights from India, and from China, we have only three or four (direct flights)," Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said on Friday (April 7).

GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO PROMOTE FISH CONSUMPTION PROGRAM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 8 (Antara) - The government of Indonesia, which is an island country rich in various fish resources, continues to promote its fish consumption program as part of its efforts to build the nation's healthy and smart human resources.          The government has set up forums in different levels from the central government to regional administrations in provinces, districts, municipalities, and sub-districts as a means of implementing the program to promote fish consumption.          The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP), along with a number of partners, has successfully established fish consumption promotion forums (Forikan) in 34 provinces in order to increase national fish consumption rate.          "In addition to the national level, Forikan forums are also formed at the provincial, district, municipality, and sub-district levels," Director General for Improvement of Maritime and Fisheries Product Competitiveness, Nilanto Perbowo, said at a National Coordination Meeting of the KKP in Jakarta on Thursday (April 6).          Until now, Forikan forums have been established in 34 provinces, 228 districts/municipalities, and 113 sub-districts.

INDONESIA READIES ANTICIPATORY STEPS FOLLOWING TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 7 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has yet to make a move but is preparing anticipatory steps while awaiting the results of the US investigation to uncover causes of its trade deficit with 16 countries, including Indonesia.          US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order calling for an investigation into countries that had contributed to the US "trade imbalance."     Earlier, the US Department of Homeland Security had issued a list of 16 countries that were viewed as having a trade imbalance with the US.          The Indonesian government is still awaiting the results of the investigation into the countries appearing on the list of US deficit contributors.          "Point one of the executive order calls for the analysis and study of the causes of the deficit. We do not know yet how they would conduct the analysis," Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution stated at a coordination meeting on the US foreign trade policy in Jakarta on Thursday.          Hence, the Indonesian government is still awaiting the results of the analysis. It has yet to take steps but will continue to intensively communicate with the US side and prepare various anticipatory measures.

RI, AFGHANISTAN EXPLORE MUTUAL ECONOMIC POTENTIALS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 6 (Antara) - Indonesia and Afghanistan are countries rich in economic potentials but their bilateral trade value is still small, with value declining last year compared to the previous year.          The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) noted that the value of bilateral trade between Indonesia and Afghanistan had declined from US$36.6 million in 2015 to $16.25 million in 2016. Although the trade surplus was in favor of Indonesia, the trade value was still considered low.          Hence, this week's two-day (April 5 and 6) visit by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani to Indonesia is the best opportunity for both nations to explore mutual potentials and to further increase bilateral economic cooperation.         According to Indonesian Ambassador to Afghanistan Arief Rahman, as a trade destination country, Afghanistan offers opportunities in various fields. Its natural resources such as large iron ore deposits, copper reserves, and precious stones are potentials for Indonesian investment.         "Besides that, there are still many others, such as transmission lines, which are still open wide for investment," Rahman remarked on Thursday.         Moreover, Afghanistan is a hub country in Central Asia, which connects Eastern and Southern Asian countries.

GOVERNMENT TO FIX CEILING PRICE TO CURB INFLATION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 3 (Antara) - Rise in demand for basic commodities usually triggers inflation during the fasting month, which this year is expected to start by the fourth week of May.          The government, through the Ministry of Trade, will impose a fixed ceiling price (HET) due to an increase in price, particularly of food commodities that are prone to volatile prices.          The Ministry of Trade had earlier revealed its plan to impose HET for food commodities, such as sugar, frozen meat, and non-packaged cooking oil, with effect from April 10, 2017.          The three food commodities have a relatively high contribution to the inflation rate. Hence, the Ministry of Trade has accorded them priority in its plan to impose HET.          According to the central bank, Bank Indonesia (BI), the government should take control of the inflation derived from the volatile food commodities, so that it would achieve its annual inflation target at 3 to 5 percent for 2017.          "The problem of inflation always arises from the food sector. Food inflation always records a rate of 5 to 10 percent. This year, we have curbed food inflation at the 3 to 5 percent rate," Dody Budi Waluyo, BI's head for Monetary and Economic Policy Department, noted in Jakarta on Friday (March 31).