“ … Here is another one. A change in what Human nature will allow for government. "Careful, Kryon, don't talk about politics. You'll get in trouble." I won't get in trouble. I'm going to tell you to watch for leadership that cares about you. "You mean politics is going to change?" It already has. It's beginning. Watch for it. You're going to see a total phase-out of old energy dictatorships eventually. The potential is that you're going to see that before 2013.

They're going to fall over, you know, because the energy of the population will not sustain an old energy leader ..."
"Update on Current Events" – Jul 23, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: The Humanization of God, Gaia, Shift of Human Consciousness, 2012, Benevolent Design, Financial Institutes (Recession, System to Change ...), Water Cycle (Heat up, Mini Ice Ace, Oceans, Fish, Earthquakes ..), Nuclear Power Revealed, Geothermal Power, Hydro Power, Drinking Water from Seawater, No need for Oil as Much, Middle East in Peace, Persia/Iran Uprising, Muhammad, Israel, DNA, Two Dictators to fall soon, Africa, China, (Old) Souls, Species to go, Whales to Humans, Global Unity,..... etc.)
(Subjects: Who/What is Kryon ?, Egypt Uprising, Iran/Persia Uprising, Peace in Middle East without Israel actively involved, Muhammad, "Conceptual" Youth Revolution, "Conceptual" Managed Business, Internet, Social Media, News Media, Google, Bankers, Global Unity,..... etc.)
.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

ADB Releases More Funds for Indonesia's Infrastructure Sector Reform

Asian Development Bank

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing an additional $280 million loan to support ongoing critical reforms in Indonesia's infrastructure sector to further fuel economic growth and narrow the disparity gap. 

The loan will fund the second of three subprograms of the Infrastructure Reform Sector Development Program approved in 2006. The assistance will come from ADB’s ordinary capital resources and will carry a 15-year repayment term, including a grace period of three years. 

The program seeks to encourage private sector participation to speed up infrastructure development and help improve the overall investment climate by removing infrastructure bottlenecks and increasing access to infrastructure services. 

It will also help Indonesia improve policies, laws, and institutions needed to attract large-scale private sector infrastructure investments, as well as streamline responsibilities in national and local government agencies. 

“Domestic demand, coupled with private investment, has been a key driver of the recent economic growth. The country’s progress is made more significant given the natural disasters it had to face, including the 2004 tsunami,” said Rehan Kausar, Infrastructure Specialist of ADB’s Southeast Asia Department. 

However, much still needs to be done in the area of infrastructure development. The Government of Indonesia has estimated that about $65 billion would be needed in new infrastructure investments from 2005 to 2009, with $25 billion to be sourced from its budget, $14 billion from domestic banks, insurance funds, and pension funds, $10 billion from multilateral and bilateral development partners, and $16 billion from the private sector. 

“Given the weak investment climate, the government recognizes that private sector participation could not be taken for granted, and that major structural and institutional reforms are needed,” Mr. Kausar added. 

The impact of the first ADB-backed program has been positive, with the annual infrastructure investments rising to 3.3% of GDP in 2006 from 2.9% in 2005. 

The Subprogram 1 was financed by a $400 million ADB loan and a co-financing of $100 million from the Government of Japan. The second and third subprograms are expected to receive similar co-financing arrangements. 

About ADB

PLN to Build Interconnective Network in Kalimantan

Saturday, 29 November, 2008 | 08:35 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Balikpapan: The State-Owned Electricity Company (PLN) plans to build an interconnective electricity network throughout provinces in Kalimantan. It is expected that the network can solve the electricity problem in Kalimantan. 

“We have freed lands that will be used for construction,” said PLN's spokesperson for East Kalimantan, Mac Paul Polittion, Friday (28/11). 

Polliton explained that the freed lands are in Paser and Petung Regencies, border areas between East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. It is expected that the electricity transmission can reach the Steam Power Plant in South Kalimantan (2x65 MW) and Central Kalimantan (2x60MW). 

Polliton said the electricity construction is scheduled to be finished by 2011. By that time, the power can cover the power shortage of 18MW with peak capacity of 200 MW. 

SG Wibisono


Saturday, November 29, 2008

First Lady to launch tree planting movement

Jakarta  (ANTARA News) - First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, to be accompanied by Mrs. Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, will plant breadfruit and coconut trees to mark the launch of a tree planting movement for women at Ancol Ocean Park, here, on December 1. 

The theme of last year`s movement was "Plant and Care 10 Million Trees" in an afford to help deal with the global warming. The theme of the 2008 tree planting movement will be "The food resilience of family." 

"Therefore, this year we will plant fruit-bearing and edible trees. Besides planting trees, we will also provide fingerlings to the people," Erna Witoelar, coordinator of the tree planting movement, said here on Thursday. 

The nation-wide movement will focus on planting and caring of edible trees, medicinal trees, and fingerling breeding for daily consumption of the people, according to Erna Witoelar, a former environmental affairs minister. 

"This is to ease the impacts of the current global food and energy crises which have affected the Indonesian people, especially the women," she said. 

To support the tree planting movement, the forestry ministry has provided around five million seedlings of breadfruit, durian, mango and other fruit-bearing trees. 

The fishery and marine ministry provides 30 million of fresh water fingerlings and 500 tons of seaweed seeds. Meanwhile, the agriculture ministry gives 2 million seedlings of horticultural trees and 2.5 million of crops seedlings. 

Witoelar said that the 2008 movement would be used as a momentum to empower the country`s women to help deal with the food and health problems. 

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to launch the Indonesian Tree Planting Day 2008 on November 28, 2008. 

First Lady Kristiani Herrawati Bambang Yudhoyono has won a United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) award for her efforts in encouraging Indonesian women to plant 1 million trees simultaneously across the country last year.


PLANTING A GREENER FUTURE

The Jakarta Post     |  Fri, 11/28/2008 7:57 PM  |  Jakarta

 

  

Volunteers plant a tree in a city park area in Srengseng, West Jakarta, on Friday. Three hundred volunteers participated in a Jakarta urban greenification program by planting 1,000 trees in the forested park. (JP/Ricky Yudhistira)


Shaanxi investors seeking Indonesian partners

Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 11/28/2008 10:47 AM  

Fleeing fallout from the U.S.-led financial crisis, businesses in China's Shaanxi province are seeking ties with Indonesian partners to support their industrial projects, which are worth expected to be US$6.8 billion. 

More than 10 projects are being offered to Indonesian businesses, ranging from those in the infrastructure, agriculture, mining, manufacturing and electronic sectors, said first executive president of the Association of Indonesia-China Economic and Cultural Cooperation, Sudradjat D.P, on Thursday. 

The projects to be developed in Indonesia would produce raw materials and other unfinished products for factories in Shaanxi, he said. 

"Potential Shaanxi investment in Indonesia may reach over $1.3 billion to support the projects in Shaanxi," he said Thursday on the sidelines of a Shaanxi-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation forum. 

"A number of business deals are expected to be signed very soon during their (Shaanxi businessmen's) short trip." 

According to data from the Shaanxi administration, as of last year, investment in Shaanxi key projects stood at $399.05 million in agriculture, $268.85 million in auto parts, $155.64 million in electronics, $111.37 million in textiles and garments, $517.53 million in mining, $596.82 million in construction materials and $4.04 billion in chemical and energy. 

The Chinese government is encouraging investment in Shaanxi-based businesses as the global economic turndown has hammered the country's export-driven economy, said vice secretary-general of the Association of Indonesia-China Economic and Cultural Cooperation Gondo Soebedjo. 

He said the Chinese government had set up an investment board specifically to anticipate the impacts of the global crisis on the country. 

Indonesian Chinese Entrepreneur Association vice secretary-general Richard Tan said that at first, the Shaanxi delegation, which comprises more than 100 businessmen, would learn about trade opportunities with Indonesian traders. 

"Investment opportunities will become available automatically once the trades go smoothly," Richard said. 

In September, businesses from Indonesia and the Chinese province of Guangdong finalized 30 deals worth a total $597 million. 

According to data from the Guangdong Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the trade volume between Indonesia and the province reached $5.19 billion in 2007, 32.8 percent higher than in the previous year. 

The total trade volume between the two countries stood at $19 billion as of July. It is projected to reach $30 billion by 2010.


Government to set up infrastructure fund

Alfian, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 11/28/2008 10:50 AM  

In a move expected to stimulate economic growth, the government will set up an institution to manage a pool of funds to support the financing of infrastructure projects, the National Planning Board (Bappenas) said Thursday. 

The funds will come from the government and donors, Bappenas deputy for infrastructure development, Dedy Supriadi Priatna, said. 

"We are calling it the infrastructure fund. It will be launched in February and will begin operating in April next year," Dedy said during a seminar titled "Solution for Power Plant Project Financing". 

Dedy said the government would work with multinational donors such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. 

"So far, about US$600 million in funds has been gathered. The government is contributing about Rp 1 trillion ($82.65 million). We expect to own between 15 and 20 percent of the company," Dedy said. 

Although the amount pooled to date is not considered enough to finance infrastructure, the government expects more funds to be generated once the institution is operational, he said. 

The function of the institution will be to support investors wishing to engage in infrastructure projects, particularly those investors who fail to secure bank loans after winning a project. 

"Project winners often fail to get bank loans because of the lack of funds. Most banks require loan applicants to put up at least 30 percent for their proposed projects. Most infrastructure businesspeople here have only about 10 percent of the equity," Dedy said. 

"We hope the infrastructure fund will help them in this regard." 

The government estimates about US$65 billion will be needed in new infrastructure investment in the next three years. With government funding limited, the private sector is expected to play a crucial role. 

State Minister for State Enterprises Sofyan A. Djalil has said state companies will push ahead with their infrastructure projects to help keep the economy running next year. 

The lack of infrastructure development in Indonesia is frequently cited by investors as being detrimental to economic growth. New infrastructure projects such as roads, power stations and telecommunications networks are expected to help generate greater economic activity and growth. 

Meanwhile, the ADB confirmed it is helping the government to improve the nation's infrastructure. 

In a statement released Thursday, the agency said it was providing an additional $280 million loan to support reforms in Indonesia's infrastructure sector. 

It said the loan would be used to fund programs seeking to encourage private sector participation and help improve the investment climate.


2009 also to be Visit Indonesia Year

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 11/28/2008 10:49 AM  

If you didn't travel in Indonesia this year, don't worry -- 2009 will also be the year to visit, with the government planning to extend the "successful" Visit Indonesia program. 

"At first many doubted the program's success, yet we have set a new record in our tourism history," Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said Wednesday. 

That record is to have received 6.4 million foreign tourist arrivals, which is the country is on track to meet. 

According to an official report from the Central Statistics Agency, there were 4.3 million foreign tourist arrivals in the first nine months of the year. 

Although this number is more than 2 million short of the program's target, Jero said he was convinced the full-year target would be met, as the tourist arrivals usually increase in the last quarter of the year, to generate around US$6 billion in foreign exchange income. 

Both the number of tourists and the amount of income generated would be record highs, leading the government to anoint the program an "unprecedented success". 

It's worth noting, however, that these figures are based on revised targets set by the ministry less than a month ago. 

The original target for the number of foreign tourists this year was 7 million and the targeted revenue $6.7 billion. 

The ministry's general secretary Sapta Nurwanda said Friday that next year's target for arrivals would be increased to 7 million, although he said the office acknowledged the great challenge posed by the global financial turmoil. 

"Next year there will be greater challenges in tourism stemming from the global economic downturn and the upcoming election," he said, 

Indonesia will hold legislative elections in April and the presidential election in July. 

He said the global crisis had already taken its toll on the tourism sector in the form of canceled trips, although he said the number had not reached a level that could jeopardize this year's revised target. 

According to the World Tourism Organization, the growth in the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia may decline next year to 6 percent, from an estimated 12 percent this year. 

The Visit Indonesia Year concept was first introduced during the former president Soeharto era, and the first year was 1991. (dis)


Indo Tambangraya to invest $200m in 2009

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 11/27/2008 11:04 AM  

PT Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITM), the Indonesian subsidiary of Thailand's biggest coal producer Banpu Pcl., plans to raise its capital expenditure in Indonesia by more than double next year compared to a year earlier, to increase its production capacity. 

Somyot Ruchirawat, ITM's president director, said the company would spend US$200 million next year, up from $71.5 million forecast for 2008. 

"The funding is from our internal budget. We would not use any loans," Ruchirawat said. 

The budget will mainly be used to expand the company's mining capacity in Tandung Mayang, Kutai Kartanegara Regency in East Kalimantan, which is operated by PT Kitadin, one of ITM's subsidiaries. 

"We are going to invest in equipment to increase freight capacity. This project alone will cost us about $60 million," Ruchirawat said. 

He was quick to add that these figures and the size of the project could still change, if adjustments were needed due to the current financial situation. 

"Because of the economic situation, we are reviewing some projects and acquisition plans to see whether what we are going to invest will satisfy our shareholders or not." 

The company however will move forward with projects such as the expansion of its coal port facility in Bontang, East Kalimantan to increase handling capacity to 18.5 million tons from the current capacity of 12.5 million tons. 

ITM is the fourth largest coal producer in Indonesia. 

As of September this year, the company produced 13.2 million tons of coal, up from 12.9 million tons in the same period last year. 

It has reduced its 2008 coal sales target to 18.1 million tons from an initial target of 19.5 tons, because of heavy rain in Kalimantan which has made mining more difficult. 

The company hopes to produce 20.5 million tons of coal next year. It exports 90 percent of its production. 

As the domestic obligation for coal producers will be enforced next year, ITM will increase its sales to domestic buyers, Ruchirawat said. -- Alfian


Lonsum to invest $49.2m in 2009

The Jakarta Post, Thu, 11/27/2008 10:57 AM  

JAKARTA: PT Perusahaan Perkebunan London Sumatra Indonesia, the country's second largest publicly listed plantation company, will spend Rp 600 billion (US$49.2 million) in investment next year, a senior executive says. 

Managing director of finance Jay G. Wacher said Wednesday the firm would spend Rp 250 billion on plantation in immature lands, Rp 250 billion on palm oil expansion and the remaining funds on expanding infrastructure in the areas surrounding the plantations. 

He said the company would use its accumulated internal cash reserves to finance these investment plans, as it still had Rp 1 trillion in cash on its balance sheet. 

Wacher aims that the production of palm oil will increase by 10 percent next year from the forecast production of 342,000 tons this year as the company expands its operations.


UT prepares to buy two more coal mines

The Jakarta Post, Ciater, West Java | Sat, 11/29/2008 11:29 AM  

PT United Tractor, the publicly listed heavy equipment distributor and coal mining company, was on track Friday to finalize acquisition of two coal mines in Central Kalimantan for around US$45 million, says an executive. 

"We are now completing the due diligence process, hopefully we can announce the acquisitions by next month or January next year," said finance director Gidion Hasan. 

Gidion, however, refused to mention the name of the companies he was dealing with as the due diligence process was still underway. 

The coal mines in question, according to Gideon, met the company's strategic plan criteria only to acquire mines which had more than 5 million tons of reserves of medium to higher quality coal, with more than 5,800 kcal/kg (calories per kilogram) calorific value. 

"We have $45 million on standby to wrap up the deal." 

Currently, the company operates a coal mine in South Kalimantan with annual production of three millions tons of coal under its subsidiary PT Pamapersada Nusantara, which has 13 million tons of reserves and contributed Rp 2.8 trillion ($233 million) in sales during the January-September period. 

Its other coal mine, located in Kapuas, Central Kalimantan, has 40 million tons of reserves of coal and is expected to start production in 2009. 

In the first nine months of 2008, United Tractors generated Rp 21.1 trillion in sales revenue, up by 59.4 percent from 13.2 trillion from the same period last year. 

It managed to book Rp 2.1 trillion in net profits, an 88.7 percent increase from last year. 

The mining sector is expected to bolster the company's revenue after forecasting that construction machinery sales would probably decrease significantly. 

"Next year our sales should be backed up from other sectors, like mining and the parts and services business," Gidion said. 

The company's sales revenue in the first nine months of 2009 was made up from sales of construction machinery (47.6 percent), mining contracting (39.2 percent) and coal mining (13.2 percent) 

United Tractors is 59.5 percent owned by PT Astra International with the investing public controlling the rest. (hwa)


Pertamina moves to acquire Verenex's Libya oil field

Alfian, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 11/29/2008 11:32 AM  

PT Pertamina is moving ahead with an expansion plan, with the state oil and gas company in talks with Verenex Energy Inc. to buy the Canada-based firm's stakes in an oil field in the Ghadames Basin, Libya. 

The field, known as Area 47, is operated by Verenex and Indonesia's largest publicly listed oil company, PT Medco Energi, with each holding 50 percent of the interest. 

"Verenex may pull out from the block. As the drilling has been done, we think why not to enter into this block," said Pertamina's upstream director Karen Agustiawan Friday. 

Karen said Area 47 may begin production in 2011 with an initial production estimated at 50,000 barrels of oil per day. 

She added that the block, if the talks were successful, would be the third Pertamina block in Libya. "We already own two blocks in Libya and are looking forward to see Libya as one of our bases overseas." 

Medco and Verenex won rights in 2005 to explore the basin for 30 years. The area contains about 2.15 billion barrels of oil equivalent according to a best estimate study as of Sept. 20, Medco said on Nov. 7, as reported by Bloomberg. 

Libya, a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has 41.5 billion barrels in proven oil reserves and produced more than 1.75 million barrels a day in October. 

Karen said Pertamina has yet to decide the portion of the stakes it would acquire. "We are still in talks with Verenex. We don't know yet whether we will enter the block alone or with partners," she said. 

Meanwhile, Pertamina is also getting good news on the domestic front. 

The company, through its subsidiary, PT Pertamina EP, is developing an oil and gas well in Pondok Tengah, Bekasi, West Java. 

In an early trial on Nov. 24, PT Pertamina EP extracted 3,447 barrels of oil per day and 6.7 million cubic feet gas per day from the well, PT Pertamina EP's president director Tri Siwindono said. 

Pertamina expects to produce an average 154,000 barrels of oil per day in 2008, up from 143,000 barrels per day in 2007.


UAE-based Emaar's $600m indonesian venture to be operational by 2010

Khaleej Times -26/11/2008 

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The Dh2.2 billion ($600 million) mega-tourism development venture between Dubai's Emaar Properties and Bali Tourism Development Corporation in Indonesia's Lombok Island is now underway and is expected to be operational by 2010. 

Minister Djoko Kirmanto, Indonesia's Public Works, disclosed this to Khaleej Times during a forum on tourism and investment in Dubai the other day. 

"We have started constructing the international airport on the island, and other infrastructures such as water distribution system, water treatment plant, roads and others are now in place." 

Lombok Island, which is less than an hour away from the world famous Bali Island, is now gradually converted into a world-class residential and resort community sprawling over 1,175 hectares. 

Construction of the infrastructure needed for the island to become a tourist destination started in April this year, a month after the signing of a joint venture in Dubai between the state-owned Bali Tourism Development Corporation and Dubai's Emaar Properties PJSC to undertake the Lombok mega-tourism and mixed-use project . 

Minister Kimanto said the joint venture underlines the strong bilateral business relations between Indonesia and the UAE. 

Emaar is one of the first developers from the Middle East and North Africa region to expand into Indonesia, an emerging market with strong growth potential, especially in the tourism sector. 

Three other UAE-based companies expanding to Indonesia, he said, are the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Investment Authority which will invest a total of $1.3 billion in South Sumatra to build an integrated port and a railway line, Pacific-Inter Link, which has been in Indonesia since 1999 with an initial investment of $150 million, and will put in additional $500 million to build a palm oil refinery plant in Dumai, Riau, and Al Ghurair Group through its subsidiary ETA Star which plans to invest around $500 million to enter Indonesia's refinery industry. 

"We are promoting Indonesia to Dubai and the MENA Region as prospective homes for investors, who are interested to take part in food safety programme." "We also need about $150 billion in the next five years to invest in public infrastructure development projects to maintain our economic growth at six per cent annually.

 

GM Indonesia to start new plant in 2009 despite U.S. problems

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 11/27/2008 11:00 AM  

Despite the problems back home in the United States, PT General Motor Indonesia is showing its commitment to Indonesia by laying out big plans for next year -- three new models will be released, new outlets will open and construction will start on a new plant. 

While the leaders of the GM parent company are making major efforts to mobilize a bailout from the U.S. government, GM Indonesia is optimistic about its future here, managing director Mukiat Sutikno said on Wednesday. 

"We're here to stay. We have no plan to withdraw investments from the country. 

"We are even going to release three new models in Indonesia next year, one of which will be released no later than the first quarter of 2009," he said. 

A new plant will start to be constructed next year, he said, although no exact timing was given. 

At present, GM cars entering Indonesia are completely built up from plants in Thailand and Korea. As of the end of October, GM Indonesia has sold 248 Aveos, 425 Kalos, 70 Optra Magnums, 90 GM Estates and 1,469 Captivas. 

Prospects in Indonesia remain very positive, he said, adding that the company had recently opened new distribution outlets in Cirebon in West Java, Jambi in Sumatra, Pontianak in Kalimantan, and Sorong in Papua. 

Sales in Indonesia in the first ten months of the year stood at 2,303 units, a significant increase from the total 2007 sales of 1,400 units. 

"We hope we will have sold 2,800 units by December," Mukiat said. 

Still, next year's sales will likely drop by 30 percent, in line with a decline in the whole automotive industry, he said. 

"Eighty percent of Indonesian customers' financing comes from credit loans and the down payments will rise to an average 40 percent of the price. This surely will slow down car purchases." 

GM considers Indonesia to be one of its 11 emerging markets, along with Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey. 

"This means Indonesia will be one of the company's main production bases," he said. 

GM Indonesia is 100 percent owned by GM Corporation. (iwp)


Related Article:

GM suspends $445-million Thai diesel project: report


Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Timah to produce tin derivatives to boost revenue

Alfian, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 11/26/2008 10:47 AM  

State mining company PT Timah, the world's second largest tin producer, may produce tin derivative products next year and sell them directly to industries, anticipating a continued drop in tin prices. 

"Anticipating low tin prices next year, we will sell our tin products to end-users instead of traders. We will also boost selling of derivative downstream value-added products like tin solders," said Timah Corporate Secretary Abrun Abubakar. 

Timah has begun to limit selling its basic product to traders since the last quarter of the year, he added. 

The price of tin has fallen nearly 50 percent so far this year from its historic price of more than US$25,000 per ton in May. 

Abrun said Timah has begun reducing its output this year, with tin production expected to reach 48,000 tons, lower than last year's output of 58,000 tons. 

"If the price stays like this, next year's output will likely be around the same." 

In a bid to help boost production of higher priced tin products, Timah will go ahead with construction of two downstream factories. 

Timah will complete building a tin solder factory in Kundur island, Riau Province, in December this year, he said. Timah plans to spend up to Rp 40 billion to build the factory with a production capacity of 2,100 tons of solder wires a year. 

Abrun added the company has just completed the design of a factory for tin chemical, which is used mostly in the plastics industry. 

"We will begin the construction of this factory next year and we expect to finish it within less than one year." 

The tin chemical factory is designed to have a 30,000 ton capacity, but in early phases of production, the company would only aim for 10,000 tons, he added. 

Timah has allocated about Rp 300 billion for this factory. 

Aside from constructing the two factories, the tin mining company will cancel other plans that have no direct relationship with its core business, including an earlier plan to acquire coal concessions. 

Abrun said this was the company's way of adjusting to the financial crisis. 

According to Timah's finance director Krishna Syarif, the company will carry over part of its planned Rp 1.4 trillion of capital expenditure from this year to next. local workers. (iwp)


Overseas demand for Indonesian workers stays high

Astrid Wijaya, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 11/26/2008 10:47 AM  

The ongoing global financial crisis will not reap havoc on the demand for Indonesian migrant workers, particularly in Kuwait, the United States and Canada, an official said. 

According to the promotion director of Manpower Replacement and Protection (BNP2TKI) Endang Sulistyaningsih, opportunity for Indonesian laborers to work abroad remains high, with the U.S. and Canada in need of about one million nurses and care-givers. 

"I just came back from the U.S., and they said they are seeking up to one million nurses before 2020," Endang told Antara. 

Endang added that the demand for care-givers in the U.S. and Canada was on the rise due to the huge population of elderly citizens. 

"Opportunities for our citizens to work abroad remain high, but the biggest challenge comes from language proficiency. We still lag behind the Philippines, India, and Bangladesh, but only because English is an official language in those countries," she said. 

On its official website (www.Bnptki2.go.id), BNP2TKI said that, through a private manpower recruitment company, Kuwait had requested 12,000 nurses from Indonesia for 2009. 

"This is a hard work to deal with in 2009," BNP2TKI head Muh. Jumhur Hidayat said, after a meeting with the company's chief executive in Kuwait on Monday. 

According to the latest data from the Central Statistics Bureau there are 5 million Indonesian migrant workers across the world. The bureau has predicted the number will grow by 700,000 to 1 million next year. 

BNP2TKI data showed that the total combined remittance of migrant workers increased from US$3.42 billion in 2006 to $5.84 billion last year. In the first four months of 2008, the figure already stood at $2.23 billion. 

Canada is deemed the best potential market for Indonesian workers. Yonas Karyanto, the general manager of labor supplier PT Yonasindo Intra Pratama, said Tuesday that, at the end of the year, the North American country had requested 500 skilled Indonesian workers. The company has managed to send just 15 people so far, as the rest failed to meet the Canadian Embassy's qualifications. 

Yonas said Canadian employers would pay their Indonesian employees salary equal to that given to local workers. (iwp)


Chevron Starts Oil Production In New Area In Indonesia

CNNMoney.com

November 25, 2008: 10:44 PM EST 

RIAU, Indonesia -(Dow Jones)- Chevron Pacific Indonesia, or CPI, Wednesday kicked off oil production at a new field in central Sumatra, which will produce 1,000 barrels a day before increasing to 34,000 b/d in 2012. 

"It needs $450 million in investment," Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said in a ceremony marking the official opening of production from North Duri Area 12. 

The Indonesian unit of U.S. Chevron Corp. (CVX) will also in the near future develop areas 13 and 14 of the North Duri field, which are expected to commence production in 2014, Purnomo said. 

CPI President Director Suwito Anggoro said areas 13 and 14 could each produce 45,000 b/d of crude oil. 

Raden Priyono, head of the upstream oil and gas regulatory body BP Migas, said Chevron will invest a total of $1.3 billion to develop the three areas, helping to slow the decline in CPI's overall crude output from fields in its concession in Riau. 

CPI currently produces 408,000 b/d of crude oil, nearly half of Indonesia's total output. 

-By Deden Sudrajat, contributing to Dow Jones Newswires; 62-21 39831277; I- Made.Sentana@dowjones.com

 

Eight Foreign Funded Projects to be Delayed

Wednesday, 26 November, 2008 | 19:44 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The government is putting on the back burner eight projects which were to be funded by grants from overseas, due to a review of the 2006 - 2009 National Development Planning Board’s (BAPPENAS) blue book. The eight projects were proposed by the departments of Transportation, Agriculture, Industry and the Wajo Regency administration in South Sulawesi. 

While the National Education Department had planned to work on a project valued at US$ 115 million, the Agriculture Department proposed a US$ 15 million project. The Transportation Department was also working on a Rp 1,42 trillion and US$ 7,2 million projects, while the Wajo administration was opting for the Wajo Agri Center Development Project. 

The revised blue book is taking in 134 projects – valued at US$ 8 billion -- proposed by the ministries/agencies. Around 73 project proposals worth US$ 7,2 billion and 61 others for technical assistance are valued at US$ 8 billion. The project proposals came from institutions, departments, provincial and local administrations and state-owned enterprises. 

HARUN MAHBUB


Iris Detection Without Flashlight

Wednesday, 26 November, 2008 | 20:09 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Bandung:The Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ (LIPI) Informatics Centre is launching software that would enable the process of detecting the health status of the body’s organs and the body system, by use of an iridology examination. “The system is to detect the body’s condition through the eyes’ iris which is digitally photographed,” said Wawan Wardiana, Lipirisma Researchers Team chief during the first software launch at the LIPI office in Bandung, last Monday. 

The software can aid doctors in looking at the patient’s condition before diagnosing his disease. Doctors can see through the iris from a digital photograph through Lipirisma. “We will no longer need a flashlight to check on the patient anymore,” Wawan said. 

The team is also developing home-based software which people can use before going to the doctor. The home edition is a simpler tool than the ones designed for professionals. 

The software is an improvement over the previous eye iris monitoring software, first developed in 2006. A student at the Surabaya’s Tenth November University has also created his version of the eye iris software. “We guarantee that this software is safe and has a high accuracy rate,” Wawan said. 

Many features come with the Lipirisma software, for instance, a special camera, storing a picture file in a JPEG format, facilitating the analysis function because it provides a Jensen-Chart circle whose area shows information on the related organ. Lipirisma also has database to record the result of the patient’s iris analysis, the iris diagnostic history and a photograph of the patient. The offered retail price is Rp 1,5 million. 

Doctor Farida Megadini from the An Nabwah Clinic in Surabaya has been testing the system for three weeks and said its accuracy rate was 80 percent. “This tool will help doctors in analyzing their patients’ organ’s condition and system by looking at the seven circle zones in the eyes iris in line with Dr Ignatz van Peczely’s projection,” said Farida, who was also involved in the study. 

The tool can be used to treat cataract patients, but it will be difficult for patients suffering total trauma. Many requirements must be met in order to use the tools. For instance, the need for suitable lighting when taking the photograph and using at least a three-pixel camera. “This is to allow a diagnosis of the organs’ health and body system,” he concluded. 

ALWAN RIDHA RAMDANI

PT Indocement to build two cement mills

Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Indonesia's second largest cement maker PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa (JSX:INTP) has said it will build two cement mills with an investment of US$50 million in West Java next year. 

The cement mills to be built in Cirebon will have a total capacity of 1.5 million tons, company finance director Christian Kartawijaya said. 

Kartawijaya said the company will also use part of its capital spending of around US$85 million set for 2009 to buy an andesite deposit in Purwakarta with a reserve of 100 million tons.

Petronas, Shell bid to distribute subsidized fuels

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 11/26/2008 12:20 PM  

Local units of oil and gas companies Petronas (of Malaysia) and Shell (of the Netherlands) are bidding to distribute subsidized fuels in Indonesia next year, a project currently monopolized by state-owned Pertamina, Antara reported on Wednesday. 

Ibrahim Hasyim of Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency BPH Migas said the body would convene to determine fuel distributors in early December. 

He said in addition to Petronas and Shell, Pertamina and five other companies were bidding for tenders. The other companies are AKR Corporation, Patra Niaga, Petrobas, Bumi Asri Prima Pratama and Trans Pacific Petrochemical Indonesia (TPPI). 

Ibrahim said the winners would need to sign contracts stipulating obligations. 

According to the 2009 state budget, the government will subsidize a total 36.8 million kiloliters of fuel -- mostly premium (petroleum). It has also allocated an 8 percent margin for distributors.


Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Telkom Reveals Take Over Plans

Tuesday, 25 November, 2008 | 20:24 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The state-run PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia said on Tuesday it is completing reviews and studies in a bid to take over several local multimedia companies in the country. 

Rinaldi Firmansyah Chief Director of Telkom at the start of Investor Summit 2008 in Jakarta said “reviews on the acquisitions are almost done,” although he declined to elaborate on the number of companies targetted in the acquisition. Rinaldi said the review process began earlier this month by collecting data from the pubic, banks, and the companies. 

Finance Director of the company Sudiro Asno said Telkom will seek loans to finance 30-40 percent of its total acquisition plan from Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Bank Mandiri, Bank Negara Indonesia, and Bank Jabar. 

Rinaldi also mentioned the company's plan to buy a portion of shares from Telecommunication Company of Iran, a government controlled company. Telkom’s chief commissioner Tanri Abeng told Antara news agency, "Telkom is ready to become its strategic partner. It is not yet certain how many shares we will acquire but if they (Iran) are willing to release up to 20 percent it is not impossible for us to participate." 

Wahyudin Fahmi | Antara

An Australian-Indonesian Disaster Management Facility To Be Built

Tuesday, 25 November, 2008 | 18:31 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Lima, Peru:The Australia-Indonesia Disaster Reduction Facility, aimed at reducing the impact of natural disasters, will be built in Jakarta next year. The facility is a collaboration between the governments of Indonesia and Australia, following a meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Jakarta, last June. It is scheduled to begin operations in April 2009. 

"We all know that disasters can hit anytime without any notice, and it can create a huge effect on us,' President Yudhoyono told Indonesian and Australian reporters. "Disasters do not only claim lives, but also the livelihood of the survivors," he said at a press conference during the APEC conference in Lima, Peru, last Saturday. 

Experts from the two countries concluded that the frequency of disasters relating to climate change keeps on rising. During the period of 1987-1998, disasters struck around 195 times a year, increasing up to 365 times a year during the 2000 – 2006 period. The impacts of the disaster depended on how prepared people were to face disasters. 

The Sidr storm, which hit Bangladesh on November 2007, had almost the same power as the Nargis storm that struck Burma last May. However, as the preparation of the two countries – which have similar economic growth rates – was very different, so were the losses incurred. Around 3.000 victims were killed in Bangladesh, while more than 100.000 victims died in Burma. 

To fund the activity, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said his government has allocated US$ 67 million for the first five years. "We are doing this together because we both are heads of APEC's natural disasters mitigation task force," he said at a press conference with President Yudhoyono in Lima. 

BAMBANG HARYMURTI


Bali to plant one million trees in 2009

Wasti Atmodjo, Contributor, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Tue, 11/25/2008 11:42 AM  

Bali will spend nearly Rp 400 million (US$3,200) to plant the seeds of 1.35 million trees next year, as part of the central government's plan to "green up" the island in anticipation of environmental disasters. 

The seeds, including chestnut and mahogany, will be planted inside and outside forests all across Bali, said Dewa Dharma Putra, head of the environmental division of the province's Regional Development Planning Agency. 

"However, this is just the number of seeds we will plant, we cannot foresee how many of them will actually grow into trees," he stressed. 

Dharma Putra said areas such as southern Badung suffered from a lack of absorption areas, making them prone to floods, while other areas, such as the Seraya district in Karangasem Regency suffered from extreme drought, which might lead to fires. 

He added that the areas were categorized according to the state of their degradation, from extremely critical to critical to slightly critical and so on. 

"Karangasem has one of the widest critical areas, while areas in southern Badung such as Kuta, Pecatu and Nusa Dua are also categorized as critical and are among our main priorities." 

The southern Badung area is the island's main tourism region. 

The program, which is part of the Gerhan (forests and field rehabilitation movement) initiative launched by the government in 2004, actually began in Bali in 2006; it has simply been renamed the "Green Bali" program. 

The aim of the program is to plant local trees and reduce deforested areas in Bali by a minimum of 9,000 hectares every year. 

The latest report from the agency revealed that 20,000 hectares of land in Bali remain in critical condition, a reduction from the 55,000 hectares identified in 2004. 

He further estimated that as many as 2.5 hectares of the island's mangrove forests - also a target of the "Green Bali" program - remain in critical need. 

When asked about the exact impact of the "Green Bali" movement, Dewa Dharma said several regional agencies, which include the provincial, regional and municipal forestry agencies were still working on identifying the newly improved areas. 

"According to our temporary data, there has been a significant reduction in the number of critical areas, but we're still re-capping the exact number. We are doing this along with the identification phase," he said. 

This latest data, he said, would serve as a guideline for the agency's future "Green Bali" program, including setting benchmarks of how many of the trees should be planted each year. 

Meanwhile, Putu Subagiartha, head of the Bali Regional Development Planning Agency, hoped the re-planting program could increase the island's attractiveness to tourists. 

"We have to prove that we can conserve our environment as well as develop our tourism industry at the same time," he said.


KFC plans to build fewer but larger outlets in 2009

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 11/25/2008 11:33 AM  

The local operator of Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises has halved the number of outlets it planned to open next year in a move that will see it focus on fewer but larger KFCs to increase revenue. 

PT Fast Food Indonesia announced in a statement Monday it will open 20 new stores next year compared to its original proposal of 40. 

However, Fast Food Indonesia director Justinus D. Juwono was quick to add that the new stores would be more spacious than those originally planned but that the total cost would remain the same. 

The new outlets will be between 600 and 800 square meters in area, up from the range of 250 to 400 square meters set in the original proposal. 

The new stores will be built as stand-alone units, rather than in malls and office buildings as was originally planned. 

"Based on our experience, building an independent store is more profitable, as the outlets will have a higher transaction volume and sales," he said, adding that the company would spend up to Rp 160 billion (US$13.12 million) to build the stores. 

With the additional facilities, the company expects a 19.6 percent growth in sales next year from last year, or a total sales revenue of Rp 2.42 trillion. The company estimates this year's sales at Rp 2.02 trillion. 

As of the end of September, sales stood at Rp 1.47 trillion, up by 31 percent from Rp 1.12 trillion in the same period last year, from a total of 334 outlets throughout the country. 

The company's net profit in the first nine months of this year rose 33 percent to Rp 89 billion from Rp 66.8 billion in the same period last year.


Telkom to raise $756 million loan for expansion

The Jakarta Post, Wed, 11/26/2008 1:34 AM  

PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) plans to borrow Rp 9 trillion ($756 million) from local banks to help fund expansion next year and fend off rivals. 

"We want to keep growing during the crisis", Telkom President Director Rinaldi Firmansyah told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday. The company needed to boost spending to maintain market share, he said. 

Telkom, Indonesia's biggest company by market value and Southeast Asia's second-largest phone company, may seek loans from banks including PT Bank Mandiri, PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI)  and PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) to cover as much as 40 percent of its spending plan totaling 22.5 trillion rupiah, Rinaldi said. 

According to Bloomberg, the company is spending about 13.5 trillion rupiah to expand its wireless unit PT Telekomunikasi Selular after posting its lowest quarterly profit in two years amid the global financial crisis. 

Its net income fell 18 percent between July and September this year due to intensifying competition and reduced tariffs from rivals including Saudi Telecom Co. and Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd. 

Rinaldi said the company was considering expanding into Iran, which they consider a good potential market as growth slows at home. 

 

Monday, November 24, 2008

Indonesia to implement Bali Climate Change recommendation in 2009

www.chinaview.cn  2008-11-24 21:14:01           

JAKARTA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government will implement the Bali Climate Change Recommendation, which was proposed by the United Nations, next year, said an Indonesian official here on Monday. 

"The program will start next year, and involve three Indonesian ministries, namely the forestry ministry, agriculture ministry and public work ministry," said Bayu Khrisnamurti, Deputy Economic Coordinating Minister. He added that the project will be funded by the UN and last for five years. 

"The budget of this project is still being discussed for further possible change. I guess it may exceed 1.5 million U.S. dollars," Bayu said. 

The program will involve both scientists and grass roots in rural areas, who will take an adaptation to the climate change. 

"We attempt to build their knowledge of this climate change, and hope that they will find solutions and ready to adjust themselves to the change," Bayu said. 

According to him, many areas in the country, particularly in the eastern part, were obviously impacted by the climate change. "It is due to the global warming," he said. 

The program will cover 150 villages in six districts, by involving 6,000 households. The six districts include Belu, Timor Tengah Selatan, Rote Ndao, Sumba Timur, and Lembata," he said. 

East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has been selected as the location of a pilot project in Indonesia, because the province is one of the regions which are prone to the climate change impact. Other regions prone to the climate change impact are eastern Sulawesi and Kalimantan. 

Editor: Yao

Sea Wave Powered Electricity Generating Plant Delayed

Monday, 24 November, 2008 | 13:51 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Mataram: The installation of a sea wave powered electricity generating plant in the waters of Tanjung Menangis, Pringgabaya sub-district, Lombok Timur Regency, in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), will not be carried out this November. 

The reason for this is that the Kobold technology developer from Italy has asked for additional funds from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which is funding the project. 

“UNIDO has been asked for more funds. Meanwhile, we cannot continue the project,” said Yusron Hadi, Head of the Sub Division of Natural and Environment Resources at NTB's Regional Development Planning Board, yesterday (23/11). 

Yusron explained that additional funds were needed because of the global economic crisis that had resulted in price fluctuations. 

He mentioned around EUR180,000 were allocated originally to address electricity needs of 138 units of house in Ketapang Hamlet. 

Kobold is a second prototype in the world and is made in Italy. 

The machine will be located 450 meters from the coastline at a depth of 25 meter depth. 

Making use of sea waves moving at 2.75 meters per second, this project will be managed by the Cahaya Baru Group.

With this technology, it is expected that 60 watt of electricity power can be distributed to every house. 

Kobold technology adopted the propeller concept turned by vertical sea waves that can produce 110 kilowatts of electricity power per hour. 

The first Kobold prototype project in Indonesia cost Rp8 billion and was started in January this year. 

Half of the project's cost was funded by UNIDO, with 30 percent from the Indonesian Government, 10 percent from the NTB Provincial Government, and 10 percent from the Lombok Timur Regency Government. 

SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID

Seven New Modern Tax Offices Officially Opened

Monday, 24 November, 2008 | 14:31 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Bukittinggi: Finance Minister Sri Mulyani officially opened seven regional modern offices of the Tax Directorate General throughout Indonesia, on Monday morning (24/11) in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. 

The seven are the regional tax offices for: West Sumatra and Jambi; Bengkulu and Lampung; South and Central Kalimantan; West Kalimantan; North and Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Maluku; Nusa Tenggara; Papua and Maluku. 

The Minister also launched 88 tax service offices with modern services and 135 offices for tax counseling and consultants in 10 regions throughout Indonesia. 

Speaking at a press conference in the palace of Dr. Mohammad Hatta in Bukittingi, on Sunday evening (23/11), Tax Director General Darmin Nasution said the launching of new offices was part of the program to modernize vertical units throughout Indonesia. 

“A tax office becoming a modern office means we have reached a level of improvement and preparedness. We have changed the organizational structure,” he said. 

“The organizational structure in former-style tax offices is based on kinds of tax like property tax, tax for luxury goods, and income tax. While modern-style offices are based on the tax functions with different people for service, examination, and law enforcement,” added Darmin. 

He went on to say that different people for different sorts of work will make tax offices operate optimally. 

“So we can provide full services as well as enforce the law,” said Darmin. 

This year, the government has targeted revenues from the tax sector totaling Rp535 trillion. 

Darmin said he felt that this revenue target could be exceeded by five percent. 

Febrianti

Indonesia vying for construction market in Dubai

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto and a number of construction businessmen will be visiting Dubai in an effort to win a number of construction projects in the Middle East country, a Public Works Ministry Spokesman said. 

"We will try our best to construction market in the Middle East though Dubai because Dubai is the biggest financial center in the Middle East like Singapore in Asia," Sumaryanto Widayatin, head of construction development affairs of the Ministry of Public Works, said here on Monday. 

The minister`s delegation will be visiting Dubai during which it would attend an expo held in that country. 

Widayatin, who is one of the 40 members of the Indonesian delegation, said that the Indonesian construction businesses were to take part in the expo in order to seize construction business opportunities. 

He said that the construction market in Dubai was estimated at US$20 billion. It needed skills such as in the building maintenance. 

Widayatin said that Dubai itself was known as the `big five` in the building business in the Middle East that would surely promise a good market potential. 

He said that Indonesia was now preparing to set up a representative office i Dubai. "The problem is whether to open our own branch office or just to join with the Indonesian Embassy`s attache," he added. 

Widayatin said that could not set any business target for Indonesia in the expo which would be held for three days. 

The public works ministry official said that Dubai had relative big market potentials but it was hard for Indonesian contractors to take part not because of competition but because of certainties in the payments. 

"Overseas, we don`t know to whom the payments that are obtained should be charged. There must be certainties with regard to this. After all, we also need certainties in banking support because no supporting banks already available overseas," he added. 

He said that at present Dubai still had plans to build a lot of new buildings most of which were high rise ones.


M`sian minister ascertaining Indonesia`s coal supply capability

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Malaysia`s Energy Minister Shariman bin Abu Mansur is visiting Jakarta to make sure Indonesia can meet his country`s need for coal. 

Speaking to the press after meeting Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro here Monday, Shariman said he was visiting Indonesia to study the conditions of Indonesia`s coal industry and make sure that Malaysia`s need for coal imports would be met. Malaysia was meeting 85 percent of its need for coal with immports from Indonesia. 

"We want to make sure that our coal supplies are secure. We need 12 million tons of coal this year. The need will increase to 15 million tons next year. The need could increase further to 19 million tons after a few new power plants have become operational," he said. 

He noted Indonesia was now in the process of formulating its coal index and Malaysia wanted to know developments in this regard. "Besides, we also want to ascertain the peninsula`s (Malaysia) coal deposits," Shaziman said. 

He said the Indonesian government had given an assurance about its coal supplies to Malaysia because Indonesia still had plenty of coal reserves. 

"There is no problem with Indonesian coal supplies to Malaysia`s electricity company TNB," he added. 

He said that Indonesia and Malaysia had very good relations so that they would respect their sales-purchase agreement they had made so far. 

The Malaysian minister said TNB was prepared to review the price in its long-term contract with Indonesia but the important thing was continuity of supplies. 

"Provided there is no problem with supply , we hope we can set the price based on the prevailing market price," he added. 

This meant Malaysia would follow the coal index price the Indonesia government would issue every month. 

He said TNB was now planning to use gas for 60 percent of its power plants, coal for 30 percent and hydro and renewable energies for the remaining 10 percent.


Antara seeks Rp 450 billion in aid to revitalize business

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 11/22/2008 12:14 PM  

State-owned news agency LKBN Antara is asking the government for a Rp 450 billion (US$41.5 million) bailout to in part modernize its business capabilities, a top executive says. 

CEO Ahmad Muklis Yusuf said Friday the agency had submitted the proposal for the bailout funds to the State Ministry for State Enterprises, which oversees state companies. 

“I have discussed the matter with the secretary of the minister for state enterprises, and the response was very positive,” Ahmad said without elaborating. 

Under existing regulations, the ministry can propose that state money be injected into ailing state companies providing the House of Representatives approves. 

Ahmad said the cash package, if approved, would be used mostly to revitalize and enhance the firm’s business performance, including by refurbishing its website. 

“We are planning to become a content providing company and to enrich our website with multimedia content, and we need help from the government to carry this out,” he said, adding that Antara aimed to become an independent business entity by 2012. 

At present, Antara — which provides news to media outlets — is operating at a financial loss. 

“We only get around Rp 10 million each year from the media (for supplying news), while our yearly production cost is Rp 40 million,” he said. 

Antara, he went on, had been suffering average annual losses of Rp 20 billion for the last five years.

Said Didu, secretary to the minister for state enterprises, said the office stood ready to support the development of the news agency and would process the proposal as soon as possible. 

“Currently, the State Development Finance Comptroller is auditing Antara’s assets, and the government is assessing how much capital the company needs,” Said added. 

According to Ahmad, Antara is currently also seeking funds from other sources, including bank loans. (dis