RI INTRODUCES GREEN CARS AT APEC

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 4 (Antara) - While hosting the current APEC Summit in Bali, Indonesia, which is developing electric and bio-fuel powered vehicles, is introducing its green vehicles to delegates by fielding eco-friendly buses to transport those in attendance.          The Indonesian government has provided 100 biodiesel-powered buses to transport the flow of delegates and journalists at the meeting venue in the Nusa Dua area, located in the country's tourist resort province of Bali.           The four state institutions involved in the launching of the green cars are the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, and the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).          "The use of biodiesel buses reflects Indonesia's commitment to establishing a green economy," said Industry Minister MS Hidayat during the launch of the buses on Friday.           Apart from helping the environment, the use of green products such as biodiesel, coming from Indonesia's palm oil plantations, can lead to the creation of more jobs," he added.           It was noted that in the development of environmentally friendly vehicles the government involved the country's businesses.           According to Wisnu Wardhana, chairman of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the government and businesses are working closely to ensure energy sustainability to support Indonesia's commitment to the continuation of sustainable development programmes.          He said that the 100 eco-friendly buses were powered by a combination of palm oil fuel and electricity.          Industry Minister MS Hidayat noted that the launch of environmentally friendly cars reflects the government's commitment to the usage of green vehicles, starting at the APEC Summit in Bali.

FARMERS BEING ENCOURAGED TO BOOST SOYBEAN PRODUCTION

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 30 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is encouraging farmers in various regions in the country to increase soybean production in an attempt to reduce import of the commodity, which could reach 1.8 million tonnes per annum.          For this purpose, the Ministry of Agriculture hopes that the country's soybean production centers such as Central Lombok and Bisma districts in West Nusa Tenggara Province will consistently maintain and increase their soybean production.          Minister for Agriculture expressed his hope when he attended a soybean grand harvest in Sukarara Village, Jonggat Subdistrict, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) on Sunday.          NTB is keen to maintain itself as one of the country's soybean production centers. If the province is able to produce up to one million tonnes of soybean every year, it would be helpful in reducing the import of the commodity.          "The Ministry of Agriculture challenged NTB to maintain its status as a national soybean production center, urging it to prove its production capacity of one million tonnes by 2014," said spokesperson for the NTB Regional Government Tri Budi Prayitno in NTB Provincial Capital Mataram on Sunday.          Agriculture Minister Suswono, accompanied by Food Crop Director General at the Ministry of Agriculture Undoro Kasih, NTB Governor TGH M Zainul Majidi and other relevant officials, attended the soybean grand harvest, which covered an area of 70 thousand hectares in the province.

RI TO FIGHT FOR INCLUSION OF CPO INTO APEC'S LIST

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 28 (Antara) - Indonesia will fight for the inclusion of crude palm oil (CPO) onto the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) List of Environmentally-Friendly Goods during next week's APEC summit in Bali.         Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said that Indonesia would take its rubber and crude palm oil products to the APEC forum for discussion so that they would be included among the list of goods which enjoy tariff reductions.         "We set a target, that by 2015 our agro-industry products would be included among environmentally-friendly goods and would enjoy a maximum tariff reduction," the trade minister said, during a discussion with journalists at the Ministry of Trade on Thursday.         In September 2012, leaders and representatives from 21 member economies of APEC approved a list of 54 environmentally -friendly goods at their summit in Vladivostok, Russia, which will receive tariff reductions of up to 5 percent by 2015.         However, CPO, one of Indonesia's mainstay products, was not included in the list.

RI MUST TAP ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM APEC EVENTS

BY Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 28 (Antara) - Indonesia must exploit the potential of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), with its 21 economies controlling about 50 percent of world trade and contributes 56 percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP).          "For Indonesia, APEC is an important economic grouping. It has to increase, or at least keep its exports to the region from decreasing," Trade Deputy Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi said on Friday.          The value of Indonesia's exports to countries grouped in APEC reached US$140 billion, accounting for about 69.8 percent of total Indonesian exports.  "Yet, we still suffer a deficit of US$7 billion in our trade with them. We should take this into account," noted Bayu.          Since the APEC region hosts 40 percent, or about 2.8 billion, of the world population, about 55-60 percent of the world trade volume is controlled by APEC economies.          Thus, Indonesia, which is hosting the APEC leaders' summit in Bali next week, should benefit from the regional economic cooperation and work to guarantee that its economic growth is maintained.          "We should assure that it will help us maintain our economic growth. We should continue to play an active role so that policies to be taken during the APEC talks will live up to our interests," Bayu Krisnamurthi said.

SECURITY TIGHTENED FOR APEC SUMMIT IN BALI

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 27 (Antara) - The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and National Police have begun deploying personnel and equipment to secure the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bali next week.          At least 15 warships have been deployed in the waters off Bali, while the TNI and the National Police are planning to field at least 11 thousand personnel, apart from 16 Sukhoi fighter planes, F-16 fighter jets and M-17 warplanes.          Meanwhile, the Bali Regional Police is also launching operations prior to the summit's opening  in an effort to prevent incidents in the run-up to the APEC Summit, which will last from October 1 to 8, 2013.          "We have been launching a precondition and a prevention operation, specifically carried out by the Bali Regional Police personnel," Bali Regional Police Chief Brig, Gen. Albertus Julius Benny Mokalu said in Jakarta on Friday.

SUGAR PRODUCTION EXPECTED TO DROP AGAIN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 25 (Antara) - In contrast to the government's target to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar at the end of its five-year term in 2014, sugar production in the country has continued to drop over the last three years.          Director of the Indonesian Sugar Plantation Research Centre Aris Toharisman said on Tuesday that the national sugar production is expected to drop by 10-20 percent this year compared with the same period last year.          With only three months of the milling season remaining, national sugar production is not likely to exceed 2.3 million tonnes. "The national sugar production during last year's milling season had reached 2.6 million tonnes. This year, the production will fall below that," added Aris.          The government has set itself a target of achieving sugar self-sufficiency by 2014 to meet the country's annual need for sugar, amounting to about five million tonnes.          However, over the last three years, the country's sugar production has continued to decrease, forcing the government to revise and reduce its annual production target.          The government lowered its sugar production target from 2.7 million tonnes to 2.57 million tonnes in 2011. Yet, by the end of 2011, it managed to produce only 2.26 million tonnes of sugar. And last year, too, it sharply cut its production target from 4.4 million tonnes to 2.6 million tonnes.

IIMS SHOWCASES LATEST AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 24 (Antara) - The nine-day Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2013, being held at the JI-Expo Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, until September 29, 2013, is showcasing automotive products developed using the latest technology.           Johnny Darmawan, chief organiser of the IIMS 2013, who is also the co-chairman of the Indonesian Motor Vehicle Industries Association (Gaikindo), said this year's IIMS is an exhibition of the latest technological innovations in the automotive sector.           "We are showcasing the latest technological innovations in the automotive sector and intend to transform the IIMS into a platform for automotive experts to meet and exchange ideas," said Johnny. He expects this year's IIMS transaction to be higher than last year, when the value stood at Rp4 trillion.           Industry Minister MS Hidayat said the automotive exposition is expected to convey to the public that amid the economic slowdown, the real sector, particularly the automotive sector, is not adversely affected.           "I want to prove through this expo that the real sector, automotive in particular, is not disturbed," added MS Hidayat while receiving the organisers of IIMS 2013.           Darmawan pointed out that a total of 36 automotive agents and 276 supporting industries are taking part in the show, and there will be 300 exhibition stands.          Automotive companies taking part in the IIMS 2013 include Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Daihatsu.