RI NEEDS TO WIN GLOBAL MARKET FOR ITS HERBAL PRODUCTS

Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 9 (Antara) - Owning about 7 thousand varieties of medicinal plants, Indonesia has a great potential in tapping overseas market for its herbal medicines and herbal-based cosmetics products.          Indonesia has at least 3 thousand types of herbal medicines, locally known as "jamu." Jamu has long been used as a popular alternative treatment in Indonesia for various health concerns.        Besides being used to produce jamu, Indonesia's medicinal plants are also used to produce herbal-based cosmetics.          About 75 percent of the cosmetics products sold domestically are herbal based. Herbal medicines and cosmetics are local products that have a great potential to win global markets. Moreover, in recent years, Indonesia's cosmetics exports have continued to increase.          Indonesia's cosmetics exports in 2012 had increased to Rp9 trillion, threefolds of that in the previous year, which stood at Rp3 trillion. Domestic sales also rose to Rp11.2 trillion in 2013, up from Rp9.7 trillion in 2012.          Pharmaceutical expert Prof. Edi Meiyanto of the Yogyakarta-based Gajah Mada University stated that all sides, particularly those concerned with the issuance of regulations, need to support efforts of widening the market zones of herbal medicines and cosmetics.

RI WORKS WITH GLOBAL PARTNERS TO DEVELOP MARINE SECTOR

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 9 (Antara) - With a blue economic concept, Indonesia is developing its marine and fisheries sectors through global partners to face global food challenges and free trade era.          "The world is currently facing a food security challenge in feeding its population which by 2050 will reach about nine billion.   Indonesia is considered consistent in accelerating the development of its national marine and fisheries sectors in the framework of blue growth," Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo said on Monday.          According to data obtained from the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), it is estimated that by the year 2030, almost two-thirds of the consumption of fishery products in the world will come from the fishery sub-sector.          The Asian region, including South Asia, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan, are projected to meet 70 percent of the global fish demand.          In response to this issue, Indonesia, the World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are holding a workshop on Blue Growth Global Alliance and Food Security to work out a work plan to be forwarded to the "6th Annual BlueTech and Blue Economy" Summit in November this year.

INDONESIAN CLERICS TO VERIFY PLANS TO REMOVE PROPHET TOMB

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 6 (Antara) - A delegation of scholars and clerics from the largest Indonesian Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), will travel to Saudi Arabia to ask for clarification about reports that the Prophet Muhammad's tomb is to be removed.          "The team will meet and coordinate with Muslim clerics and the government of Saudi Arabia. The team will verify the truth of the news on the plan to relocate the tomb of the Prophet, an issue that has always surfaced and raised concerns of Muslims all over the world," said Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar in a written statement received by Antara on Friday.          The PKB, as part of the representatives of the Ahlussunah Wal-Jamaah Sunni Muslims in Indonesia, will also seek official statements and assurances from the Government of Saudi Arabia that it would never remove the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad.          The delegation of Muslim clerics and scholars will be sent by the Muslim-based political party PKB.          "The official Statement of the Government of Saudi Arabia is vital to end debate on grave removal plans of the tomb of the Prophet. If the Government of Saudi Arabia does not immediately issue an official statement about the plans to remove the tomb, then it would invite uncertainty and create seeds of conflict among Muslims all over the world," Muhaimin said.

PROSPECT OF INDONESIAN CPO REMAINS BRIGHT

 By Andi Abdussalam 

          Jakarta, Sept 6 (Antara) - Indonesian oil palm farmers should not worry about the current fall in the crude palm oil (CPO) prices in the global market, as the commodity can be absorbed to produce biodiesel domestically.
         As the world's largest CPO producer, with plantation covering some 7.4 million hectares, Indonesia supplies about 44 percent of the world's CPO requirements. Domestic use of raw material for diesel oil production can reduce world supplies and thus leading to price hike in the global market.
         After all, the global need for CPO continues to increase. According to Fadhil Hasan, executive director of the Indonesian Palm Oil Producer Association (GAPKI), the global demand for the product will increase next year benefiting Indonesia.
         So, farmers should not worry about the decline in prices. Moreover, Indonesia is currently launching a program to use CPO as raw material for the production of alternative energy to replace its depleting fossil fuels and to reduce fuel imports.

MUSLIMS WARNED OF EFFORTS TO REMOVE PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S TOMB

 By Andi Abdussalam
          Jakarta, Sept 4 (Antara) - A noted Indonesian Muslim cleric has forewarned the Muslim communities of possible efforts to disunite and create unrest among the Islamic world through plans to remove the Prophet Muhammad's tomb to an anonymous site.
         "It is possible that the proposal to remove the tomb is a maneuver launched by a certain group to create unrest among the Muslim communities," Hasyim Muzadi, former general chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and secretary general of the International Conference of Islamic Scholars, said on Wednesday.
         He made the remarks in response to a report by London-based The Independent on Monday, September 1, 2014, on a proposal by a leading Saudi academic Dr Ali bin Abdulaziz al-Shabal of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh to remove the Prophet's grave.
         The Saudi academic had made the proposal through a 61-page document, which calls for the removal of the Prophet Mohammad's remains to the nearby Al-Baqi cemetery, where it will be interred anonymously.

RI MUST BE PREPARED TO COMPETE IN BORDERLESS LABOR MARKET

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 3 (Antara) - As a populous nation of about 240 million, Indonesia has to prepare its human resources to face stiff competition in a borderless labor market, particularly in the era of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).          Although it is rich in human resources, Indonesia has yet to improve their quality and equip them with competence-based certifications or else, as a large county with rich natural resources, it will only become a manpower market for other nations.          Even educated workers will face tough competition, let alone if the education system fails to be at par with the skills required in the job market. Indonesia continues to churn out new workforce, including those with adequately high education degrees.          Yet, the question arises whether the country's human resources are now able to face competition in the global market, or at least in the AEC, which will come into effect at the end of 2015.          Economic analyst Aviliani of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) expressed concern whether Indonesian workers will now be able to face the borderless manpower market in the era of global competition.

SOME HOPE NEXT GOVT TO NOT RAISE FUEL PRICE

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Sept 2 (Antara) - Amid determination of president-elect Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to raise subsidized fuel price that has burdened state budget, some still believe this situation will not occur, as it will affect the livelihood of the people.          After all, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP)--which will become the ruling party after the current government ends its tenure in October--has always opposed the government's plans to increase subsidized fuel prices in the past.          Therefore, Jokowi should be consistent with the stance taken by PDIP, which had always rejected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's plan to increase subsidized fuel prices.          "Although it is still in discourse, it has served as a challenge for Jokowi and PDIP to try to be consistent with the argument that they have raised over the last ten years," stated Lucky Djani, the director of Strategic Initiative Institute, on Monday.          Jokowi, who had paired with Jusuf Kalla and won the July 9 presidential election, will be installed as the new president on October 20, 2014, succeeding President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.