VOI NEWS 11.00 LOCAL TIME, GMT+7, 28.11.2017
President Joko Widodo and several of his cabinet ministers are scheduled to attend the National Oikumene Christmas celebration in Pontianak, West Kalimantan on December 28th. Minister of Energy and Mineral, Ignasius Jonan as the organizing committee chairman of the National Oikumene Christmas event confirmed that the President would attend the event during a preparation meeting at West Kalimantan governor's office in Pontianak on Monday, November 27th. Minister Jonan also said that the event has to be well prepared by the government as President Joko Widodo will be present. The event involves not only Christian communities but also followers of other religious beliefs. He further said that the President himself chooses West Kalimantan as the venue for this year's celebration, which is themed ‘Cultural Diversity’ as it aims to unite all ethnic groups in Indonesia. West Kalimantan Governor, Cornelis who serves as the regional organizing committee head, said that his provincial administration would do its best to ensure that the event will run smoothly. (JP)
Vice President Jusuf Kalla asks Chinese investors not to bring too many migrant workers
Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla has asked Chinese investors not to bring too many migrant workers to Indonesia. After receiving a courtesy visit from Chinese Deputy Prime Minister, Liu Yandong on Monday (November 27th) at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta, VP Jusuf Kalla said that the investment is excellent, but he expects less migrant workers from China and Liu Yandong has agreed to the request. He even claimed that China will train Indonesian workers both at home and in China to adjust to the needs of Chinese investors. VP Jusuf Kalla also explained that the request is made based on previous experience in Chinese investment. Chinese investors typically brought thousands of workers to Indonesia. At the meeting that lasted for an hour, VP Jusuf Kalla and Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Liu also discussed cooperation between Indonesia and China, including in education and nuclear power.()
Bulog: Food stocks to last till year-end
The State Logistics Agency -Bulog said in Jakarta on Monday that food stocks would last until the end of the year, including during the Christmas and New Year holidays. President Director of Bulog, Djarot Kusumayakti stated that the rice stock is enough to keep the price stable; Bulog has 1.2 million tons of rice. According to a survey conducted by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2015, Indonesians consume 27 million tons of rice annually or 2.25 million tons monthly. Bulog is not the sole distributor of food, as private companies also oversee food stocks. Bulog Procurement Director, Tri Wahyudi Saleh said that most of the rice is low to medium quality, including the rice to be distributed to low-income families with a government subsidy. He added that out of 1.2 million tons, the premium stock is only 100 tons. Djarot said that currently, Bulog is having 400,000 tons of sugar in stock, higher than the monthly national consumption of 240,000 tons. (JP)
90 thousand people to be displaced as Mt. Agung erupts
National Disaster Management Agency -BNPB revealed that currently, there are 22 villages affected by the eruption of Mt. Agung in Karangasem, Bali. Head of BNPB's Data and Public Relations Center, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that there are still many people who stay in 22 villages. Sutopo said in a press conference in Jakarta on Monday that the number of people from these 22 villages who have to be evacuated is 90 thousand to 100 thousand people, but only 40 thousand people have been displaced. The authority has increased dangerous zone of Mt. Agung eruption within a radius of eight kilometers to 10 kilometers. He ensured the team from BNPB still makes efforts in assisting the evacuation. He also explained that the officers are still carrying out sweeping and urging the people to evacuate. Sutopo also added that the efforts to evacuate residents should continue to be done because of the condition of Mt. Agung is now in its highest alert status. (ROL)
Attending rejuvenation of people's palm oil, President Joko Widodo reminds the importance of management
North Sumatra province becomes the second province to run a community palm oil rejuvenation program after it was first launched in South Sumatra Province on October 13th. President Joko Widodo said that palm oil is Indonesia's best source of income due to high contribution of the commodity to the national economy. However, the President reminds that oil palm commodities should get support from management programs so that their productivity will not decrease.
“…It is not excessive when palm oil is called green gold for our country, Indonesia. Because, our country is the largest palm oil producer in the world, not only in Asia or Southeast Asia but also in the world. We must also remember that as the biggest palm oil producer, this means that we must be a leader in management of palm oil which is our weakness. We must work hard and learn how to take care and rejuvenate. Because, most of our palm trees are old enough. This means that the productivity decreases.” The President said.
In addition to the launching of the initial planting program of palm oil plantation rejuvenation program, on the same occasion, the handover of palm oil renewal, seeds of superior varieties of oil palm and the transfer of certificates of land rights to the community were also carried out. In the province of North Sumatra, the government will rejuvenate the palm plantation of the people covering an area of 9,109.29 hectares, spreading in 12 districts, including: Serdang Bedagai, Langkat, Labuhan Batu Selatan, Labuhan Batu, Asahan, Coal, Simalungun, Labuhan Batu Utara, Padang Lawas Utara, Padang Lawas, Deli Serdang, and Tapanuli Tengah. (Ndy trans by Rezha)
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