18 Indonesian Journalists to Focus on New Media in Netherlands

Jakarta Globe, April 22, 2010

Eighteen journalists from six cities in Indonesia are heading to the Netherlands to study the latest developments in new media.

The journalists work for print and broadcast media in Jakarta, Pekanbaru, Bali, Semarang, Malang and Surabaya. They are members of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and recipients of this year’s StuNed scholarships provided by Nuffic Neso Indonesia.

Among them are Anita Rachman, a reporter from the Jakarta Globe, and Wahyu Dhyatmika, from Tempo weekly news magazine, who is also the chairman of AJI Jakarta.

“Media independence is still a problem in Indonesia even though we have enjoyed press freedom for 12 years,” Wahyu said on Wednesday at the program launch.

“We hope this training will enable us to have better knowledge of multimedia journalism, which can be a solution to strengthening media independence.”

The scholarship recipients will study at the Radio Netherlands Training Center for three weeks from next week and they will also attend an international conference on World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

Marrik Bellen, the Indonesian director of Nuffic Neso, said StuNed scholarships also had been awarded to journalists in 2007 and 2009. AJI is the third journalists’ organization to receive scholarships to help efforts to develop its members.

Bellen said good journalism was important for ensuring good governance.

Nuffic Nesso is a nonprofit organization commissioned by the Dutch government to manage the scholarship program and other higher education issues in the Netherlands.

In Indonesia, Nuffic Nesso provides consultation and information for Indonesians seeking scholarships in the Netherlands.

Verification over forest destruction claims to be completed in June

Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 04/07/2010 8:22 PM

Publicly listed crude palm oil (CPO) producer PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology (SMART) expects to have a verification work over forest destruction claims finished by June’s end.

“We have delivered the term of reference (part of the verification work) to the two consulting (firms) … we still need to arrange some details,” SMART president Daud Dharsono told reporters on Wednesday after a meeting with Trade Ministry officials and the Netherlands-based consumer goods producer Unilever executives.

“We hope the verification will complete within the next eight to 12 weeks – by the end of June.”

For the verification, SMART has appointed the Netherlands-based Control Union Certification (CUC) and British Standards Institute Group (BSI) headquartered in London through their representative offices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and in Singapore, respectively.

Results of the verification are expected to, as SMART says, “clarify” issues raised by environmental non-governmental organization Greenpeace in the latter’s report.

Meanwhile, Unilever Indonesia corporate secretary Sancoyo Antarikso said Unilever would wait for the results before deciding to whether resume buying CPO from SMART or not.

In a 2008 Greenpeace report, the organization indicated that CPO producers, including SMART, had converted peat lands, natural forests and habitats of Indonesia’s indigenous Orangutan into oil palm plantations. The report was later supported by a field investigation and satellite data.

Palm oil can be found in half of all the best-selling foods in the world

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Canada opens job opportunities for Indonesians

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - Canada has opened job opportunities for foreign workers including from Indonesia, in the formal sector, a Canadian immigration lawyer, Louay Alghoul, said here on Monday.

"The Canadian government has opened the opportunity for job seekers in other countries, including Indonesia, to work in the formal sector in Canada," Alghoul said at a business meeting on Indonesian migrant workers.

He said the foreign workers could be employed on long-term contracts and ultimately have the chance to become Canadian citizens.

"In addition, they will receive high wages and good protection," he said, adding that in Canada local and foreign workers were treated equally.

He said the job opportunities offered available in Canada for foreign workers were in the fields of health, construction, and hotel industry.

In addition, he said, Canada was seeking serious partners from Indonesia to cooperate in the manpower employment field.

"We even want to open an official representative office in Indonesia," he said.

Macao establishes tourism office in Indonesia

www.chinaview.cn , 2009-02-09 19:57:19   

MACAO, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government Tourist Office (MGTO) Monday announced the appointment of Intra REPS, an Indonesian tourism consulting firm, as its first representative in Indonesia, in a bid to boost tourist arrivals from the Southeast Asian nation. 

This is the 17th MGTO office around the world. To tap the Indonesian market, MGTO also hosted tourism production seminar and press conference in Indonesia on Monday. 

MGTO Director Joao Manuel Costa Antunes said the Indonesian market is one of the potential markets in Asia and with the assistance of the appointed representative which has extensive experience and network in the travel and tourism industry in Indonesia, will help to promote and further expand the South East Asian source market for Macao, according to the press release from the MGTO. 

This was part of the efforts made by the MGTO to diversify Macao's international market profile, which still heavily depends on the Chinese mainland. 

The direct airline launched in 2006 between Macao and Indonesia almost doubled the number of Indonesian visitor arrivals to Macao in a year. Statistics from the MGTO showed that the SAR logged over 187,752 visitor arrivals from Indonesia last year, with an outstanding year-on-year increase of 40.72 percent.

Australia, Indonesia to join forces

The Sydney Morning Herald

Australia and Indonesia will join forces to help the region cope better with extreme weather being wrought by climate change and other natural disasters. 

Australia will spend $67 million over five years to help establish a Jakarta-based centre, aimed at reducing the impact of disasters through training in areas of better risk assessment, identifying new threats and improving relief capabilities. 

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono unveiled the joint strategy on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in Lima on Saturday. 

Since the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami, which killed more than 200,000 people in nations ringing the Indian Ocean, Australia and Indonesia have been working together on ways to better deal with the increasing number and severity of disasters. 

In past week alone, Australia has dealt with severe floods and storms in Queensland and the Indonesian island of Sulawesi has been hit by a major earthquake. 

"Not only only do disasters take lives, they take away the livelihoods of survivors," Dr Yudhoyono told reporters. 

"Just this week both Indonesia and Australia experienced devastating calamities." 

The centre is expected to be up and running by April 2009, and will be prepared to deal with the several regional disasters that kill around 10,000 people annually. 

A study by Australia and Indonesia found that half the world's megacities are in locations vulnerable to earthquakes, and issues like climate change, urbanisation and poor land use were exacerbating the impact of other natural disasters. 

"Also our region is subject to intense volcanic activity and now we see the consequence increase storm activity and with greater intensity," Mr Rudd told reporters. 

"With natural disasters, none of us can predict who will be the next victim, who will be hit next and often there is so little notice when they come." 

Mr Rudd said the centre would organise joint exercises to improve operational capabilities between nations and would develop the use of realistic disaster management scenarios. 

It will also aim to better integrate military assets in disaster relief exercises and planning.

 

Indonesian Anti Corruption Body to Coop with FBI

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is to cooperate with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in developing its capability to combat corruption in Indonesia. 

The two bodies` intention to cooperate was formalized in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by KPK Chairman Antasari Azhar and FBI Deputy Director John Pistole here on Tuesday. 

Antasari Azhar said the two institutions had agreed to cooperate in such matters as exchange of information, implementation of corruption eradication programs, training courses, exchange of intelligence and investigation experts, and technical guidance. 

He said the essence of the KPK-FBI cooperation was to develop the KPK`s human resources` competence and quality. 

"FBI will serve as a model for KPK`s development," Antasari said, adding that the cooperation was part of a learning process for KPK about FBI`s organization and working system. 

Meanwhile, FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said FBI`s main business was eradicating corruption committed by state officials. 

He said the KPK-FBI cooperation could eventually be developed into an accord on efforts to achieve recovery from the damage done by corruption such the freezing and returning of stolen assets stashed in the United States. 

Meanwhile, KPK deputy chairman Chandra Hamah said Indonesia and the United States had different legal systems and the KPK-FBI cooperation was intended to bridge those differences. 

He said FBI was the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), serving as both a federal criminal investigative body and a domestic intelligence agency. 

At present, the FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crimes, making the FBI the de-facto lead law enforcement agency of the United States government. 

The FBI headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and there are also 56 field offices located in major cities throughout the United States as well as over 400 resident agencies in smaller cities and towns across the nation, and more than 50 international offices, called Legal Attaches, in U.S. embassies worldwide.

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Indonesia asks for Delhi Metro's assistance

Business Standard, New Delhi July 04, 2008, 19:53 IST

Indonesia has sought Delhi Metro's assistance in providing consultancy services for the proposed metro system in its capital Jakarta.

A high level transport delegation  from Indonesia met E Sreedharan, MD, DMRC to discuss the possibility of DMRC providing consultancy service to the Jakarta metro.

The Indonesian delegation indicated that they would soon approach DMRC for signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in areas including economic operational viability studies since the Delhi metro is one of the few metro's in the world making operational profit.

Other countries that have shown interest in Delhi Metro's expertise include Syria, Pakistan, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Vietnam etc.

Royal visit seen as boost for RI investment

Andi Haswidi and Novia D. Rulistia , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 03/05/2008 2:15 AM

BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Prince Andrew shakes hands with the Minister of Trade Marie Elka Pangestu before a meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, was in Jakarta on Tuesday as a special envoy for trade and investment, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties between the United Kingdom and Indonesia and look for new business opportunities.

The high-level visit, business players said, would help bridge the perception gap between existing foreign investors in the country and potential investors on Indonesia's investment climate.

"Existing investors, many of whom have been here for decades, are generally upbeat and positive about doing business in Indonesia despite challenges that exists," British Chamber chairman Simon Morris said during a luncheon with the Duke in Jakarta.

However, he said, potential new investors often had a different perception that could negatively affect their business decisions when it came to investing in Indonesia.

"I have no doubt that visits like this, by the most senior level of UK trade and investment, can only help to ensure that such perceptions are gradually overcome. It will also help to ensure that business and investment decisions can be more informed and fact-based," he said.

During the luncheon, the Duke said he was here as part of the Indonesia-UK strategic partnership agreement signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and then prime minister Tony Blair in March 2006.

"I want to make it clear that Indonesia is an important trading partner for the UK and offers us considerable potential for further growth, and that is for both directions," he said.

The Duke said the UK also had a great deal of business expertise to be offered, particularly London as a global financial capital, with advanced financial and business consultancy services.

Regular high-level visits, he said, are crucial in building a mutual relationship between the two countries. He invited President Yudhoyono to visit London to raise Indonesia's profile and showcase the opportunities that exist here and in the UK

The Duke also met with the President and Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, before heading to Papua to visit British Petroleum's Tangguh project until Wednesday.

Mari reported after the meeting that the total value of Indonesia's exports to the United Kingdom reached Rp 1.4 billion and that her office was projecting a 10 percent growth this year.

Bilateral trade reached $1.72 billion in the first 10 months of 2007, a 6.5 percent increase from $1.61 billion during the first 10 months of 2006. Total trade in 2006 reached $1.98 billion.

"Together with the ministry of maritime affairs and fisheries, we're cooperating with the UK government in establishing a fisheries trade corridor which will help us meet the standards of exports," the trade minister said.

The UK is the second largest investor here after Japan, with total investments of $4.6 billion, mainly in the oil, gas and mining sectors, where British Petroleum, Rio Tinto and Shell are all active. UK investors also have stakes in automotive manufacturer PT Astra International and several hotels.

Indonesia, Australia to cooperate on improving transportation safety

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The governments of Indonesia and Australia signed a landmark agreement to work together to improve Indonesia`s transportation safety, Australian Embassy media release has said.

On the occasion, Australian Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said his country placed great importance on close relationship with Indonesia and the agreements, singed on Thursday, would broaden the levels of co-operation to the benefit of both countries.

"I am honored to be able to visit Indonesia so early in my term as Minister to work towards building on that relationship," Albanese said, adding that Indonesian Minister for Transportation, Jusman Syafi`i Djamal, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in the Transport Sector during a ceremony in Jakarta.

The Memorandum of Understanding provides the basis for expanding the existing co-operative relationship between Australia and Indonesia.

The Ministers also signed an Annex to the Memorandum of Understanding, establishing the terms for a bilateral package of assistance on transport safety.

Albanese noted the key role of transport to economic growth and development in the region and emphasized it was vital that the transport systems were safe, efficient and secure.

"It is essential the traveling public of both countries have confidence that transport safety is a priority and that lessons from previous transport accidents are being acted upon," said Albanese.

"Australia`s assistance will complement the substantial efforts that the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has already taken to improve the safety of their transport services," he added.

Under the agreement Australia will provide almost Rp 200 billion [$24 million] over three years for a package of training and technical assistance, helping to improve Indonesian transport safety.

"Australia has worked closely with the Government of Indonesia to develop a package of measures to address areas identified by Indonesia as its key safety priorities," said Albanese.

He indicated that projects to be undertaken as part of the assistance package would include: Training of up to 40 Indonesian airworthiness inspectors per year to international standards for the duration of the package; Mentoring and training in air traffic management services; Provision of expertise and guidance on transport safety investigations to enhance Indonesia`s capacity to undertake investigations of transport accidents; and Transfer of technical knowledge and expertise to Indonesian Search and Rescue Operators, ferry operators and maritime vehicle inspection staff.

"Australia`s Rp 200 billion [$24 million] safety assistance package paves the way for even greater goodwill and cooperation between Australia and Indonesia on a range of future transport issues," Albanese said.

Indonesia`s Telkom buys 6.8 pct stake in Scicom

Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Internasional (TII), a subsidiary of state telecommunications operator PT Telkom Tbk, has bought a 6.8 per cent stake in Scicom Technologies Pvt Ltd (KLSE:0099) through the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE).

"The acquisition is in line with Telkom's goal of developing unorganic businesses and strengthening corporate businesses," Telkom Corporate Secretary Harsya Denny Suryo said on Friday.

Scicom is a provider of outsourcing services in product development, software support and maintenance, project services and technology consulting for scientific, engineering and enterprise data integration application areas.

Negative investment list revised for clarity

Andi Haswidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government revised its so-called negative investment list -- a list of business sectors, wholly or partly closed to investment -- last week, aiming to clarify rules and fair treatment within the business community.

A copy of the list obtained by The Jakarta Post on Thursday, basically separates business sectors closed to both local and foreign investment, and those open to investment with certain conditions.

On the closed side, the government scrapped two of 25 sectors; the installation and maintenance of roads, and non-ferrous metals industry or lead.

The remaining 23 were left intact, which included gambling, public broadcasting services, motor vehicle test operators and air traffic service providers.

As for the list of business sectors open to investment with conditions, the government has shown its stance in protecting small businesses by making no changes within the sub-sector reserved for small and medium enterprise businesses.

In response to a request from business operators grouped under the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the government made considerable revisions to sub-sectors including capital ownerships, allowed business locations and list businesses reserved for 100 percent domestic ownership.

In capital ownership, the government scrapped 15 out of 17 businesses in the arts and culture sector, leaving only art galleries and art performance venues, where a minimum of 50 percent domestic ownership was still required.

In the capital ownerships category, the government also scrapped in the list business and management consultation services, in which foreign investment was previously limited to 49 percent -- now completely open, but lowered foreign ownership in crossing transport services from 60 percent to 49 percent.

With the change, foreign ownership is now limited to 49 percent in 29 lines of businesses within the transportation sectors named in the list, but this will be subjected to further revisions as soon as the House of Representatives passes its transportation bill, which promises more liberalization in the sector, at some stage in 2008.

A massive change appeared in the permitted business locations category, which previously regulated the locations of 19 lines of businesses; now there is only one -- breeding and farming pigs, which must heed regional regulations.

The previous 19 businesses included hotels, caterers, spas, game makers, karaoke establishments, restaurants, nursing services and travel bureaus.

Finally, in the list of industries for domestic investment only category, the number of items stays roughly the same, except in the retail sector, which stipulates 100 percent domestic ownership for supermarkets on less than 1,200 square meters of land, department stores on less than 2,000 square meters, community and convenience stores, 200 square meters.

There has been no formal response as yet from Kadin, which said it had not receive the revised list yet. (adt)

Indonesia to open trading house for SMEs in Jedda early 2008

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Cooperatives and Small- and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) Ministry in cooperation with businesspeople in Jedda, Saudi Arabia, is to open a trading house for food products and cosmetics produced by Indonesian SMEs in the Saudi city in early 2008, an official said.

"A building to accommodate the house has been set up and all relevant technical matters have been discussed, so our target now is to open the trading house in Jedda in early 2008," Deputy for Marketing and Business Networks to the State Minister for Cooperatives and SMEs Sri Ernawati said here Friday.

The trading house would be run in cooperation with Saudi businesspeople who already have experience in marketing Indonesian SMEs` products in Jedda. The cooperation would be conducted as a partnership for mutual benefit, she said.

Jedda was chosen as the location of the trading house as the city is a gateway to other Arab and African countries.

The trading house in Jedda was expected to be an effective solution to the export and marketing problems encountered by Indonesian SMEs, Ermawati said.

It was reported earlier that the Office of the State Minister for Cooperatives and SMEs has set up an agency providing marketing services to cooperatives and SMEs by acting as a mediator between Indonesian SMEs and foreign buyers.

"The agency is also intended to help SMEs meet export requirements as their capacity in this respect is usually low, while their capital strength and knowledge of export procedures are limited," she said.

The agency which has been operating since 2007 now had business partners in Bulgaria and set up a trading house in a city in that country.

"The agency has set up partnership relations with local companies that have networks and experience in marketing handicraft products from Indonesia," she said.

She said Bulgaria was chosen as the location of the trading house as the country served as a gateway to other European countries.

"In the future, the trading house pattern is expected to overcome export problems frequently faced by cooperatives and SMEs," she said.

Top RI scientists to increase expertise on climate change

Nusa Dua (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s top environmentalist association and the Indonesian Environmental Intellectuals (Perwaku) expressed their intention to step up their expertise on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and climate change and carbon credit issues in the country.

A press release made available to ANTARA News here on Saturday said during the signing of an MoU between Perwaku and Sindicatum Carbon Capital Asia Ltd (SCC) that SCC (special developer of projects relating to climate change) agreed to share knowledge and their expertise to Perwaku which was made up of scientists, intellectuals and Indonesian environmental academicians.

Perwaku also agreed that SCC Asia will involve scientists, its advisors and its executive personnel in efforts to participate in carrying out projects in Indonesia.

BEI to become export credit agency: Minister

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government says it will convert the state-owned export bank, Indonesian Export Bank (BEI), into a fully fledged export credit agency, to improve financing for the country's exports.

The Indonesian Export Bank (BEI) will be transformed into the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI), and operate under a new law drawn up specifically to regulate its function.

A draft of the law has been submitted by the government to legislators for deliberation, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Thursday.

As a financing company, the government says the new agency will be able to move more freely in disbursing export-related loans. By comparison, the BEI as a commercial bank has been constrained by strict banking industry regulations.

These regulations include limits on maximum lending, as well as prohibitions on export-related insurance schemes and loans to foreign-based importers.

"Such constraints left the BEI unable to fully play its role like the export credit agencies and export-import banks in other countries," Sri Mulyani was quoted as saying by Antara at a discussion.

"BEI has operated as an ordinary commercial bank, when it has specific functions to finance export activities, so that's why it has to be upgraded."

With its new role under a new law, the LPEI is expected to be able to provide services the BEI could not, including consultancy services for exporters.

Sri Mulyani promised the new financing agency would maintain best practices of prudence, transparency and accountability.

BEI president Arifin Indra said the lender's transformation would oblige it to seek other funds from the public besides savings and time deposits.

The LPEI's initial seed capital will be provided from the state budget, he said. More funds will be raised from a bond issue and loans from bilateral and multilateral financial institutions.

"The LPEI will be a new fiscal instrument for the government to support more exports," he said.

VP orders Garuda to seek EU aviation consultant`s advice

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President M Jusuf Kalla has ordered national flag-carrier PT Garuda Indonesia to seek the advice of a European Union (EU) aviation consultant on how to improve its flight safety and quality standards.

"European Union aviation safety and quality standards are better than those of other countries, including the United States. They have their own standards and thus we have to improve ours," Kalla said after performing Friday prayers.

The vice president made the statement in response to a question about the EU ban on Indonesian airline flights to European countries.

Kalla said Indonesia should improve its flight safety and quality standards rather than lodging a protest against the EU`s ban.

"I have ordered PT Garuda Indonesia to find a EU aviation consultant who can give advice on what it must do," Kalla said, adding that the most important element in an aviation service was safety and security.

Therefore, he said, what the European Union was concerned about was aviation safety and security standards for anybody, including Indonesians.

"Don`t forget that it has something to do with image. Therefore, Garuda should first improve its safety and security standards in order to be able to fly to Europe again," Kalla said.

Asked if it was necessary for Indonesia to take retaliatory action over the EU`s flight ban, the vice president said he did not support the idea.

"Don`t scold the European Union because what it has done is actually a whip for us to improve our aviation safety and quality standards," Kalla said.

Singapore donates Rp6.2 bln to prevent forest fires in Jambi

Jambi (ANTARA News) - Singapore has donated Rp6.2 billion in fund to help prevent forest and bush fires in the Indonesian province of Jambi, Governor Zulkifli Nurdin said.

The assistance was a follow up to cooperation between the Indonesian and Singaporean governments in fighting forest and bush fires, he said here on Wednesday.

In addition, the neighboring country also provided the province with technical assistance in making a master plan for the prevention of forest and bush fires, he said.

He said a Singaporean delegation led by Director General of Environmental Protection at the National Environment Agency Josefh Hui visited the province a few days ago to sign a letter of intent with the local government on the prevention of forest and bush fires.

The project was located at Sungai Aur and Arang-Arang villages, Muaro district, he said.

He admitted that the haze caused by forest and bush fires in Jambi had reached the island state.

Govt to establish innovation agency to help SMEs

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government will establish a national agency aimed at strengthening and improving the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through better access to information and the development of innovative technology, an official said Wednesday.

The agency, to be called the small and medium enterprise innovation center (PI UMKM), would work together with academia and business associations to develop innovative technology especially designed to strengthen SMEs, said Edy Putra Irawadi, the deputy for industry and trade at the Office of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, on Wednesday.

The agency, whose establishment will be based on a recent presidential instruction, will be launched early next year after six months of preparations, said Edy, who chairs the preparatory committee laying the groundwork for the agency's establishment.

The committee consists of representatives from 15 ministries, the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), the Central Statistics Agency, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), entrepreneurial associations and universities.

Edy said that the agency would furnish assistance and information to SMEs on technical matters, intellectual property rights and marketing, and help them forge links with various communities, such as the leather association in Yogyakarta, textile association in Bandung, West Java, and research centers in the universities.

Dharmawan, the deputy chief of technology policy assessment at the BPPT and a member of the team, said that "The agency will also offer incentives to inventors of innovative technology."

Eddy said that the preparatory committee had started its work in July and had been allocated around Rp 1.4 billion (US$150,000) to disseminate information on the plan and establish a relationship with SMEs, government agencies, private institutions and universities.

"I think our budget for next year will be more or less the same," he said.

SMEs made up 90 percent of the country's 48.9 million business enterprises in 2006. They accounted for 53 percent of the country's gross domestic product of Rp 3,338 trillion and employed 96 percent of the approximately 88 million workers in employment that year, according to data from the Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry. (ind)

EC President will help lift ban on RI airline flights to Europe

The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA (Antara): Visiting European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he would help speed up the lifting of the ban on Indonesian airline flights to the European Union (EU).

The European Commission and I would do whatever they could to speed up the lifting of the ban, said Barosso at a joint press conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after a bilateral meeting at the State Palace on Friday.

Barroso also said he respected Indonesia's efforts to improve the technical standards on the safety of its flights at home and to Europe.

President Yudhoyono said in the meeting the government had asked the European Commission to lift the ban which had been imposed since June.

He also expressed hope that aviation cooperation between Indonesia and Europe would soon being normal, with Indonesia had taken first step by improving its safety standard.

The President said government would continue the effort by consulting and cooperating closely with the European Union in technical level.

Japan's agency assists RI textile sector to conserve energy and water

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has agreed to assist Indonesia with energy and water conservation in the textile sector.

Under an agreement signed Wednesday, NEDO will finance about 95 percent of a Rp 62.8 billion (US$6.69 million) pilot project to improve greater energy and water efficiency in the textile dyeing and finishing industry.

The remaining 5 percent will be provided by private firm PT Daliatex Kusuma, the company that will host the pilot project.

The NEDO assistance will be used to finance the designing, manufacturing and shipping of project requisites, as well as supervision, while Daliatex will be responsible for inland transportation, installation and utility costs.

"If this is applied to a textile dyeing and finishing plant with a capacity of 2,000 tons per year, electricity use can be reduced by 40 to 70 percent, fuel by 30 to 60 percent, water by 15 to 30 percent and chemicals by 15 to 30 percent," said Arryanto Sagala, director for textiles at the Industry Ministry.

Arryanto added that NEDO would transfer the ownership of the equipment after the expiry of the five-year project to the Indonesian government, which would then be required to disseminate information on the project so that other textile dyeing and finishing companies could replicate the pilot project.

According to NEDO, if companies in the dyeing/finishing sector adopted the technology, they would be able to cover their costs within four years.

If the project proves to be successful, the government would encourage other companies to adopt the technology by providing them with incentives, said the ministry's director general for metal, machine, textile and miscellaneous industries, Ansari Bukhari.

The incentives, he said, would take the form of import duty exemptions and tax reductions in accordance with Government Regulation No. 1/2007 on encouraging industrial energy efficiency.

"If possible, the project can be used as a model for the restructuring of the textile dyeing and finishing industry, which consumes a lot of water," he said.

Ade Sudrajat, vice president of the Indonesian Textile Manufacturers Association (API), welcomed the project and said the association would closely monitor whether the system would help Daliatex improve its competitiveness.

Ade said that companies that wanted to participate in the project could take out bank loans. (tif)

Palu municipality takes steps to become center of rattan industry

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

The Palu administration plans to make the city a rattan industry center by establishing a school and a technical supervisory unit for rattan craftsmen.

Palu supplies 50 to 60 percent, or 50,000 to 60,000 tons of rattan, for national trade, an official said.

Indonesia supplies 80 percent of the world's demand for rattan raw material, mostly to Asia, America and Europe.

"This is a good chance for Palu to compete in the international rattan trade," Palu Mayor Rusdy Mastura told The Jakarta Post.

He said his administration would work to make Palu a national rattan center in the near future.

Data from the Palu Cooperatives, Trade and Industry Agency shows that Central Sulawesi has 12 special types of rattan.

Rusdy said Palu produced high quality rattan because the soil there contained a large amount of silicate, which made the rattan more flexible.

In order to make Palu a rattan center, the administration has opened the Kriya Rotan school and sent five teachers to Cirebon, West Java, to learn more about processing rattan for furniture.

The Palu administration also has made an agreement with all stakeholders to establish a Palu Technical Supervisory Unit.

The unit will provide rattan processing machines, training and an education program, as well as a trade facility.

To support rattan processing, the administration will also build two factories and a warehouse.

Head of the planning unit for the Cooperatives, Trade and Industry Agency, M. Fatih, said the administration was encouraging rattan craftsmen to concentrate their business on finished products from home industries or small-scale factories.

Fatih said Cirebon had been successful in developing its rattan trade due to a focus on home industries.

To ensure product quality, the Palu administration will also serve and guide rattan craftsmen in improving their skills.

To achieve this goal, the administration will hold training workshops to cover several specialty areas such as rattan design, manufacturing and preservation.

"We have made an agreement with the Cirebon administration to send instructors here, and they will teach the local rattan craftsmen to provide them with new skills and better ways (to craft rattan).

"We hope by establishing the Technical Supervisory Unit, the local craftsmen will be able to increase their knowledge, as well as their incomes," Rusdy said.