MEDIA SHOULD SUPPORT PAPUA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 30 (Antara) - All parties, including social organizations, legislators, and the media, need to support the economic development being carried out by the government in Papua, which is an underdeveloped province in eastern Indonesian region.         Hence, various circles, such as social organizations, politicians, and the media, should support the efforts of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in developing various infrastructure facilities in the Indonesian easternmost province.         The mass and social media should play their influential role in building the people's optimism and nationalism regarding the development in Papua.          According to Bobby Adhityo Rizaldi, a member of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) from the Golkar Party Faction, the massive infrastructure development being carried out in Papua portrays the efforts of Jokowi's government in advancing and developing the mining resource-rich province.         The legislator stated that the construction of the 4,330-kilometer-Trans-Papua Highway (that connects Papua with West Papua), bridges, airports, and dams is proof of the massive infrastructure development that would change the face of Papua and boost its economic activities in the coming years.

GOVERNMENT MONITORS BASIC NECESSITIES FOR CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 30 (Antara) - Public spending on basic commodities usually increases during Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations, resulting in increase in prices of essential goods and decline in stocks.         In the run-up to the year-end festivities, the government will prioritize 13 provinces in its efforts to maintain price and stock stability of basic commodities. In these provinces, there will be an increase in trade activities during Christmas 2017 and 2018 New Year celebrations.         According to the Special Economic Crime Director of the National Police's (Polri's) Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), Brig. Gen. Agung Setya, the 13 provinces include Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Papua, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluku, North Sulawesi, and North Sumatra.         The Bareskrim has organized a coordination meeting with a number of ministries and state institutions to discuss the framework of maintaining the price and stability of stocks of basic commodities ahead of the year-end celebrations.

INDONESIA UNLIKELY TO CHANGE ASIAN GAMES EVENTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 29 (Antara) - Indonesia, as the host of the 18th Asian Games, has a chance to arrange a strategy to win as many medals as possible.          Indonesia has proposed to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) that it would compete in a total of 40 sports branches with 462 events in the biggest Asian sporting festivities, which will be organized in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra, next year.         Of course, Indonesia has been predicted to contribute medals in selected sports branches and events in the competitions, which will take place from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018.         Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, OCA, and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, in his capacity as the 18th Asian Games Steering Committee chairman, have all agreed that the number of sports branches and events will no longer be increased.         Based on the agreement, the government has decided the budget for organizing the sports festivities, including the construction of venues in accordance with the sports events that have been agreed with the OCA.         Hence, it is unlikely for Indonesia to change and increase the number of sports events as requested by OCA recently. The council has asked Indonesia to change nine sports events and add two more.

JOURNALISTS MUST ACQUIRE VISA TO COVER ASIAN GAMES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 28 (Antara) - The Indonesian government, through the Directorate General of Immigration, has called on foreign journalists, including athletes and officials, to obtain visas before they can cover or attend the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia next year.         Journalists intending to cover the events at the Asian Games can obtain visas through the Foreign Visit Team for Journalists that will coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.         "It will not be adequate for foreign journalists to only have an accreditation from the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC). Those who come to Indonesia in the framework of covering the Asian Games events are required to have visas," Head of the Verification Sub-Directorate of the Immigration Hongky Juanda stated during the Asian Games Media Forum in Jakarta on Monday.         Although Indonesia requires journalists and participants to acquire entry visas, the Directorate General of Immigration will facilitate the process of issuing visas to participants and journalists keen on following the Asian Games.

TUNA CATCH QUOTA SHOULD BENEFIT PEOPLE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 28 (Antara) - The government is planning to issue a regulation on the tuna catch quota in an attempt to avoid overexploitation and maintain the sustainability of tuna resources in the country.          The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) is gathering inputs from various sides to formulate the regulation, which is expected to help improve the welfare of fishermen and national fish catch business players.          "Tuna is caught at sea and is classified as a natural resource similar to minerals. Thus, a regulation is required for the sustainable exploitation of tuna resources," KKP Secretary General Rifky Effendi Hardijanto had noted in a written statement in Jakarta on Tuesday (Nov 21).          The people need a regulation on the quota of tuna catch, so that the exploitation of resources at sea would be sustainable and have a positive economic impact on the fishermen.          However, the regulation on the quota, which is currently under process at the KKP, should focus on offering optimal benefits to the people and be aligned with the nation's interests.          "The exploitation of tuna should be aimed at improving the welfare of Indonesian people," Herman Khaeron, the deputy chairman of Commission VII of the House of Representatives, noted in Jakarta on Thursday.

GOVERNMENT SET TO COMPLETE TOLL ROADS OF 1,854.6 KILOMETERS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 27 (Antara) - The government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is determined to connect sections of toll roads of 1,854.6 kilometers across the country by the end of 2019.          "The target is to make the toll roads of 1,854.6 kilometers operational by the end of 2019," Head of Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BJPT) Herry Trisaputra Zuna stated at the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) in Jakarta on Friday (Nov 24).          In 2018, the government is targeting to accomplish an additional 766.3 kilometers of new toll road sections throughout all the the country. Thus, by the end of 2018, the length of toll roads, which would be operational, will reach about 1,321.5 kilometers.          In the meantime, in 2019, new toll roads of 533.1 kilometers are expected, so that the total length of toll roads operating in the country by the end of Jokowi's administration in 2019 will reach 1,854.6 kilometers.          The toll road segment now being developed is the Solo-Ngawi segment, Ngawi-Kertosono, Ciawi-Sukabumi, in Java Island, and a number of toll road projects in Sumatra, such as in Lampung.

INDONESIA TARGETS TOP-TEN PLACE IN ASIAN GAMES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 24 (Antara) - Indonesia, host of the 18th Asian Games 2018, has set a target to secure a top ten place in the mega sporting event, which will be held in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra, next year.         Indonesia will target to become one of the top ten in the 18th Asian Games 2018, which will be held from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018, although Indonesia's achievement in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Malaysia last August was below expectation.         "We have to stick to our target. We want to secure a place in the top ten of the Asian Games. We have to make sure of it and accelerate the exercises. Athletes should be sent abroad (for tryouts)," Jusuf Kalla, the chairman of the 18th Asian Games 2018 Steering Committee, who is also the Indonesian Vice President, said last month (Oct 25).         The organizers do not want to make inadequate preparations, which could result in low achievement, such as the achievement of Indonesian athletes in the SEA Games last August.         After all, the 18th Asian Games 2018 will serve as a bridge for Indonesian athletes to step forward for the Olympic Games in Japan in 2020.         "No one can guarantee that we can achieve the target, but to achieve it, we should ascertain that our achievement will be better than the one in the previous 17th Asian Games 2014 in Incheon, South Korea," Kalla said.

ORGANIZERS TIGHTEN ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR 2018 ASIAN GAMES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 24 (Antara) - Indonesia will host the 18th Asian Games in 2018 that will be attended by thousands of athletes from 45 countries.         The organizers in charge of managing the sporting event will implement a stringent accreditation process for a large number of athletes, coaches, officials, journalists, and state officials.         In order to issue the accreditation, the Indonesia Asian Games 2018 Organizing Committee (INASGOC) will involve eight state institutions to help sort out applications for accreditation and participation in the Asian sporting event to take place in the two cities of Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra, from August 18 to September 2, 2018.          "The INAGOC has no right to approve or disapprove the request for accreditation of a would-be participant. If one of the eight institutions says no, then the application will be rejected," Tito Loho, a member of the Accreditation Board of the INASGOC, stated at a press conference on Wednesday (Nov 15).

PUBLIC URGED TO MAKE ASIAN GAMES A SUCCESS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 23 (Antara) - Indonesia will host the 18th Asian Games for the second time next year after it had held the Asian sporting event for the first time in Jakarta in 1962.         Unlike the earlier events, the 2018 Asian Games will be held in two cities of Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra. This is the first time that the games will be held in two cities since it was first organized in New Delhi, India, in 1951.         Hence, Indonesia, the runner-up behind the overall champions Japan in 1962, will do its best as the host to make the sporting event a success and has set a target to finish among the top eight in the medals tally.         Since the first Asian Games in 1951, Japan had consecutively been the overall champion on eight occasions until 1978, but from 1982 to 2014, its position as the consecutive overall champion has been taken over by China that has won the Asian sporting event nine times in a row.         Indonesia, which has now taken over the task of hosting the 18th event from Hanoi, Vietnam, since the latter has delegated the responsibility to it due to financial reasons, will do its best to make the games a successful international event and has called for the public's support.

INDONESIA EYES US$100 MILLION BY HOSTING IMF-WB MEETINGS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 23 (Antara) - Indonesia expects to gain around US$100 million by hosting the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) in Bali on Oct 8-14 next year.          The meetings are among the largest and influential events on finance and economy that bring together central bank governors and finance ministers from 189 countries.          The main annual meetings are scheduled to take place on October 12-14, 2018, but will be preceded by other agendas, such as seminars and other meetings, to discuss developments in the global economy.          Indonesia has called on the WB to give its outlook on the country's economy amid the fast dynamic developments in the global economy.          "We have urged them to explain what the Indonesian economic outlook will look like and what its shortcomings are," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) remarked following a meeting with WB executives at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Tuesday (Nov 21).      "Where will we begin the improvement? I think that such inputs from any other institution are important for us to overcome the shortcomings," he noted.

'SAIL SABANG' TO HAVE GREATEST IMPACT ON ACEH TOURISM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 22 (Antara) - The international 'Sail Sabang' event, which will be organized in the waters of Weh Island of Sabang Municipality next weekend, will have the greatest impact on Aceh Province's tourism promotion.          According to the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), tourists arriving in Weh Island of Sabang City by yachts or sailboats will rise in the next few years. "The impact of Sabang Sail will surely be positive and will have the greatest benefit for the marine tourism sector of Aceh, as yachts will frequently visit Sabang," ASITA Secretary of Aceh, Totok Julianto, said by phone in Kutacane, Southeast Aceh, on Tuesday (Nov 21).        According to him, the event, which will take place from Nov 18 to Dec 5, 2017, will boost the number of sailboats and yachts heading for a vacation to the most western region in Indonesia.          Ships from international countries, such as America, Europe, and Australia, will turn the Weh Island of Sabang into one of the favorite destinations in Southeast Asia, besides Langkawi in Malaysia and Phuket in Thailand.

GOVT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN PAPUA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 19 (Antara) - Papua Province is one of Indonesia's underdeveloped provinces in the eastern region which the government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has given a priority in his current development programs.          Compared with other provinces in the western part of the country,  Papua suffers a sharp gap and inequality in its economic life. Due to the lack of infrastructure and land transportation facilities, prices of commodities are far higher than those in the rest of the country's provinces.       The price of cement, for instance, is about Rp800 thousand - Rp2.5 million per bag while in Java it is only about Rp70 thousand - Rp80 thousand per  bag. Gasoline can reach Rp60 thousand per litter while in other regions the price of fuel oil is only approximately Rp6,500 per litter.         Hence, the government is now focusing its attention on the development in Papua in efforts to eliminate social economic injustices. One of the efforts to build economic justice is to lay the foundation of the economic activities by developing infrastructure.         Although there is criticism in the development of the Trans-Papua Road, President Jokowi is firm that the project will facilitate the economic activities and improve the welfare of the people in the country's easternmost province. He asked the Regional Representative Council (DPD) to support his infrastructure development program in Papua.

GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO INCREASE FISHERIES EXPORTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 18 (Antara) - The government is trying to decrease the import duty abroad, improve transportation system at home, and expand fishing vessels to increase domestic fish production, in an effort to boost fishery product exports.          The transportation system in outermost regions will be improved to shorten the delivery time to export hub regions or point of exports, in order to maintain the freshness of fishery products.          The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is fighting for import tariff cuts for the country's fishery products imported by the European Union (EU).          Director General of the Maritime and Fishery Products Competitiveness Promotion of the KKP, Nilanto Perbowo, stated in a release on Saturday that the import tariff of Indonesian fishery products in the EU was still quite high, at around 6-24 percent.          However, a number of other countries, such as Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam, are believed to have secured much lower import duty rates. Some are not subject to import duty tariffs. "It is now time for Indonesia to also get the same tariff of zero (0) percent; this is what we are striving for," she explained.

TOMINI BAY SUPPORTS TOURISM IN THREE PROVINCES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 15 (Antara) - The Tomini Bay in the eastern region of Indonesia is the largest gulf in the country, which has the potential to provide benefit for the development of the tourism sector in three neighboring provinces.          The three provinces should therefore work hand in hand to develop the Indonesian eastern region's largest gulf in order to  attract local and international tourists and help improve the local people's economy.          Vice Governor of Gorontalo Province, Idris Rahim, called for cooperation among the three provinces of Gorontalo, North Sulawesi, and Central Sulawesi to develop marine tourism in the Tomini Bay area.          "The three provinces must be in synergy. We must create an integrated tourism calendar, and this should be jointly pursued by the relevant agencies to boost the tourism sector," Rahim stated at a discussion forum of marine tourism development in Tomini Bay by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) on Tuesday (Nov 14).

RI ASKS FOR ASEAN'S COMMITMENT ON WORKERS PROTECTION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 14 (Antara) - Indonesia and the Philippines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are two largest migrant worker exporters which have been fighting for strong commitment to migrant worker protection.          Hence, during the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila, the Philippines, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) encouraged members of the regional association to increase the protection of migrant workers in Southeast Asia.          At the ASEAN Summit, which is part of the series of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN, Jokowi and other ASEAN leaders will sign the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of Migrant Workers' Rights.          The ASEAN Consensus Document will be a concrete form of comprehensive protection for migrant workers as mandated by the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia.          Therefore, Indonesia called for a strong commitment by ASEAN member countries to protect and promote the rights of migrant workers in the 31st ASEAN Summit held in Manila, Philippines, 12-14 November 2017.          "It should not be a consensus only. Indonesia encourages all ASEAN member countries to properly guard and have the same commitment in implementing the action plan regarding the protection of migrant workers and their families, both legal migrants and migrants who have no proper documents," said Minister of Manpower M Hanif Dhakiri in press release in Jakarta on Monday.

RI, JAPAN CONCRETIZE PROJECTS AHEAD OF TIES ANNIVERSARY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 13 (Antara) - Indonesia and Japan are concretizing cooperation on several strategic infrastructure project such as seaport, mass rapid transit (MRT) and railways in the runup to celebrating the 60th anniversary of their relations next year.           The cooperation was among others reinforced during a bilateral meeting between President Joko Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines, on Sunday.          On the occasion President Jokowi expressed wish for significant progress in the infrastructure cooperation ahead of the anniversary.  "This will be a monumental gift for the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries," he said.          On investment cooperation President Jokowi expressed appreciation to increased Japanese investment in the country, adding that "it almost reached 90 percent in 2016."      Foreign Minister Retno said that the bilateral meeting between the President and the Prime Minister of Japan is an important meeting because they discussed the plan to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Japan in 2018.

PAPUA'S ECONOMY SLOWING DOWN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 9 (Antara) - The economy of Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua is slowing down, although it has been flourishing in recent years under the administration of President Joko Wododo (Jokowi).          In 2015, for example, Papua saw an economic growth of 7.47 percent. It shot up last year to 9.21 percent, almost double the national average figure of 4.95 percent.          The high economic growth was because of the government's attention towards the development of Papua's infrastructure, improvement of its welfare and health facilities, as well as the launch of the single-fuel price program. Papua is one of Jokowi's top priorities.          He has many plans to make sure that the rapid growth in Papua keeps going, such as single-fuel price, Trans Papua Road, Sea Toll, Sorong Special Economic Zone, and others. He hopes to bring positive changes in Papua, even if at a slower pace.          "We can see that there is a decrease in poverty rates in Papua Province," Papua Governor Lukas Enembe was quoted by papuanews.org as saying last year.          However, the decline in the food crop production and public expenditure, as well as the prolonged contractual dispute between the government and PT Preeport Indonesia, which prompted the giant miner to temporarily suspend production, has resulted in slow economic growth in Papua.          The subsidiary of the US-based Freeport McMoRan has been in a dispute with the government, following the issuance of new regulations that oblige the company to convert its contract of work into a special mining license, divest 51 percent of its shares, and build a new smelter.

TASK FORCES TO BE SET UP TO ACCELERATE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 8 (Antara) - Indonesia, which has been able to improve its 'ease of doing business' index from 91 to 72, will establish task forces for 'ease of doing business' in order to further improve its business climate.         The government is now preparing a guideline for the establishment of the task forces for the acceleration of the ease of doing business in Indonesia. The task forces will be established as a follow up to the Presidential Regulation No. 91/2017 on the Ease of Doing Business.         The task forces, which are expected to help ease the licensing process, will consist of a national task force, a leading sector task force, and a supporting task force.          "Several ministries and agencies are working together to form the National Task Force," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution remarked in Jakarta on Friday (Nov 3).          He explained that the National Task Force will be the main body, which is directly under the president, and will oversee two major institutions, namely the Leading Sector Task Force and the Supporting Task Force.          The minister revealed that the Leading Sector Task Force will supervise the investment licensing process, undertake debottlenecking issues, and report regularly to the National Task Force.

SINGLE-FUEL PRICE PROGRAM LIKELY TO FALL BEHIND TARGET

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 8 (Antara) - The government has launched a single-fuel price program in certain areas across the country since January this year, as part of its efforts to provide fuels at equal prices for consumers.          For this year, the government has set a target to establish single-price fuel suppliers in 54 regions. But until Nov 4, the number of single-price fuel distributors that has been established was only 50 percent, or 27 suppliers.          Thus, the government has to establish 27 others in less than two months in order to meet its target of setting up 54 distributors in 2017.      The government has set a target to build 150 single-price fuel suppliers in 150 regions across the country by 2019. Of the target, some 54 suppliers will be in 2017, 50 in 2018, and 46 in 2019.          However, this year, it seems unlikely for the government to be able to meet its target of setting up single-price fuel suppliers in 54 areas. The main problem faced is obtaining a license for the program in the specific location.          "Principle license is really needed, but in certain areas, consensus is yet to be reached. Yet, everything is already in the process," Muhammad Ibnu Fajar of the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulator (BPH Migas) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) stated in Jakarta on Friday (Nov 3).

TRILLIONS OF FUNDS TO FLOW INTO VILLAGERS' POCKETS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 4 (Antara) - The government has since 2015 allocated a total of Rp127.64 trillion in village funds to develop infrastructure and other facilities in villages.         However, in 2018, the government will change its policy by not only focusing on the allocation of the funds for infrastructure development but also on boosting labor-intensive development in villages.         Thus, there is a big chance for villagers to become the beneficiaries of the funds through the development of labor-intensive projects. Projects are expected to be done by villagers through a self-managed system and not by contractors as they used to be.          Based on President Joko Widodo (Jokowi's) labor-intensive program in villages, at least 30 percent of the village funds should be designed as payment for workers in labor-intensive projects.          The government in 2018 will allocate 60 trillion as village funds. If 30 percent of the funds are designed for villagers involved in the labor-intensive program, villagers will be able to pocket Rp18 trillion.          Data based on the program indicates that there are 74,910 villages which will receive the funds. In average, each village will receive Rp800 million, of which 30 percent or Rp240 million will be allocated for villagers who are worker.

TRANS-JAVA TOLL ROAD TO BE CONNECTED BY 2019

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 3 (Antara) - The government has targeted to finish the construction of Trans-Java Toll Road connecting Merak in the western tip of Java Island with Banyuwangi in the eastern tip of the Island by 2019.          The he pre-construction work of the Probolinggo-Banyuwangi section having a length of 170.36 kilometers (km) is now being accelerated, Herry Trisaputra Zuna, Head of the Toll Road Regulator Agency (BPJT), said on Friday. It is expected that this section will enter the construction phase in the middle of 2018.          By 2018, the government expects that all sections of the Trans-Java from Merak in Banten Province to Probolinggo in East Java province, will be connected. Thus, the remaining section will be from Probolinggo to Banyuwangi in the eastern tip of Java Island.           "By the end of 2018, the Trans-Java Toll Road will be connected not only to Surabaya (capital of East Java province) but also to Probolinggo," Herry Trisaputra Zuna, Head of the Toll Road Regulator Agency (BPJT) of the Public Works Ministry, said in Jakarta, Friday.           In 2018, the government is targeting to accomplish an additional 766.3km of new toll road sections across the country. Thus, by the end of 2018, the length of  toll roads, which are already in operation, will reach 1,321.5km. By 2019, new toll roads will cover 533.1 km  so that the total length of toll roads operating in the country will reach 1,854.6 km.          The next section, namely the Probolinggo-Banyuwngi will also enter the pre-construction phase.

FISHERIES SECTOR NEEDS MORE MICRO BUSINESS CREDITS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 2 (Antara) - Fisheries is one of Indonesia¿s sources of revenues that need adequate funds for its development and utilization in a sustainable manner. Yet, it cannot develop faster due to lack of funds.         "The fisheries sector is growing slowly due to a number of constraints. The government needs to further boost the realization of the fishery micro business credit (KUR) credit because fishery business needs financing stimulus to grow faster," National Coordinator of the Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW), Moh Abdi Suhufan, said in Jakarta on Sunday (Oct 28).         The smallholder's KUR scheme for the fisheries sector, therefore, needs to be further enhanced as currently, the KUR credit beneficiaries are dominated by the trade and agriculture business sectors.          The realization of KUR for fisheries reached Rp1.19 trillion in late September 2017 from the total KUR realization of Rp69.9 trillion. Thus, the realization of the credit is expected to increase further as there are three more months for banks to channel KUR credits to the fisheries sector.

BELITUNG OFFERS BUDGET-FRIENDLY YEAR-END TOURISM TRIPS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 2 (Antara) - Belitung Island is offering discounted year-end trips to Singaporean citizens to boost the number of foreign tourist arrivals on the island that has merely received some 15-20 thousand foreign visitors annually.          Belitung Island, which is part of the Bangka Belitung Province, will offer a round-trip ticket costing 125 Singaporean dollars and $101 for a one-way trip.          "A ticket price of $125 for a round trip will be offered during Dec 15-22 and at $101 for a one-way trip, while a round-trip ticket during the period between Dec 24 and Jan 5 will be sold at $150 and a one-way ticket will cost $111," Commercial Director of NAM Air Sriwijaya Air Group Franky Gan noted in Singapore on Wednesday.          Gan made the remarks during a "Sales Mission" held in Singapore to promote Belitung's tour packages. The tour packages are offered for chartered flights operating on the Singapore-Tanjung Pandan, Belitung, route.          The tourism promotion event was attended by 30 players from the tourism industry in Singapore in addition to Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore Sigit S. Widiyanto, Belitung District Head Sahani Saleh, East Belitung Vice District Head Burhanudin, Expert Staff of the Minister of Air Transportation Affairs Robert Daniel W, and Commercial Director of NAM Air Sriwijaya Air Group Franky Gan.