ACEH PROMOTES SABANG AS ITS TOURISM ICON

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 29 (Antara) - Aceh is one of Indonesia's 34 provinces rich in tourism potentials which could be promoted as a popular foreign tourist destination in the western part of the country.          Aceh tourism objects are no less interesting than those of other cities in Indonesia. Despite the heartbreaking history of the tsunami in late 2004, the natural disaster has even added to the attraction of visitors to get closer to nature and the city of Aceh.          Famous for its natural beauty and beaches, Aceh is flanked by both Indian Ocean and Malacca Straits. The sensational beauty often attracts tourists to visit the place again. There are not only beaches but also many other places that are also interesting to visit and admire.          The government continues to improve facilities and infrastructure in all tourist areas in an effort to make the guests comfortable. There are hundreds of tourism destinations in Aceh province, consisting of 426 natural tourism sites, 268 cultural tourism areas, and 114 special interest tourism places.          Among the interesting tourism destination is Sabang. Visitors can swim, snorkel, or dive in Sabang and encounter an amazing variety of sea creatures, from the colorful dory fish and the playful dolphin to the majestic whale shark. Sabang can be the icon of Aceh tourism.

GOVERNMENT PREPARES INNOVATIONS TO REACH HOUSING TARGET

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 27 (Antara) -  The government has launched its annual one million home development program to meet the need of its people for housing, though it has never reached the target since the scheme was launched in 2015.          Hence, the government should prepare strategic steps to meet the housing target. The one million house program, as proclaimed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in 2015, is expected to be met, among others, with the assistance of a number of digital technology innovations prepared by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).          "PUPR supports disruptive technology  to improve services in the housing sector and to make the process faster, better and cheaper," said Secretary General of the Ministry of PUPR Anita Firmanti, in a written statement received in Jakarta on Thursday (Oct 25).          According to Firmanti, disruptive technologies are expected to support the achievement of the one million house development program launched by President Jokowi to gradually reduce the shortage of housing in Indonesia.          One of the innovations that are needed to make this happen is information technology that supports the efficiency of the housing market based on information on housing demands.          In addition, digital technology is also considered to be able to improve supply chain efficiency in the housing development process.

YOGYAKARTA SERVES AS CENTER OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 26 (Antara) - One of  the country's 34 provinces, Yoyakarta, is a special region, famous for  its rich culture, education and attractive tourism destinations.      It also served as the Indonesian capital from 1946 to 1948 during the Indonesian National Revolution, and in the 16th and 17th centuries, Yoyakarta was the seat of the mighty Javanese empire of Mataram.          Thus, it is not surprising if this week Yoyakarta, which is located at the foot of  the active Merapi volcano, was crowned by ASEAN cultural and arts leaders as a center of cultural exchange for those countries grouped in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.          "We will carry out many schemes, including exchanges of artists and experiences, on how to preserve cultures and cultural heritages, both tangible and intangible,"  Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy told reporters on the sidelines of the the 8th meeting of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) held in Yogyakarta on Wednesday (Oct 24).          The AMCA meeting designated Yogyakarta as an ASEAN City of Culture.  "The most important thing for us is this historical event, in which Yogyakarta is designated as an ASEAN City of Culture for the 2018-2020 term. This is the ASEAN community's recognition of Yogyakarta as an ASEAN City of Culture for the 2018-2020 period," a member of the Indonesian education and culture minister's staff for innovation and competitiveness, Ananto Kusuma Seta, said during a press conference.

GOVT NEEDS TO BUILD ADEQUATE ENERGY TO IGNITE ECONOMIC GROWTH

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 26 (Antara) - With an inflation rate of below four percent, Indonesia is demonstrating a sound economic development trend wherein its growth rate is expected to reach some five percent in 2018 and 2019.         However, the positive trend should be supported by other sectors, such as energy, so that economic development could be maintained on the right track.         Hence, Montty Girianna, a deputy for energy management of the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, reminded that Indonesia needed to increase its energy productivity to support the country's economic performance.         "Indonesia needs to continue to strive to increase productivity, including in the energy sector. The government should ensure its availability and the affordability of its consumers," Girianna stated in Jakarta on Tuesday (Oct 23).         In this case, the government continues to offer business investment opportunities to companies, so that it can increase the potentials of the country's depleting energy resources. To this end, one of the steps that the government can take is to provide more convenient business facilities and investment attractiveness in the energy sector.

GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO IMPROVE DATA ON RICE PRODUCTION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 24 (Antara) -  The government needs to improve its data on rice production, as accurate figures will be important in deciding whether the country requires rice imports or not.          Last month, there was a debate as to whether Indonesia needed to import rice, mainly because data on rice production was not the same at a number of state agencies.          Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita had permits for the importation of two million tons of rice this year, saying imports were needed to guarantee adequate stocks, in anticipation of shortfall in domestic supplies.         Therefore, observers and the ombudsman called upon the government to improve its data. Further, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, on Monday, said that there was no need to import rice, as the state logistics board (Bulog) still had adequate stocks of rice, reaching 2.2 million tons.          Al-Azhar University Criminal Law Observer Suparji Ahmad has recommended that the debate about the differences in data about rice should be resolved.          "The State Audit Board (BPK) must dare to audit it thoroughly. The difference in data is too great, and this concerns the lives of many people," Suparji said.          According to Suparji, BPK audit results can be used by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as preliminary data if there are indications of fraud.

RUPIAH TO BE STABLE AT ITS NEW EQUILIBRIUM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 20 (Antara) - The Indonesian rupiah this week hit its new equilibrium in value of Rp15,000 per US dollar which analysts said would not return to the level of Rp13 thousand or 14 thousand against the greenback.         Rector of Atma Jaya University Agustinus Prasetyantoko said it would be difficult for the rupiah to regain a stronger exchange rate amid the global uncertainty, which is expected to continue next year.         Yet, according to Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Perry Warjiyo, the exchange value of the rupiah in its new equilibrium has been in a stable level based on the market mechanism. The rupiah has continued to depreciate since early this year.          For the first time since December 2015, the rupiah broke the psychological level of Rp14 thousand against the US dollar on May 7, 2018. It traded at Rp14,003 per dollar in the spot market. And this week it again broke another psychological level of Rp15 thousand per US dollar. On Friday (Oct 19) it was traded at Rp15.221 per US dollar     However, the depreciation of the Indonesia's currency exchange rate might be good for investment if it combines with the regulation's consistency and efficiency, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

NTB TO PROMOTE ITS HALAL TOURISM DURING IMF-WB MEETING

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 2 (Antara) - West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province is eager to attract as many foreign tourists as possible through its halal tourism program.              Being one of the 10 regions the government is developing as halal tourism destination regions, NTB is therefore setting sights on the International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) annual meeting in Bali to promote halal tourism.               The IMF-WB annual meetings, which will take place in Nusa Dua Bali from Oct 8 to 14 and will be attended by around 17,000 invitees from 189 countries, are potential forums for NTB to promote its tourism, particularly delegates who come from countries grouped in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).              Many of the delegates are also expected to take the opportunity to bring members of their families to holiday in Bali and other places in Indonesia.              NTB is one of the 10 provinces being developed as halal tourist destination regions, which comprise six provinces or special regions in Java (Banten, Jakarta, West Java, and Central Java, in addition to Yogyakarta and East Java), two in Sumatra (West Sumatra and Aceh), one in Kalimantan (South Kalimantan) and one in Nusa Tenggara (West Nusa Tenggara/NTB).              Amid Indonesia's intensive promotion over the development of halal tourism, NTB is doing its best to attract tourists from Muslim nations, particularly countries in the Middle East.