GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO PROMOTE PALM OIL

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 29 (Antara) - The Indonesian government continues to improve the quality of its palm oil products and expand markets to non-traditional export destinations as negative campaigns in traditional market such as Europe still continue to take place.          As regards, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs has set a target to certify 70 percent of the oil palm industry at home  through  the "Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil" (ISPO) certification by 2020.          "We hope to meet the target. The government will also continue to promote the ISPO  so that it would be known as Indonesian standard abroad," said Wilistra Danny, Plantation and Horticulture official of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, in Jakarta on Thursday.          He stressed that the government will seriously address turmoil in oil palm industry with efforts aimed at promoting the standard to the international community in an effort to face the negative campaign.          Besides that, Indonesia will also try to expand markets to non-traditional countries. The Ministry of Trade is therefore eyeing new markets, given the negative sentiment from one of its main markets, the European Union, still persists.

LINK AND MATCH CONCEPT IS SOLUTION TO WORKFORCE PROBLEM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 29 (Antara) - In the face of increasingly stiff competition in the labor force sector and the need for skilled industry workers, the government continues to improve the quality of its human resources.          One of the efforts to improve the quality of human resources is made through the promotion of the "'Link and Match" concept that is a competence-based education system.     All education units within the Ministry of Industry have implemented a competence-based curriculum system and are connected to and in accordance with the industry. This effort is proven to be able to produce skilled and professional human resources as required in the workforce today.          "We have nine Vocational High Schools, nine Polytechnics, and one Community Academy. They have become references for the development of vocational education because we have succeeded in building a truly competence-based education system and link and match with the industrial world," Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry Haris Munandar stated as quoted on the website of the Ministry of Industry, recently.

"MAKING INDONESIA 4.0" TO FACE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 26 (Antara) - Industrial disruption may take place in the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, which would necessitate many countries in the world to make preparations.          In the face of the fourth industrial revolution, the Indonesian government has launched the Making Indonesia 4.0 Road Map as a clear strategy and direction in the readiness to enter and implement 4.0 industry in the country.          The aspiration contained in the Making Indonesia 4.0 Road Map is Indonesia¿s target to be part of the 10 largest economies in the world by 2030, according to Head of Industrial Research and Development Agency (BPPI) of the Ministry of Industry, Ngakan Timur Antara, in Jakarta on Sunday (Nov 25).          The target is achievable because it can be boosted by a 10-percent increase in net exports of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), two-fold productivity increase, and the creation of 10 million new jobs in 2030.           Hence, the government will remain focused on accelerating the country's industrialization as it will bring multiplier effects to the national economy.          "Therefore, the government is resolved to create conducive investment climate," Antara noted here on Sunday.

GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO MECHANIZE AGRICULTURE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 24 (Antara) - Agriculture is one of the main sectors of Indonesian economy, which is why the government continues to advance this sector through a mechanization program and through the provision of agricultural equipment and machinery assistance to farmers.         In order to optimize the utilization of the Agricultural Equipment and Machinery (Alsintan) to further mechanize the agricultural sector, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman recently (Nov 12) appointed Andi Nur Alam Syah as the director of Alsintan Affairs.         Sulaiman assigned Alamsyah to implement the program and to improve the ministry's performance to realize modern agricultural development and to improve the prosperity of farmers.          "I asked the Alsintan Director to optimize the distribution of agricultural equipment and machinery, especially for swamp lands," the minister stated.           Alamsyah, in his response, confirmed that the main area of emphasis was to optimize the use of agriculture machinery.

HRD IS GOVERNMENT'S NEXT PRIORITY PROGRAM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 23 (Antara) - After focusing on massive development of the country's infrastructure over the past four years, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will give priority to the development of human resources (HRD) in the next five years if re-elected.         Advancement of a nation is determined by the quality of human resources. Hence, the government has set a development priority to improve human resources in the coming five years.        The development of human resources must be able to turn an Indonesian population of 260 million into a major force of Indonesia.         "Not only to support acceleration in economic growth, but it should also be able to improve the welfare to catch up with common progress," President Jokowi remarked while chairing a limited cabinet meeting at the Bogor Palace on Wednesday (Nov 21).          Jokowi stated that a large stage of infrastructure development has been going on, and several projects have been completed. Hence, his government will enter the next major stage, which is investment in the field of human resources to boost development.          According to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, as part of the efforts to improve the country's human resources, the government will lay emphasis on development in the education and health sectors.

HOUSE WANTS REVIEW OF POLICY ON NEGATIVE INVESTMENT LIST

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 22 (Antara) - The current government of President Joko Widodo aims to develop and protect micro-, small-, and medium-scale enterprises (UMKM), for which there should be no policy that could harm the interests of small businesses.          Hence, the House of Representatives (DPR) has suggested that the government review its policy that allows foreign firms to invest in certain areas, so far, designed for small businesses in the Negative Investment List (DNI).          The government recently announced its plan to issue a policy to relax the 2016 DNI that will be carried out through revision of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 44 of 2017 concerning list of business fields closed to and business fields that are open with conditions to investment.          In Presidential Regulation Number 44 of 2017, which regulates the 2016 DNI, 25 business sectors in question have varying requirements for foreign capital ownership, ranging from 49 percent to 95 percent.          With the issuance of the XVI Economic Policy Package and revision of Perpres Number 44 of 2017, the government has decided to allow foreign investors to have full ownership in 25 business sectors in the DNI.

INDONESIA READY TO SHARE VACCINE TECHNOLOGY WITH OIC MEMBERS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 21 (Antara) - Indonesia which is hosting a two-day medicine regulators meeting in Jakarta from Wednesday (Nov 21) is set to share its knowledge of vaccine production technology with other  member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).         A total of 32 member countries of the  OIC are taking part in the National Medicines Regulatory Authorities' (NMRAs) meeting. "This is a historical meeting, as it is held for the first time by OIC members," Chief of the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) Penny Lukito stated.         They will discuss health issues, medicines and vaccine production.  OIC countries have made varied advancements in vaccine technology. Some of them had made moderate  while some others are  still lagging behind, however.         Indonesia, which is one of the OIC members, is known to be  superior in terms of the development of vaccine technology. Therefore in this meeting, Indonesia will share its knowledge of vaccine technology. Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim populated country, is committed to playing concrete roles in advancing member countries in all sectors, including health.

SOME AREAS REMOVED FROM NEGATIVE LIST TO BOOST INVESTMENT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 20 (Antara) - The government issued an economic policy package on Friday, in which a number of business areas were removed from the Negative Investment List (DNI) to boost investment and to increase the number of industries.          The DNI is a list of business areas closed to foreign investment and new investment. Hence, there is concern that the exclusion from the DNI of certain business areas would sacrifice the interest of micro-, small-, and medium-scale businesses (UMKM).          Coordinating Minister for Economy, Darmin Nasution, denies allegation that the government is allowing foreign investment to operate in areas appropriately designed for UMKM businesses and cooperatives.          The protest and allegation came on wrong perception over four business areas which are appropriated for UMKM and cooperatives under the DNI of 2016.          The four business areas include tuber peeling and cleaning industry; cloth printing industry; knitting industry, particularly embroidery; and internet service outlets.         "It is impossible that foreign investment would operate in tuber peeling and cleaning industry and internet service outlets as a foreign investment company is required to start businesses with a capital of at least Rp10 billion. Those (businesses) are not Rp10-billion class venture," Nasution noted.

SHIPS LESS THAN FIVE THOUSAND GT CAN NO LONGER SERVE MERAK PORT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 19 (Antara) - Merak Port in the western tip of Java and Bakauheni harbor in the eastern edge of Sumatra are the busiest ferry harbors that connect the two Indonesian major islands.          Being the busiest sea-crossing lane in the Sunda Strait, the Merak-Bakauheni routes have so far been served by at least 52 ferries of various sizes. However, the government has set a size standard for ships that could be deployed to serve passengers willing to cross the Sunda Strait from Sumatra to Java or the vice versa.         The government, through Transportation Ministerial Decree No. PM 88 of 2014, has stipulated that starting from Dec 24, 2018, each ferry to be operated on the Merak-Bakauheni routes should be less than five thousand gross tonnage (GT) in size.         The Directorate General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation has pointed out that the authorities will move 9 of the 52 ferries usually serving the Merak-Bakauheni ports to other ferry ports. The nine ferries are less than five thousand GT in size.

TRANS-JAVA TOLL ROAD BOOSTS NATION'S ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 19 (Antara) - The Trans-Java Toll Road, which links Merak port in the western tip of Java with Banyuwangi in the eastern part of the island, is expected to improve connectivity and provide multiple effects on the economy.          Though the government has set the target to complete the construction of the 1,150-kilometer toll road by the end of 2019, yet the Merak-Surabaya section, stretching 870 kilometers, would have been completed by the end of this year.          According to the President Director of state-owned toll road construction firm Waskita Kraya, I Gusti Ngurah Putra, the Trans-Java toll road could have double effects on national economic activities.          "Toll roads will operate and generate economic growth throughout or around the toll roads," Putra stated at the Waskita Karya office in Jakarta on Thursday (Nov 15).          By using the Trans-Java toll road with sections having been connected from end to another, the route from Jakarta to Surabaya can now be covered in about 10 hours. Thus, goods sent from East Java to Jakarta or otherwise, for example, will also arrive at the destinations in fresh conditions.

INDONESIAN CAPSULE OF HOPES EXPECTED TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE

By Andi Abdussalam

By Andi Abdussalam     Jakarta, Nov 17 (Antara) - Indonesian children are dreaming of making the country an influential nation in the world with superior human resources and economy to serve as the global barometer in the coming seven decades.          These dreams are among the seven-point wishes they have placed into a time capsule that will be opened by the next generation in 2085. The dreams are summed up from the aspirations of children across the 34 provinces of the country.          "Later, in 2085, it will be opened by our next generation to see if the seven big dreams would have been realized by then? Hence, this is not a common monument, but it is a monument of our dreams," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated when inaugurating the Time Capsule Monument in Merauke in the eastern province of Papua on Friday (Nov 16).           Three years ago, namely on Dec 26, 2015, the president also planted a time capsule (Time Capsule 2085) containing the seven wishes that reflected the aspirations of the people in the country's 34 provinces at the Hapsana Sai Square, Marauke, Papua.

GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ENSURE ENOUGH RICE STOCKS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 16 (Antara) - The government needs to take anticipatory steps in case of a possible scarcity of rice stocks ahead of the Christmas and New Year 2019 festivities.          The government needs to take such steps because the price of rice, especially medium quality rice, has begun showing an upward trend. Looking back to the past several years, the prices of basic commodities always increased and the stock of rice frequently declined by the year-end.          Hence, market operations are required in order to supply the people with rice and prevent rice scarcity. The Jakarta regional government, for example, will conduct rice operations, especially for medium quality rice.          President Director of Jakarta local government-owned rice firm PT Food Station Tjipinang Jaya, Arief Prasetyo Adi, said that his party was cooperating with state-owned Logistics Agency Bulog in an effort to launch market operations immediately in anticipation of a rise in the price of medium quality rice in Jakarta.          "In the near future, PT Food Station and all Pasar Induk Beras Cipinang (Cipinang Rice Wholesale Market) traders will coordinate with Bulog to immediately carry out market operations," Adi said at the Indonesian National Police's Bareskrim (Criminal Investigation Department) Office, Jakarta, Thursday.

TASK FORCES DEPLOYED TO MONITOR YEAR-END FOOD PRICES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 16 (Antara) - Supplies of food and other basic necessities usually run short in the run-up to Christmas and New Year, thereby often resulting in a hike in the prices and inflation.          On Thursday (Nov 15), the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) drew the government's attention to inflation or the year-end volatile food prices.          "Based on the pattern of inflation movement data from 2014 to 2017, inflation on the prices of goods had always begun to increase in November and go down in January," INDEF researcher Riza Annisa Pujarama stated.          Pujarama stated that inflation in the food sector in December had always been higher than the general inflation in the past eight years. Food prices usually begin to crawl up in November and reach their peak in December.          Hence, the Ministry of Trade is deploying 260 personnel to check the available stocks of basic necessities and prices across the country.       "If there is scarcity in stocks, we should ensure that the commodities are supplied to regions facing shortage, so there would be no reason to increase the prices," Secretary General of the Trade Ministry Karyanto Surih stated on Tuesday (Nov 13).

GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN CREATIVE ECONOMY

By Andi Abdussalam

    Jakarta, Nov 13 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is focusing on developing the creative industry as a backbone of the country's economy, with most of the small- and medium-scale businesses being the industry's players.

         Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) Ricky J. Pesik stated at the opening of the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) in Bali last week (Nov 6) that most of the creative economy players in Indonesia are small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

         "They, creative economic players, rely on Bekraf to find solutions to the challenges that threaten their business, and I believe international cooperation is the key and the solution to their problem," Pesik noted in Nusa Dua, Bali.

         Hence, Indonesia hosted the WCCE, the first world-level conference to discuss the creative economy.

         Natural resources are dwindling, and countries around the world are moving from commodity-dependent economies to economies that rely on ideas or creative economy. After all, the creative economy has contributed significantly to economic development.

CAD EXPECTED TO GO DOWN IN Q4 0F 2018

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 11 (Antara) - The high  current account deficit (CAD) of 8.8 billion or about 3.37 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the third quarter of 2018 is expected to decline in  the fourth quarter of the year.          According to Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution, the effectiveness of the government's policy in boosting exports and reducing imports to narrow the deficit of the current account could be seen in the fourth quarter.          The relatively high economic growth which reached 5.17 percent in the third quarter of 2018 had triggered increase in the demand for imported goods and widened the current account deficit.          The current account deficit in the third quarter of 2018 was recorded at 8.8 billion, or about 3.37 percent of GDP. This was higher than  the CAD in the second quarter which was only $8.0 billion or 3.02 percent of the GDP.         Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that one of the causes of the high current account deficit in quarter III of 2018 was the increasing demand for imported goods. Import value in the period was recorded at US$49.72 billion.

COAL PRICE DECLINE CONTRIBUTES TO INDONESIA'S CAD

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 10 (Antara) - The decline in the prices of coal in the world market is also believed to contribute to the widening of the country's current account deficit (CAD) in the third quarter of 2018.         The price of coal has been declining over the past three months this year and is currently set at US$94.90 per ton. It declined from $100.89 and $104.81 per ton in October and September, respectively, and $107.83 per ton in August.          According to Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, coal was one of the commodities that affected the decline in export performance in August 2018 against July 2018.          "Exports are declining compared to last month, which is caused as we stopped coal trade. We have asked traders to stop coal exports. Now, we allow them to export it again," Lukita stated, after attending the Synchronization of Consumer Protection Policy event in Jakarta, on Monday (Sept 9).           The Minister of Trade explained that the trade balance deficit of $8.8 billion in August 2018 was also influenced by the sale of coal, which was prioritized for domestic market only, and was carried out based on the policy of domestic market obligation.

GOVERNMENT TO OPTIMIZE USE OF COAL IN ENERGY MIX

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 9 (Antara) - Indonesia has large coal reserves of some nine billion tons, or some 1.2 percent of the world's total deposits, yet they should be exploited commercially in an environment-friendly manner to avoid its negative impact.          Most importantly, coal is still a potential mining resource needed to develop energy, generate electricity, and produce energy mix. Hence, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is optimizing the use of coal in the national energy mix.          A change in the use of energy sources is estimated in 2025, with coal utilization at 33 percent; natural gas, 30 percent; petroleum, 21 percent; and other forms of energy, 17 percent. This awareness arises, as oil reserves are depleting and will run out someday.          "We admit coal is a fast step in providing primary energy. The government does not remain silent about what is there," Deputy Minister of ESDM Arcandra Tahar noted in a written statement received by Antara in Jakarta on Sunday (Nov 4).          He added that currently, the government continues to make various strategic efforts to ensure an optimal energy mix in power generation. This is in line with the government's mission to create a clean environment and achieve the national economic growth targets.

COAL BUSINESS REMAINS PROSPECTIVE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 8 (Antara) - Coal business happened to be sluggish in the 2012-2015 period because coal prices in the world market fell sharply, but it has begun to crawl up since early 2017.         Though prices of coal fluctuate, yet businesses still see good prospect in coal business. PT Indika Energy, for example, is of the view that coal remains prospective and the company's mainstay.          "We have subsidiaries engaged in various fields such as oil and gas, power plants, and coal," PT Indika Energy's Managing Director & CEO Azis Armand told reporters in Jakarta recently.           One of the company's subsidiaries managing coal is Kideco, located in Paser, East Kalimantan. The concession area is 50,921 hectares. It remains optimistic with the coal business.           To date, domestic market Obligation (DMO) has reached 25 percent of total production, with an average production of 2.5 to 2.6 million tons per month with a production target of 34 million tons at the end of the year.

INDONESIA NEEDS TO BOOST EXPORTS OF RATTAN PRODUCTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 8 (Antara) - Indonesia is the largest rattan producer in the world and has some 40 types of rattan that can be tapped commercially, but industries at home still use only about six to seven types of them.          According to Deputy General Chair of the Indonesian Rattan Entrepreneurs Association Julius Hoesan, rattan industries currently use only some five to 10 percent of the total potential of sustainable Indonesian rattan resources.          The potential of sustainable Indonesian raw rattan is 630 thousand tons per year. When processed into semi-finished goods, it stood at 250 thousand tons per year. There are still many that are unused by the industry.          Thus, Indonesia still has huge rattan potential that can be exploited commercially, especially to increase its rattan-based product exports.     Indonesia was a major exporter of raw rattan products in the past, but it stopped its raw rattan exports in 2011, encouraging local industries to process the commodity at home to gain added values before they are exported.

ACEH UPBEAT ABOUT SUPPLYING RAW RATTAN TO CIREBON

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 7 (Antara) - Aceh province has expressed its readiness to supply raw rattan to rattan-based product manufacturers in West Java's Cirebon District and serve as one of the raw rattan producers in Indonesia besides Kalimantan and Sulawesi.          Raw rattan has been the subject of business bickering between rattan farmers, collectors, or entrepreneurs and rattan handicraft industry at home.          Raw rattan producers claimed that home industry was still unable to absorb their stock, and hence they fight for exporting the goods. Meanwhile, rattan-based manufacturers often complain of shortage of raw rattan stock.          After all, the government has lifted the Trade Minister's Regulation (Permendag) No. 35 Year of 2011, which banned the export of raw rattan and its semi-finished rattan products.          Now, the rule in force is the Trade Minister's Regulation No. 38 Year of 2017 on the second amendment of Permendag No.84 Year of 2016 concerning the provisions on the export of forestry and industry products.

PROGRAMS KEY TO RESTORING DISASTER VICTIMS' NORMAL LIFE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 6 (Antara) - Recovery programs should cover the three critical areas of shelter, food, and sources of income, as thousands of quake victims, who lost their homes and livelihoods in Central Sulawesi, are in dire need of them.          Hence, the central and regional governments are immediately preparing locations to relocate communities that have lost their homes. The area needed for relocation is one thousand to 1,500 hectares (ha), with the calculation made for constructing 16 thousand permanent residential houses.          During a limited meeting at the Vice Presidential Office, Vice President Jusuf Kalla held a discussion with Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola on accelerated recovery efforts to handle the impacts of earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction in Palu, Sigi, and Donggala.          The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also launched a recovery program to help more than 70 thousand Indonesian farmers and fishermen following the quake and tsunami natural disasters in Central Sulawesi.          The FAO program is aimed at providing assistance to the victims, who have lost their sources of income and livelihoods.

VILLAGE FUNDS FREE PEOPLE FROM SHACKLES OF POVERTY

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 5 (Antara) - One of the government programs considered successful is the village fund, which is aimed at financing  labor-intensive program in villages, to help reduce poverty and improve the welfare of villagers across the country.         The village fund program has been launched over the past four years. Since 2015, the government has channeled some Rp187 trillion in funds for village development. The program has been successful in reducing the poverty rate in the country.          According to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), thanks to the village fund program, the poverty rate in villages had declined two folds compared to that in cities, owing to the allocation of the funds for development in villages.          "Some 1.2 million villagers have been freed from the shackles of poverty," Jokowi remarked, while addressing a function on highlighting the need to prioritize the utilization of the 2019 village fund and evaluation of development policy and empowerment of villagers, in Banten Province.         The success of the village fund program is also lauded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Gilbert Houngbo. In a press statement, Houngbo noted that the village fund program not only brought about a transformation to benefit all parties in village areas but is also a strategy in line with the IFAD program to develop villages through the farming sector.

CIREBON KEEN TO EXPAND RATTAN BUSINESS TO PALU

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 4 (Antara) - Though it is not a raw rattan producer,  Cirebon, a district town in West Java, is one of the country's rattan-based production centers and is well known for its rattan furniture and handicraft products.         At the same time, Palu in Central Sulawesi, is the largest raw rattan producer in the country.  Hence,  Cirebon rattan entrepreneurs who are members of the Indonesian Furniture and Handicraft Industry Association (Himki) are eager to expand their business to the area with abundant rattan raw materials, namely Palu.         After all, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto advised that  rattan processing industry operating in Java should expand their business to Palu, Central Sulawesi. "We want to invite  furniture industry in Cirebon to go to Palu and see abundant source of rattan raw material there," he said when visiting several furniture factories in Cirebon on Saturday (Nov 3).          Moreover, rattan industry in Central Sulawesi has yet to be developed to its maximum potential. The establishment of the Central Sulawesi National Rattan Innovation Center (Pirnas) three years ago is, however, expected to boost the development of national rattan industries through the availability of new rattan furniture designs and services.

INDONESIA NEEDS EFFICIENCY IN SUGAR PRODUCTION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 3 (Antara) - Indonesia, which has extensive and fertile land, should logically be able to maintain its sugarcane plantations and sugar mills efficiently, in order to meet the need for sugar of its people.          However, so far, the government still has to import the commodity to meet about 50 percent of its people's need, particularly sugar for industry.          The problem that the country's sugar business is facing is the inefficiency of most of its sugar mills. Additionally, the sucrose content of the country's sugarcane and the competitiveness of its sugar production are both low.          White sugar production by the country's sugar mills is only about 2.7 to 3 million tons per annum or only about 50 percent of the need at about 5 to 6 million tons. Thus, the balance should be covered by imports.     The production of the sugar factories was affected partly due to the condition of the old mills. Hence, the Ministry of State-owned Enterprises (SOE) announced last year that it was planning, beginning in 2018, to shut down 23 of the 45 sugar mills in Java in stages by 2020.          According to the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS), the national sugar mills should increase the competitiveness of sugarcane farmers' production by increasing the sucrose content of their canes.

INDONESIA SHOULD MAKE ALL-OUT EFFORTS TO ERADICATE MEASLES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 2 (Antara) - Measles and rubella are life-threatening conditions, as they are highly contagious viral diseases that can prove fatal for those affected, particularly children, or also adults.          To this end, Indonesia is determined to eradicate the diseases by 2020.          "I fully support the national campaign on immunization to protect children from measles and rubella," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated during the launch of a national campaign on Measles and Rubella Immunization at a function in Sleman, Yogyakarta, last August.          Through the program, the Indonesian government has set a target to administer measles and rubella vaccination to 95 percent of the children in at least 28 provinces across the country.          Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO), the technical agency responsible for coordination of immunization and surveillance activities, has chalked out a global action plan through which the organization has targeted to eliminate measles and rubella in five WHO regions by 2020.          Hence, President Jokowi has expressed hope that Indonesia will be free from the contagious diseases by 2020.