Upload
lebao
View
216
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
I N D O N E S I A NEWSLETTER
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA AMBASADA REPUBLICII INDONEZIA
BUCHAREST
010/ Octombrie 08 STRADA ORLANDO NO.10 SECTOR 1 , BUCHAREST
TELP. :+40 .21-3120742—44 / FAX : 3120214
2
AMBASADA REPUBLICII
INDONEZIA
Adresa : Str. Orlando nr.10, sector 1
Bucuresti, România Tel. 3120742 / 43 / 44
Fax. 312.02.14
Email: [email protected]
Website :
www.indonezia.ro
Publicat de: Ambasada Republicii Indonezia
Director/Redactor sef: Ishlah R. Abdullah
Coordonator:
Ishlah R. Abdullah
Colaboratori: Eddy Mulya ;
Pratiwi Amperawati ; Harry R.Iwawan ;
Fattah Hardiwinangun Tri Murniati;
Purno Wirawan
Colectivul de redactie: Agus Tata S ;
Dedin MN : Chandra L.
Secretar de redactie: Agus Tata Suprapta
Sectia difuzare:
Agus Tata Suprapta Supri Martin Diauw
Rice Fields in Bali Island
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
3
CONTENTS BILATERAL – REGIONAL 1. RI, China To Sign Cooperation On Fisheries Advertising 2. Former Indonesian Envoy Chairs Interfaith Confab In Geneva 3. New Zealand Lauds RI's Role In Creating AANZFTA 4. President Hopes DPR To Ratify ASEAN Charter Before December 5. UN Says Indonesia Successful In Consolidating Peace ECONOMY 1. RI's On-Year Inflation Reaches 11.85 Pct In August 2. RI Sees Another Trade Deficit Of $270 Million In July 3. RI's 2008 Inflation To Reach 12.2 Pct: Economist 4. Indonesia Lacking In Oil Experts 5. Two Middle Eastern Banks Intending To Open Shariah Units In RI 6. Central Kalimantan's Earnings From CPO Exports Up 100 Pct Plus 7. North Sulawesi Fishery Exports Reach Us$45.23 Million 8. Sumatra Has Potentials To Become World Woven Cloth Tourist Destination 9. PT Pal Receives Orders To Build 21 Ships Worth Rp3.8 Trillion 10. RI's Textile, Textile Product Exports Up 6.16 Pct 11. Trade Minister : RI Should Increase Exports To Asian Countries 12. Aceh's Coffee Exports Jump 55 Pct 13. N. Sumatra Coffee Exports Reach Us$128.32 Million DIVERSE 1. First Lady : RI Women's Participation In Politics Still Limited 2. Official: Indonesia Is Known As a Mega-Biodiversity Country 3. RI Naval Patrol Arrests 459 Foreign Vessels In This Year's First Semester 4. RI Calls For Protection Of Traditional Knowledge 5. Solo To Conserve 30 Ancient Batik Houses 6. Three Sukhoi Jet Fighters To Be Assembled In Makassar 7. Papua's Cultural Art Handi-Crafts On Bring Of Extinction 8. President Inaugurates Makassar's Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport 9. Indonesia's Corruption Perception Index Improves TOURISM 1. More Than 3.47 Million Tourists Visit RI Until July 2. NTB Travel Operators Establish Lombok Travel Club 3. Journalists From 14 Countries Visiting North Sulawesi 4. VP Optimistic RI Tourism Industry To Fare Better 5. Minister Jero Wacik Calls On Japan To Invest In Indonesia's Tourism Sector 6. VP To Help Accelerate Construction Of Lombok Int'l Airport 7. RI's Stand Gets Tourism Fair Award In Poland
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
4
1. RI, CHINA TO SIGN COOPERATION ON
FISHERIES ADVERTISING
Beijing - The Indonesian and Chinese governments will
sign a document on advertising cooperation, especially
for fishery products, in order to increase the trade vol-
ume between the two countries, an embassy official
said here, Monday.
“The text of the cooperation on advertising has already
been discussed, and now we are awaiting the two sides
to sign the documents" vice head of Indonesia's repre-
sentative mission in Beijing, Mohamad Oemar said.
Oemar said he himself has also did not know yet as to
who will represent Indonesia in the signing ceremony,
whether is it going to be an official of the Ministry of
Marine Affairs and Fisheries or not.
Meanwhile, China will be represented by it's Inspection
and Quarantine Agency (AQSIQ).
Despite the uncertainty, Oemar said this cooperation,
for certain, will play a significant role for both Indonesia
and China.
The biggest advantage is to prevent mutual rejection of
fishery produce, as has been done in the
past.Indonesia's fishery products were rejected by
AQSIQ due to insufficiency of health standards.
The bilateral cooperation will also put Indonesia in a
position as a well-developed country in international
health standards implementation, not only to China but
to other importers as well. (Antara, 09-09-08)
2. FORMER INDONESIAN ENVOY CHAIRS INTERFAITH CONFAB IN GENEVA
London - Former Indonesian ambassador/ permanent
representative to the UN in Geneva, Makarim Wibisono,
chaired the just-ended conference on interfaith coop-
eration and the protection of human rights and dignity at
the UN Headquarters in Geneva on Sept 1-2.
The conference was aimed at creating peace and build-
ing solidarity among adherents of different faiths as well
as at improving the protection of human rights and dig-
nity, First Secretary of the Indonesian Permanent Rep-
resentative in Geneva, Kamapradipta Ismono said in a
press statement on Wednesday.
Makarim chaired the meeting in his capacity as presi-
dent and co-founder of the Geneva Interfaith Intercul-
tural Alliance (GIIA) and his role in the alliance would
hopefully contribute to the UN Human Rights Council in
the form of peace and solidarity messages, Ismono
said.
The two-day conference which featured 12 young fig-
ures representing different religious groups brought
together 180 participants including diplomats, academi-
cians, churchmen, churchwomen, and theologists. The
conference adopted an Interfaith Declaration on Peace
and Human Rights calling for close cooperation be-
tween world leaders and religious figures to create
peace and tolerance among adherents of different
faiths.
The declaration also called on governments all over the
world to introduce curricula on the need to apply inter-
faith relations based on peace and tolerance.
The declaration will be delivered to the UN Security
Council, the UN Human Rights Council and other UN
bodies for approval. (Antara, 04.09.08)
3. NEW ZEALAND LAUDS RI'S ROLE IN CREATING AANZFTA
Jakarta - New Zealand has lauded Indonesia's role in
negotiations to create an ASEAN-Australia-New Zea-
land Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), the Indonesian For-
eign Ministry said.
New Zealand Trade Minister/Defense Minister Phil Goff
voiced the appreciation at a diplomatic reception to
mark the 63rd anniversary of Indonesia's independence
at the Indonesian embassy in Wellington this week, the
ministry said in a statement on Friday.
In the event which brought together at least 600 invit-
ees, Warren Searell of the New Zealand Foreign Minis-
try congratulated the Indonesian government and peo-
ple on independence day and reiterated Indonesia's
BILATERAL—REGIONAL
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
5
strategic position for his country.Indonesia which is the
world's third largest democratic country and largest
Muslim nation played a significant role both in the re-
gion and the world, he said.
Former New Zealand ambassador to Indonesia Tim
Grosser meanwhile praised Indonesia for its success in
building a strong democratic nation.Grosser expressed
hope that the New Zealand government would soon be
aware of Indonesia's potentials and significance both for
the country and the region.
In his address, Indonesian Ambassador to New Zea-
land Amris Hassan spoke of developments in the Indo-
nesia-New Zealand relations which had been in exis-
tance since 50 years ago.
He said both countries had so far established coopera-
tion in various forums such as the Asia-Pacific Eco-
nomic Cooperation (APEC), ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF), and East Asia Summit, not to mention coopera-
tion in international issues such as interfaith dialogue
and alliance of civilizations and global inter-media dia-
logue. (Antara, 13.09.08)
4. PRESIDENT HOPES DPR TO RATIFY ASEAN CHARTER BEFORE DECEMBER
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has
expressed hope that the House of Representatives
(DPR) will ratify the ASEAN Charter before the ASEAN
Summit is held in Bangkok next December.
As the co-founder of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia should also lead
other ASEAN member states in ratifying the charter, the
president said before participants of the 41st regular
education course of the National Resilience Institute
(Lemhanas) at the State Palace here on Monday.
"As the head of state, I hope that (DPR) will ratify the
ASEAN Charter before the ASEAN Summit is held in
Bangkok next December," he said.
In one of their recommendations, the participants of the
course proposed that Indonesia ratify the charter soon
as part of efforts to strengthen the integrity of the Uni-
tary Republic of Indonesia.
In response, Yudhoyono said the proposal should also
be conveyed to the House.
Early last week, the Thai Senata agreed to ratify the
charter, making Indonesia and the Philippines the last
two ASEAN member states that have yet to ratify the
charter signed by the 10 ASEAN heads of state/
government at the ASEAN Summit in Singapore in
November 2007.
ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said at the
weekend he was optimistic Indonesia and the Philip-
pines would soon ratify the charter before the regional
grouping convened its 14th summit in Bangkok in De-
cember.
So far, eight of 10 ASEAN member states --Singapore,
Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar
and Thailand--have submitted their ratificaton instru-
ments on the ASEAN Charter to the ASEAN secretary
general.
Meanwhile, the charter is still being deliberated by both
Indonesian and Philippine parliaments.
The ASEAN charter establishes the group as a legal
entity, creating permanent representation for members
at its secretariat in Jakarta and committing heads of
state to meetings twice a year. (Antara, 23.09.08)
5. UN SAYS INDONESIA SUCCESSFUL IN CONSOLIDATING PEACE
Jakarta - The United Nations said here Indonesia has
successfully consolidated peace and prevented con-
flicts in the past test.
The judgment was submitted by the UN representative
for Indonesia El Mustafa Benlamlih on behalf of the UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon during the Peace Day
jubilee in Jakarta, Tuesday (Sept 23).
"The people and government of Indone-sia must be
proud of what had been done in the past ten years and
its contribution to global peace," Benlamlih read the
massage to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and
the cabinet. "Indonesia had successfully gone through a
transition to democracy," he added.
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
6
Indonesia also had established decentralization of the
local governments, solved conflicts in several areas and
used local potentials effectively.
The UN Secretary general in the commemoration of
World Peace Day on September 21 had sent his mas-
sage to all the leaders in the world to unite and fight
against conflicts and hunger, and fight for human
rights. (Antara, 25.09.08)
1. RI'S ON-YEAR INFLATION REACHES 11.85 PCT IN AUGUST
Jakarta - Indonesia's monthly inflation rate in August
2008 reached 0.51 percent, bringing the calendar infla-
tion rate to 9.4 percent and the on-year inflation rate to
11.85 percent, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS)
said.
The August 2008 inflation was mainly the result of a
0.94 percent rise in the prices of foodstuffs and a 1.36
percent increase in the prices of services in the educa-
tion, recreation and sports sectors, BPS Chief Rusman
Heriawan said here on Monday.
"The BPS did not record any increase in transport fares
in August," he said.
The agency noted a rise in the prices of a number of
commodities including fresh fish, chicken meat, eggs,
and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as an in-
crease in senior high school tuition fees contributed a
lot to the August 2008 inflation.
"Although the rise in the prices of LPG was postponed it
had contributed to the August 2008 inflation rate. The
rise in senior high school tuition fees followed an in-
crease in elementary and junior high school tuition fees
a month earlier," he said.
The BPS chief said the prices of a number of ecom-
modities including gold, onion, chili, Pertamax gasoline
and cooking oil fell in August. (Antara, 02.09.08)
2. RI SEES ANOTHER TRADE DEFICIT OF
$270 MILLION IN JULY
Jakarta - Indonesia saw another trade deficit of around
US$270 million in July due in part to a rise in raw mate-
rial and capital goods imports and a drop in foreign ex-
change earnings from crude palm oil exports.
Indonesia's exports in July 2008 grew 25.03 percent to
US$12.55 billion from July 2007 while its monthly im-
ports reached US$12.82 billion, Chief of the Central
Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Rusman Heriawan said here
on Monday.
"Indeed there was an extraordinary rise in imports par-
ticularly to meet demands from bonded zones," he said.
After all, Indonesia in the first seven months of 2008
still enjoyed a surplus of US$5.15 billion from its foreign
trade, he said.
Indonesia's exports in the January-July 2008 period
reached US$83.03 billion while its imports stood at
US$77.88 billion, he said. "But the trend in the surplus
is getting smaller. So if it continues to experience a
downward trend, our balance of trade will in the long run
suffer a deficit," he said.
Earlier in April 2008, Indonesia also saw a trade deficit
of US$520 million.
The BPS chief said the import of raw materials and
capital goods rose in July, giving positive prospects to
industries relying on imported raw materials in the three
months' time.
"The import of raw materials and capital goods showed
a spectacular growth of 78.69 percent and 14.72 per-
cent respectively. Meanwhile, consumer goods only
grew 6.69 percent," he said.
He said Indonesia also recorded another deficit of
US$698 million from its oil and gas trade in July 2008,
bringing to US$1.366 billion the country's deficit from oil
and gas in the seven months of this year.
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
E C O N O M Y
7
Indonesia's oil and gas exports in July 2008 stood at
US$2.874 billion while its oil and gas imports reached
US$3.572 billion.
"Fat and animal oil exports in July plunged US$1.48
billion to US$581 million from US$2.062 billion a month
earlier. The drop was mainly the result of a drop in CPO
exports," he said. (Antara, 02.09.08)
3. RI'S 2008 INFLATION TO REACH 12.2 PCT: ECONOMIST
Jakarta - Indonesia's full-year inflation rate in 2008 is
expected to reach 12.2 percent as the on-month infla-
tion rate in August stood at 0.51 percent, an economist
said.
"The governmment will find it very hard to achieve its
inflation rate target of 11.4 percent set for this year. I
predict the inflation rate would reach 12.2 percent in
view of the current favorable economic developments,"
Ichsanuddin Noorsy of the Indonesia Awakening Team
said here on Monday.
The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said earlier in
the day Indonesia's monthly inflation rate in August
2008 reached 0.51 percent, bringing the calendar infla-
tion rate to 9.4 percent and the on-year inflation rate to
11.85 percent.
The August 2008 inflation was mainly the result of a
0.94 percent rise in the prices of foodstuffs and a 1.36
percent increase in the prices of services in the educa-
tion, recreation and sports sectors, BPS Chief Rusman
Heriawan said.
"The BPS did not record any increase in transport fares
in August," he said.
The agency noted a rise in the prices of a number of
commodities including fresh fish, chicken meat, eggs,
and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as an in-
crease in senior high school tuition fees contributed a
lot to the August 2008 inflation.
"Although the rise in the prices of LPG was postponed it
had contributed to the August 2008 inflation rate. The
rise in senior high school tuition fees followed an in-
crease in elementary and junior high school tuition fees
a month earlier," he said.
The BPS chief said the prices of a number of commodi-
ties including gold, onion, chili, Pertamax gasoline and
cooking oil fell in August.
Ichsanuddin said the inflation remained a "disease" be-
cause of uncertainty in the global economy.
"The uncertainty is expected to continue until the first
semester of 2009 and the prices of commodities will
remain volatile," he said.
The other indication was the persistent steep rise in the
prices of materials for infrastructure projects at home,
he said.
"Meanwhile at the same time the prices of food com-
modities have shown no sign of stability," he added.
The newly-announced rise in the prices of liquefied
petroleum gas would drive up the prices of other goods,
putting a further strain on the inflation rate, he said.
"The multiplier effect of the rise in the prices of LPG will
continue," he said. (Antara, 02.09.08)
4. INDONESIA LACKING IN OIL EXPERTS
Pangkalpinang, - Indonesia is facing a lack of experts in
oil following the limited capacity of higher learning insti-
tutions in the country to produce skilled engineers em-
ployed in foreign oil mining companies.
Prof Dr Sudarto Notosewiyo, Dean of the Mining and Oil
Faculty of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB),
said here on Friday, adding that three higher learning
institutions like ITB, UPN Veteran and Trisakti,
produced only 280 to 300 oil engineers annually.
Ideally, Indonesia needs at least 500 oil engineers each
year to meet the need for foreign oil experts in other
countries.
Many of Indonesian oil experts preferred to work in
other countries because of the much higher wages.
Indonesian oil graduates especially from ITB worked in
many foreign mining companies because their skills are
highly rewarded. "To persuade them to return to Indo-
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
8
nesia, the government needs to offer them an incentive
namely that their salary in Indonesia will be 70 to 80
percent of what they receiced in their overseas emploly-
ment," he said.
A lack of oil experts in Indonesia will cause the high oil
potential in Indonesia to be not optimally tapped.
(Antara, 30.09.08)
5. TWO MIDDLE EASTERN BANKS INTEND ING TO OPEN SHARIAH UNITS IN RI
Jakarta - Two Middle Eastern banks are considering to
open shariah branches in Indonesia and have in this
context already met with Bank Indonesia (BI or central
bank officials , a BI spokesman said.
BI's director for shariah bank affairs Ramzi A Zuhdi said
here Tuesday he met with representatives of Qatar
National Bank (QNB) last August about the latter's in-
tention to set up a shariah bank in Indonesia.
"We only met in August and they are still exploring.
They seemed to be quite enthusiastic but we still don't
know when they will realize their intention," Zuhdi said.
A Kuwaiti bank whose name he did not remember was
also keen on engaging in shariah banking in Indonesa.
"I forgot the name but we also met with representatives
of a Kuwaiti bank," he said.
Zuhdi said BI was hoping many Midddle Eastern inves-
tors would be prepared to open shariah banks in Indo-
nesia. "We hope they will participate in development of
shariah banking here because they have the fianncial
means and wide networks in the Middle East," he said.
With many foreign investors running shariah banks in
Indonesia, it was hoped the specific business would
grow fast "so that our 5-percent growth target for this
sector can be attained." Zudhi said.
Earlier, the president's special envoy for the Middle
East, Alwi Shihab, had said a number of Middle Eastern
investors were interested in operating in the banking
sector in Indonesia. They included QNB and the Ku-
wait Finance House.
Another Kuwaiti bank, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB),
through its subsidiary Asian Finance, has already
opened a branch in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, according to BI data, as per June 1,2008,
shariah banks in Indonesia, had assets totaling
Rp42.981 triliun or 2.11 percent of the overall assets of
conventional banks. (Antara, 03.09.08)
6. CENTRAL KALIMANTAN'S EARNINGS FROM CPO EXPORTS UP 100 PCT PLUS
Palangka Raya - A continuous increase in crude palm
oil (CPO) production in Central Kalimantan this year
resulted in a doubling of the province's income from the
commodity's export, a local statistics official said here
Friday.
Central Kalimantan's CPO exports in the period Janu-
ary-July 2008 reached a total value of 200.52 million
US dollars or 108.61 percent up from the figure in the
same period last year, Dantes Simbolon, head of the
provincial Bureau of Statistics, said.
"The largest contributor to Central Kalimantan's foreign
exchange earnings among its animal and vegetable oils
was CPO while export of wood and wooden things con-
tributed 59.36 million US dollars," Simbolon said.
He said an increase in CPO exports also happened last
July when they brought in 12.35 million US dollars even
though during the month exports were dominated by
wood and wooden items.
Shipment of Central Kalimantan's export goods was
mostly done through Pangkalan Bun in Kotawaringin
Barat district. In July, 10.67 million US dollars worth of
goods or 88 percent of the province's total exports were
sent overseas via Pangkalan Bun.
"Most of the exports in July went to the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) worth 3.36 million US dollars and to
Qatar worth 2.27 million US dollars," he said.
Dantes earlier said wood exports from Central Kalim-
mantan were tending to decline every year but the op-
posite was the case with CPO exports.
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
9
Central Kalimantan's exports had for a long time been
dominated by wood and wooden items but this condition
had changed since forest exploitation activity declined.
Dantes added several companies prefered to export
their commodities through ports outside Central Kaliman-
tan because local ports had minimum facilities. (Antara,
06.09.08)
7. NORTH SULAWESI FISHERY EXPORTS REACH US$45.23 MILLION
Manado, N Sulawesi - North Sulawesi's exports of fish
and fish products reached a value of US$45.23 million in
the first semester of this year, a local trade official said.
"The income came from exports totaling 20,735.18 tons
of various fish and fish products to various countries in
the world," the head of the local foreign trade service,
Hanny Wajong, said here on Saturday. "The exports
included fingerlings," she said.
Although the value reached US$45.23 the fish and fish
product exports accounted for only around 10 percent of
the value of the province's overall exports, she said.
"Coconut and coconut products still dominate the prov-
ince's exports securing between 60 to 70 percent of the
total export market," she said.
Wajong said fishery exports this year were expected to
be higher than last year in value as well as volume.
"In 2007, the province's fishery exports were recorded at
US$62.27 million so exports so far have reached around
73 percent of it. Therefore we are optimistic this year's
exports will be higher," he said. (Antara, 07.09.08)
8. SUMATRA HAS POTENTIALS TO BECOME WORLD WOVEN CLOTH TOURIST DESTINA-TION
Padang, W Sumatra - Sumatra Island has great poten-
tials to become world tourist destination and woven cloth
research area due to its great number of traditional
woven cloth production centers, a spokesman said.
Such impression was disclosed by 15 world woven cloth
collectors originating from United States and Canada
after visiting several traditional woven cloth centers in
West Sumatra and North Sumatra recently, the "Sumatra
and Beyond" travel bureau director Ridwan Tulus told
Antara here on Saturday.
The 15 world woven cloth collectors were participating in
a tourist visit package called "10 days from west to north
textile tour Sumatra" which was conducted by the
"Sumatra and Beyond" from August 27 to September 5,
2008, he said.
The collectors showed high interest to buy the traditional
woven cloth and even expressed their wish to make the
woven cloth display in textile museums in their countries,
Ridwan said.
They expressed a feeling of amazement particularly on
the Sumatra's traditional woven cloth production mecha-
nism, but yielding high quality products, he said, adding
that the foreign collectors promised to return to Sumatra
in a larger group.
The traditional woven cloth production centers are avail-
able among others in Sawahan Padang, Canduang,
Agam regency, Pandai Sikek and Tanah Datar regencies
in West Sumatra.
In addition, in North Sumatra including the Batak's tradi-
tional Ulos. (Antara, 07.09.08)
9. PT PAL RECEIVES ORDERS TO BUILD 21 SHIPS WORTH RP3.8 TRILLION
Jakarta - State-owned shipbuilding company PT PAL
has received orders to build 21 ships worth Rp3.8 trillion
up to 2009, the company's chief said.
"The projects are already in hand. The next thing we
need to do is meeting the orders," PT PAT president
director Hasusanto said in reply to a reporter's question
here on Monday.
He said orders for ship construction in the world were
now on the rise.
"We have to capitalize on this situation. We should not
reject any order as long as the deadline for construction
is set at after 2012," he said.
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
10
He said China, for example, needed five years to finish a
ship building order.
"So, an order placed now can be completed only after
2012," the PT PAL chief said.
He said PT PAL's shipbuilding construction orders
among others came from Turkey, Germany and Italy.
PT PAL would need at least US$40 million to finance the
cost for the construction of ships in the coming three
years (2010), he added.
The state-owned company is a strategic industry with
technological competitive edge, and is able to build ships
of up to 50,000 dead weight tons (DWT). (Antara,
15.09.08)
10. RI'S TEXTILE, TEXTILE PRODUCT EXPORTS UP 6.16 PCT
Pacitan, E Java - Indonesia's textile and textile product
exports in the first seven months of 2008 rose 6.17 per-
cent to US$6.06 billion from US$5.71 billion in the same
period last year, an Industry Ministry official said.
Textile and textile product exports contributed 22.38 per-
cent of the country's non-oil/non-gas exports and 14.45
percent of industrial product exports over the period, the
ministry's director of industrial and mining product ex-
ports, Hartojo Agus Tjahjono said here on Friday.
In the past five years, textile and textile product exports
contributed 12.45 percent of the non-oil/non-gas exports
and 14.81 percent of the industrial product exports annu-
ally, he said.
He said improving productivity, efficiency and competi-
tiveness was a key to penetrating the increasingly com-
petitive global market for textiles and textile products.
Hartojo Agus was here to present 75 sewing and embroi-
dering machines worth Rp250 million from the ministry to
small and medium enterpreneurs at Gayuhan village.
"This assistance is aimed at supporting SMEs to pro-
duce textile products of high quality," he said.
The aid was symbolically handed over to Pacitan district
head H Sujono.
"Making an efficient and optimum use of sewing and
embroidering machines will help improve the quality of
SMEs' products, increase their capacity and production
which will eventually boost the nearby people's econ-
omy," he said. (Antara, 20.09.08)
11. TRADE MINISTER : RI SHOULD IN CREASE EXPORTS TO ASIAN COUN TRIES
Jakarta - Indonesia should consider increasing the vol-
umes of its exports to other Asian countries such as Ma-
laysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China and India in its strategy
of dealing with the US financial crisis, Trade Minister
Mari Elka Pangestu said here Monday.
"Only 10-12 percent of Indonesia's exports depends on
the US market so we are not affected directly by the
crisis there," the minister said.
Indonesia's position was also supported by the fact that
its exposure to the US market was smaller than those of
other countries.
However, Indonesia should watch the indirect impact of
the US crisis since the other destination countries of its
exports did experience the consequences directly and
had therefore undergone a decline in demand for im-
ported goods, she said.
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
11
The minister suggested that Indonesia widen its over-
seas markets and diversify its exports besides promot-
ing its products and investment opportunities.
"We should maintain the people's purchasing power,"
she said, adding that Indonesia should improve its infra-
structure and maintain its capability to compete with
foreign products.
"In this way, when global conditions get better, we will
be ready to compete," she said. (Antara, 23.09.08)
12. ACEH'S COFFEE EXPORTS JUMP 55 PCT
Banda Aceh - Aceh's Arabica coffee exports in the first
half of this year jumped 55 percent to US$15.22 million
from US$9.81 million in the same period last year, a
spokesman said.
The rise in coffee exports was encouraging as it had
raised local coffee growers' income, Head of the Nang-
groe Aceh Darussalam Provincial Industry, Trade, Coop-
eratives and Small Businesses Office Cipta Hunai said
here on Friday.
Since security conditions in the province became condu-
cive after decades of bloody conflict, local coffee grow-
ers had been encouraged to cultivate coffee on a large
scale, he said.
Arabica coffee used to be Aceh's key non-oil/non-gas
export commodity. But its export volume and value
dropped drastically after the conflict engulfed Indone-
sia's westernmost province.
Aceh's Arabica coffee had recovered since security con-
ditions in Aceh returned to normal following the signing in
Helsinki on August 15, 2005 of a peace deal to put an
end to the conflict, he said.
The coffee exports in the first half of 2008 went to 12
countries. The United States was listed as the biggest
importer of Aceh's Arabica coffee over the period, buying
2.94 million tons worth US$10.5 million. This was fol-
lowed by Canada with 234,300 tons worth US$ 966,450 ,
Meksiko with 216,000 kg worth US$861,940, and Ger-
many with 291,900 worth US$16,770.
(Antara, 26.09.08)
13. N. SUMATRA COFFEE EXPORTS REACH US$128.32 MILLION
Jakarta - North Sumatra earned US$ 128.32 million by
exporting 38,233 tons of coffee seeds and instant coffee
until August 2008, an official said here Friday.
"Arabica coffee still contributed the most or f US$
116.227 million from the export of f 33,542 tons," head of
the Association Of Indonesian Coffee Exporters (AEKI),
North Sumatra chapter, Suyanto Husein said.
Robusta coffee contributed the second largest amount of
foreign exchange while the volume of instant coffee ex-
ported rises every year.
He said the volume of coffee exports tended to decrease
in September to December when the year-end holiday
comes and factories stop production as stocks are high.
"Demand usually rockets at the beginning of the year.
North Sumatra coffee exports, for example, reached
12,000 tons worth US$ 39.3 million in January and Feb-
ruary 2008," he said.
North Sumatra exports its coffee to the US, China, the
N e t h e r l a n d s , S i n g a p o r e a n d M a l a y s i a .
(Antara, 27.09.08)
1. FIRST LADY : RI WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS STILL LIMITED
Jakarta, Aug. - First Lady Ani Yudhoyono said In-
donesian women's participation in politics was still
very limited despite the existence of a law requiring
30 percent of seats in political representation
bodies to be given to women.
Mrs Ani Yudhoyono made the statement at the
Monas (National Monument) here on Saturday
when officially kicking off a two-day exhibition to
mark one decade of Indonesian women's awaken-
ing in conjunction with the centennial of National
Awakening.
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
D I V E R S E
12
"We must admit that the role of women in the politi-
cal field must still be intensified," she said.
She hoped that in the future the number of female
legislators in the country would surpass the quota.
Meanwhile, State Minister of Women's Empower-
ment Meutia Hatta called on political party leaders
to give more opportunities to women so that the 30-
percent quota could be met.
The minister, daughter of Indonesia's former vice
president Mohamad Hatta, also urged women to
improve the quality of their capabilities so that they
would be able to equal their male partners in the
political field.
Meutia, who is also chairperson of the Indonesian
Unity and Justice Party (PKPI), said 45 percent of
her party's legislative nominees were women. If
women were not empowered properly, national
development would be imbalanced because
women were an asset, not a burden nor an
obstacle, to development. (Antara, 31.08.08)
1. OFFICIAL: INDONESIA IS KNOWN AS A MEGA-BIODIVERSITY COUNTRY
Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara - The Directorate
General of Forest and Nature Conservation
(PHKA) of the Forestry Ministry Darori said here
Wednesday that Indonesia was one of the coun-
tries with the highest biodiversity in the world, and
earned the name Megabiodiversification country.
"However, Indonesia is also known as a country
with the highest damage on its biodiversity and
along with some other regions identified as hot
spots for inclusion in conservation programs," he
said.
In the National Dialogue of Gunung Rinjani
(Lombok) Geopark, he stated that the national
park had an important role to play in reducing the
loss of biodiversity. Therefore, we need to manage
and protect these areas.
"In relation to the proposal to UNESCO for making
Gunung Rinjani as the first Geopark in Indonesia,
principally we support it," he said.
Moreover, Darori said that a geopark would provide
a platform for active cooperation between experts
and geologists. Through the continuity of imple-
menting tourism programs, the geoparks would
give local people benefits.
In a geopark framework, knowledge about geology
is shared with the public. Furthermore, a geopark is
not only about its geological condition, but also re-
lated to its natural and cultural surroundings.
According to Darori, the framework is relevant to a
national park's management as an ecotourism
area. In this case, a national geopark and people
around it constitute a unity which needed to be
managed together for the sake of local culture and
economic development. (Antara, 18.09.08)
3. RI NAVAL PATROL ARRESTS 459 FOR EIGN VESSELS IN THIS YEAR'S FIRST SEMESTER
Batam - During the first semester of 2008, the Indo-
nesian Western Fleet intercepted and stopped 459
foreign vessels in Indonesian waters for alleged
offences. "20-25 of the 459 vessels are still under
intensive investigation," chief of the special naval
unit, Commodore Sugeng Darmawan said here
Tuesday. He said not all of the vessels are still un-
der investigation, because their captains had the
necessary legal documents, and their offences
were minor.
Sugeng said the 20-25 fishing vessels had been
caught red-handed operating in the Natuna waters.
"Mostly are Vietnamese," he said.
(Antara,24.09.08)
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/octombrie 2008
13
4. RI CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF TRADI-TIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Jakarta - Indonesia has urged the world commu-
nity to immediately form a regime to protect ge-
netic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore
(GRTKF).
Law and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalata
made the appeal at an international meeting of the
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
General Assembly in Geneva early this week, the
Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Before the WIPO General Assembly, the world
body's highest law-making forum, Andi praised the
international community for what they had done to
get the regime formed.
Special appreciation also went to the Intergovern-
mental Committee at the WIPO which had 12
times convened meetings to bring the expectation
into reality, the statement said.
After all, the minister said, developments towards
the creation of one or several international protec-
tion instruments had been running very slowly.
Therefore, Indonesia urged the international com-
munity to immediately create the instruments by
the end of this decade at the latest.
On the Development Agenda which has now be-
come the main part of WIPO, the minister hoped
that the Committee on Development and Intellec-
tual Property (CDIP), a committee tasked with im-
plemen-ting the recommendations of the Develop-
ment Agenda, could accelerate the process of
deliberating and implementing a number of recom-
mendations already agreed upon.
(Antara, 24.09.08)
5. SOLO TO CONSERVE 30 ANCIENT BATIK HOUSES
Solo, Central Java - The Solo local administration
has planned to conserve some 30 ancient batik
houses located at Laweyan Solo batik neighbor-
hood, to support the batik tourism development in
the city.
The state ministry of public housing would provide
funds amounting to around Rp600 million for the
conservation program of the 30 ancient batik
houses, Head of the Laweyan Solo Batik Tourism
Neighborhood Association Alpha Febela said here
on Sunday. "Each ancient batik house having his-
torical value in batik development at Laweyan
area will get financial assistance worth Rp20 mil-
lion," Febela said.
The conservation program at Laweyan area is
crucial for developing the area into a tourist desti-
nation and a batik trade center, according to him.
The Laweyan batik area would be renovated by
maintaining its historical values and its original
batik concept, he said.
Inhabitants of Laweyan area have enjoyed signifi-
cant economic benefits since the area has been
designated as a batik center and a tourist attrac-
tion a century ago.
According to Febela, at least 2,500 people living at
Laweyan area earn their living from batik home
industry.
In Javanese, batik means 'to dot.' It is a traditional
textile working process involving the use of wax to
cover fabric in patterns. The multi-colored and
hand-made textiles are used to make traditional
clothing including shirts and dresses, artwork and
drapery. (Antara, 28.09.08)
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
14
6. THREE SUKHOI JET FIGHTERS TO BE ASSEMBLED IN MAKASSAR
Jakarta - Indonesian airforce chief of staff Marshal
Subandrio said here on Thursday that three new
Sukhoi jet fighters scheduled to arrive in CKD con-
dition in Indonesia in October 2008 would be as-
sembled at Sultan Hasanuddin airbase in
Makassar.
During a visit to Squadron 11 of the air base, he
said actually the planes would be assembled at
Iswahyudi airbase in Madiun, East Java, like the
previous four others, but it was later decided that
they would be assembled at Sultan Hasanuddin
airbase in Makassar.
"In the beginning, they would be assembled in
Madiun considering that if it was done in the Sul-
tan Hasanuddin airbase it could disturb civilian
flights at the Sultan Hasanuddin airport which is
located near the base," he said.
However it was later decided to do it at the Sultan
Hasanuddin airbase because of the airbase's readi-
ness as a Sukhoi fighter squadron base.
In response to the decision, the chief of the air-
force's Operation Command II, air commodore Yu-
shan Sayuti, said the airbase had been prepared to
become the home base of Sukhois including their
landing strip that would also be capable of accom-
modating an Antonov transport plane that would fly
the planes from Russia.
"Eighty percent of its new hangar has also been
completed leaving only electrical instalations and
some of its front yard costing around Rp4.5
billion," Marshal Subandrio said.
The Russian Sukhoi maker on August 21 2007 an-
nounced it would sell six Sukhoi jet fighters to Indo-
nesia worth US$300 million.
The six Sukhois include three SU-30 MK2 and
three SU-27 SKM to add to the four Sukhois that
had been acquired by the airforce since September
2003.
The memorandum of understanding for the pro-
curement of the six Sukhois was signed at the
Moscow Airshow on August 21 2007.
Based on the MOU, the price of the six aircraft
reached US$355 million.
Three of them complete with their arms are ex-
pected to arrive this year while the other three in
2009.
The planes would replace the A-4 Skyhawks based
at Squadron 11 in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
The purchase of the six Sulhois is not included in
the credit scheme provided by the Russian govern-
ment worth US$1 billion for modernizing the coun-
try's weaponry in 2007-2010.
The three Indonesian Sukhoi pilots that have just
concluded training in Russia are already back.
They are Major Ikoputro, Major Dedy Ilham
Suryanto and Major David Yohan Tamboto.
Besides preparing the infrastructure, the airforce
has also prepared eight other Sukhoi pilots known
as "Flankers." (Antara, 26.09.08)
7. PAPUA'S CULTURAL ART HANDI- CRAFTS ON BRING OF EXTINCTION
Biak - A variety of Papua cultural art handicraft arti-
cles are now on the brink of extiction unless pro-
tected by special regional regulations, and provin-
cial regulations which have yet to be issued.
Papua Art and Culture Supervisor Fhilip Ramandey
said here on Thursday that the provincial admini-
stration together with Papua Legislative Assembly
are expected soon to ratificate the regulations to
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
15
protect the original Papua artists.
"When the Netherlands ruled Biak, there was a pro-
tection and recognition of the original culture," Ra-
mandey said.
He added that the protection through the regulations
is an effort to preserve the Papua genuine culture.
Some changes have taken place in Genyem,
Jayapura Municipality as the locals changed the pat-
tern of eating 'papeda' (sago porridge) with tofu
when originally consumed with gabus fish (kind of
freshwater fish).
Ramandey mentioned another example of the sculp-
tures which were usually made by people in Sentani,
Jayapura Municipality, are now made by sculptors
from Makassar.
Tifa, Biak traditional percussion instruments, origi-
nally had two drums instead one.
He was concerned that the members of the young
generation would not recognize their own culture in
the next few years.
Related to an art festival in Biak Numfor Municipality,
Ramandey said that the event needed a publication.
"It is a celebration of the people but many local
Papuans do not attend the festival," he said. (Antara,
26.09.08)
8. PRESIDENT INAUGURATES MAKAS-SAR'S SULTAN HASANUDDIN INTERNA-TIONAL AIRPORT
Makassar - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
inaugurated Makassar's newly-built Sultan Hasa-
nuddin International Airport here on Friday. The
president signed a plaque and uncovered the air-
port's sign board to mark the airport's official open-
ing.
On the occasion, the head of state was accompa-
nied by Transportation Minister Djusman Syafiee
Djamal, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto and
State Enterprise Minister Sofyan Djalil.
The president also toured the airport which was built
according to futuristic concepts at a total cost of
more than Rp600 billion provided entirely by PT
Angkasa Pura airport management company.
The international airport terminal began to be
contructed in 2005 and had already been fully op-
erational since August 4, 2008. The airport mostly
has glass walls and is decorated with traditional
South Sulawesi ornaments.
The international airport is located around 22 km
from Makassar City and five times larger than its
original size. The 52,000-m2 airport can accommo-
date up to eight million passengers per year.
Hasanuddin airport has been developed into an in-
ternational airport since October 30, 1994 based on
Transportation Minister's Decree No. KM 61/1994.
On March 28, 1995, the airport began to serve inter-
national flights with an initial route to Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
The renovated airport now has an apron measuring
78,000 m2 with 33 parking lots for various types of
planes, such as Cassas, Boeing 737s, Airbus 330s
and Boeing 747 Jumbo Jets.
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport is consid-
ered the gate to eastern Indonesian cities, with an
average passenger growth of 15-30 percent annu-
ally. President Yudhoyono and his entourage
landed at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport on Friday morn-
ing from Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. He is sched-
uled to return to Jakarta on Friday afternoon.
(Antara, 26.09.08)
9. INDONESIA'S CORRUPTION PERCEP TION INDEX IMPROVES
Jakarta - Indonesia's Corruption Perception Index
(IPK) in 2008 has improved by about 0.3 points to
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
16
2.6 compared with the figure in 2007, a finance
ministry spokesman said.
Head of Human Relations Bureau of the Finance
Ministry Samsuar Said here on Friday said that the
increase in Indonesia's IPK was on a report by the
International Transparency.
According to Samsuar, the bureaucratic reforms
carried out in the directorates general of Taxation,
Customs and Excise had contributed to the im-
provement in the country's corruption perception
index.
"The improvement in the country's IPK indicated
the people's perception that the taxation and cus-
toms and excise directorate generals already had
better performance. The bureaucratic reforms also
indicated that corruption had been dealt with seri-
ously," Samsuar said.
He said that one of the indicators in the achieve-
ments of the directorate general's bureaucratic re-
forms was the implementation of its policy to
shorten the length of time used to finish the settle-
ment of goods in the main service category.
The settlement of an application for tax-payer's
number (NPWP), for example, could now be short-
ened to 1.5 hours only from the previous length
standard of one day. The issuance of tax surplus
repayment order (SPMKP) could also be finished in
8.73 days from the previous one month standard.
Applications for tax objection with previous 12
months service standard could now be lowered to
2.29 months.
Based on the result of a performance measuring in
Tanjung priok port in March 2008, it was noted that
100 percent import administration services for the
lane of priority goods could be shortcut to about 20
minutes only.
Besides, about 99.45 percent of import services
through the green lane could be finished within 30
minutes.
About 86.96 percent of import administration
through the red lane were finished in 12 hours and
30 minutes. (Antara, 26.09.08)
1. MORE THAN 3.47 MILLION TOURISTS VISIT RI UNTIL JULY
Jakarta - More than 3.47 million foreign tourists
visited Indonesia in the first seven months of this
year, up 11.43 percent from the same period last
year, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said.
In July 2008 alone, about 567,400 foreign tourists
visited the country, an increase of 7.24 percent
from July 2007, BPS Chief Rusman Heriawan said
here on Monday.
"The number of foreign tourists visiting Bali in July
2008 rose 11.05 percent from July 2007. Com-
pared to June 2008, the number of foreign tourists
visiting the resort island increased 6.96 percent to
more than 190,700," he said.
He said the room occupancy rate of star-rated ho-
tels in the country's 14 tourist destination areas in
June 2008 reached 52.37 percent, up 1.54 percent
from a month earlier.
The room occupancy rate of star-rated hotels in
Bali meanwhile rose 5.94 percent to 67.90 percent
in June 2008 from 61.96 percent in May 2008, he
said.
"On average the foreign tourists stayed at star-
rated hotels in the country's 14 tourist destinations
in June 2008 was 2.06 days, up 0.03 day from the
previous month," he said.
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
T O U R I S M
17
Indonesia has set itself a target of enticing 7 million
tourists this year. (Antara, 02.09.08)
2. NTB TRAVEL OPERATORS ESTABLISH LOMBOK TRAVEL CLUB
Mataram - A number of travel operators in West
Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province have established
Lombok Travel Club (LTC) with its website:
www.lomboktravelclub.com, director of PT Pasatama
Travel and Service, H Saifuddin Zuhri, said here on
Thursday.
As LTC chairman, Saifuddin Zuhri said the establish-
ment of travel club was to help the government pro-
mote the tourist industry in the province.
"One of our objective to form Lombok Travel Club is
to help the government develop and promote the
tourist industry in West Nusa Tenggara at home and
abroad," Saifuddin said.
He said the presence of LTC was expected to be
able to overcome frequent unhealthy competition
among the travel operators.
Saifuddin admitted that the travel operators fre-
quently complained about the problems related to
permit which was issued by the District and Municipal
Tourist Service. (Antara, 04.09.08)
3. JOURNALISTS FROM 14 COUNTRIES VISITING NORTH SULAWESI
Manado, N Sulawesi - Some journalists from 14 dif-
ferent countries will visit Manado, North Sulawesi
province, from October 25 to 27 for a closer look at
the city which will be hosting the first World Ocean
Conference (WOC) in May 11 to 15, 2009
"The journalists will be fully-facilitated by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. They are scheduled to visit Ja-
karta, Bali, and Yogyakarta," WOC secretary of the
local organizers Noldy Tuerah said here on Thurs-
day.
During the trip the journalists will be collecting infor-
mation relating to efforts and programs carried out by
the local administrations to hold international events
such as WOC Tuerah said.
He explained that the visit will be a great opportunity
to promote North Sulawesi province to the world so
that maritime nations will become interested in at-
tending the WOC after reading reports from the jour-
nalists.
The visit is expected to be a golden opportunity in
sharing the knowledge to local media people.
Tuerah said the North Sulawesi government will
continue promoting the WOC 2009 through website; www.WOC09.org.
Up until now, the website has been used by some 13,000
people, and most of them are in overseas. (Antara,
05.09.08)
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008
18
4. VP OPTIMISTIC RI TOURISM INDUSTRY TO FARE BETTER
Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has expressed opti-
mism that the tourism industry in Indonesia will fare much
better following the recent decrease in world oil prices.
"Because world oil prices are going down, the tourism
industry in the country will certainly get better," the vice
president said at the opening of an Indonesia Tourism &
Travel mart here on Thursday.
He said the tourism industry in Indonesia would continue
to improve only if people from all walks of life and tour-
ism operators remained cohesive in making every effort to
increase the number of tourists visiting the country.
"For the first time in 30 years, our country with its abun-
dance of natural beauty, is now safe for tourists. There-
fore, our capital is already strong and although there are
shortcomings , they can be overcome through cohesive-
ness," Kalla said.
Therefore, he called on all parties engaged in the tourism
industry to remain cohesive and cooperative in promoting
the country's tourism sector at whatever cost.
Earlier, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik reported
that of seven million tourists targeted to visit Indonesia
this year, 3.5 million as of July had arrived in the country.
"We still have five more months and I am optimistic that
the target of 7 million tourists can be reached," Jero
Wacik said.
To reach the target, the culture and tourism minister said,
Garuda flight frequency from Sydney to Indonesia had
been increased.
In addition, the possibility of additional flights from Tokyo,
Beijing, Tehran, and South Kora to Indonesia was being
explored.
He said since July, Air Asia had started flying from Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia to Makassar, South Sulawesi, and later
from Kuala Lumpur to Manadao in North Sulawesi and to
Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara.
"With the additional flight frequency, we are optimistic that
the target of 7 million tourists visit Indonesia this year can
be met," Jero Wacik said. (Antara, 11.09.08)
5. MINISTER JERO WACIK CALLS ON JAPAN TO INVEST IN INDONESIA'S TOURISM SEC-TOR
Tokyo - Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said that
there are still so few Japanese businessmen interested in
investment in Indonesia's tourism sector although the
climate has much improved.
"It's too small if compared to Japanese investment in
other sectors like energy and infrastructure," the minister
said in Tokyo on Friday after attending the opening of the
JATA Travel Fair.
He said the tourism sector was quite prospective, espe-
cially in the present global era. The activities between
people of different countries had much increasing, open-
ing up more opportunities.
The minister took as an example of the building of a golf
course mostly in Japan could also be done in some tourist
objects in Indonesia.
Jero Wacik was in Japan to promote the Visit Indonesia
Year (VIY) 2008 which because Japanese tourism busi-
ness players did not have information on Indonesian tour-
ism.
Wacik's visit to that country received great welcome from
the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) consider-
ing that Japan itself was intensifying their "Visit World
Campaign" set to target around 20 million Japanese na-
tionals (till 2010) to go out of Japan on a picnic.
In the meantime, the total value of Japanese investment
in Indonesia according to Japanese Ambassador to Indo-
nesia Kojiro Shiojiri till May 2008 had reached US$830
million. This fact was disclosed during the All Japan Co-
operation Meeting. (Antara, 20.09.08)
6. VP TO HELP ACCELERATE CONSTRUC TION OF LOMBOK INT'L AIRPORT
Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province - Vice
President Jusuf Kalla has said that he would help acceler-
ate the construction of Lombok International Airport (BIL)
to be located at Tanak Awu, Pujut sub district, Central
Lombok district.
010/ Octombrie 2008 I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R
19
"Hopefully, the Lombok International Airport could be com-
pleted by 2009 and in operation by 2010," Ibu Salim, a
spokesman of the NTB administration said here on Sun-
day.
He said that NTB Governor Zainul Majdi had met Vice
President M Jusuf Kalla to discuss about the planned con-
struction of 500-ha international airport in Central Lombok.
According to Salim, Kalla, who had visited Central Lom-
bok in July 2008, promised to discuss again about the
airport construction in November 2008 and help provide
funds amounting to Rp65 billion from the State Budget for
the international airport development.
"In our agreement with the Angkasa Pura I airport man-
agement company earlier, NTB has pledged to provide
Rp125 billion in funds which will be disbursed in stages,
and it has been approved by the NTB provincial legislative
council (DPRD)," Salim said.
The international airport could help boost foreign tourists'
visits and serve departure of NTB Hajj pilgrims to Saudi
Arabia, as well as other would-be hajj pilgrims, among
others from Bali and East Nusa Tenggara Provinces, he
said. ( Antara, 29.09.08)
7. RI'S STAND GETS TOURISM FAIR AWARD IN POLAND
Jakarta - Indonesia's stand won an award for being the
Most Original and Professional Fair Stand at an interna-
tional travel show called Warsaw Tour and Travel (TT
Warsaw), which was held from September 25 to 27, 2008.
Indonesia's stand at the largest tourism fair in East
Europe, was coordinated by the Indonesian culture and
tourism ministry in cooperation with the Indonesian em-
bassy in Warsaw, Indonesian Ambassador to Poland
Hazairin Pohan said in a press statement received by
ANTARA on Monday.
The jury at the tourism fair consisted of several Polish
journalists from the print and electronic media, the ambas-
sador said.
The award was presented to Ambassador Pohan at a gala
dinner on Friday evening (Sept. 26), which was attended
among others by Polish Deputy Minster of Sports and
Tourism Katarzyna Sobierajska. Indonesia, which is
launching the Visit Indonesia Year 2008, was a partner
country at the Warsaw Tour and Travel fair.
With the status of a partner country, Ambassador Pohan
was given an honor to deliver a speech at the opening
ceremony and held a special press conference and pres-
entation on Indonesian tourism under a theme of
"Indonesia: the Emeral of the East." Last year, Indonesia
won three awards, respectively for the Best and Most Ex-
otic Stand category at the International Silesian Tour held
at Katowice in April, the Best Presentation on Tourism and
Cultural Values at a tourism international expo held in
Opole in May, and the Most Original and Professional Fair
Stand at the 15th International Tourism Fair of TT Warsaw
Tour and Travel 2007.
"The victory of Indonesia's stand this time is significant
because we came out as the only country winning the
highest award at the largest international tourism exhibi-
tion in East Europe, despite the presence of main players
in Europe, such as Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Russia,
Grace, and Turkey, which all have performed all-out," the
ambassador said.
Indonesia's stand in the TT Warsaw 2008 was a favorite
of visitors as it presented various Indonesian traditional
food, dances and traditional music performances.
( Antara, 30.09.08)
I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ Octombrie 2008
20
MOUNT “RINJANI” - LOMBOK ISLAND , INDONESIA
IND
ON
ESIA
NE
WSL
ET
TE
R