Political Issues Environment Issues Economic Issues Regional/International Issues Socio-Cultural Issues

Bi -Weekly Bulletin Issue 22 Indonesia News & Views www.indonesian-embassy.fi November 14, 2009

Top quotes inside this issue: ♦ ”President SBY named the eradication of the country’s “judicial mafia” as his government’s top priority.”(page 1)

♦ ”Indonesia ranked as the second most confident country in the world in terms of economic growth….” (page 2 )

♦ ”Indonesia is a growing economic power in the region and one of a number of countries that is likely to become increasingly important in the future.”(page 9)

♦ “Bali has been named one of the best regions in the world to EAST JAVA visit.”(page 10)

”Indonesia’s commitment to the East Java is one of Indonesia provinces that located on the eastern carbon-trading scheme known part of Java Island and also includes Madura and Bawean islands. It as Reducing Emissions from has a variety of attractions, from temple sites to scenic beaches, a Deforestation and Degradation sand-sea, highland-lakes, volcanoes, marine gardens and wildlife would not be affected if an reserves. The province claim to fame in modern history is its agreement on emissions cuts vanguard role in the struggle for independence of Indonesia against were not reached at the colonial forces in 1945. Copenhagen summit..” ( page 14 ) source: www.my-indonesia.info , www.indonesia-tourism.com

RI and EU Sign Partnership and Cooperation signed after the two sides Agreement discussed many important regional and global issues. Signing for Indonesia was Jakarta - Minister of Monday (9/11/2009) to Foreign Minister Marty Foreign Affairs, Marty improve the bilateral Natalegawa and acting for Natalegawa signed a relations between Indonesia Sweden was his counterpart Cooperation and Partnership and the European Union. Carl Bildt, who was also Agreement (PCA) with the According to Marty acting director of .... European Union in Jakarta Natalegawa, the PCA was (continued to page 17) RELATED EVENTS TO INDONESIA: Useful links of Indonesia: Government www.indonesia.go.id November 2009

Department of Foreign Affairs Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun www.deplu.go.id 1

Ministry of Cultural and Tourism 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 www.budpar.go.id , www.my-indonesia.info 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 National Agency for Export Development www.nafed.go.id 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Investment Coordinating Board 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 www.bkpm.go.id 30 31

Location: Paddy´s Field in Ubud, Bali,Indonesia

Issued and published by:: Information, Socio - Cultural Affairs Telp. +358 9 477 0370 Fax +358 9 458 2882 Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia [email protected] Kuusisaarentie 3, 00340 Helsinki [email protected] FINLAND www.indonesian-embassy .fi

designed by Ayu Abusamah, Embassy of Indonesia Bi – Weekly Bulletin, Issue 22, November 14, 2009

Contents

DOMESTIC ISSUES Political Issues President Yudhoyono Vows to Eradicate Indonesia's 'Judicial Mafia' in 100 Days ……………….. 1

Economic Issues Indonesia Ranked As the Second Most Confident Country ……………………………………. 2 While Global Recovery Sputters, Indonesia Strong, IMF Says ...... 2 VW to Make RI Southeast Asian Production Base …………………………………………………. 3 Sanyo and Hino May Invest $100m Early in 2010 for Expansion …………………………….. 3 PT Mandiri Focus on European Investor ……………………………………………………………. 4 Minister of Industry Promises to Simplify Investing for Japan ……………………………………. 5 Rubber Exports May Achieve 5 Billion U.S. Dollars in 2010 …………………………………………. 5 Prime Pineapple Exports to Iran Start 2010 ……………………………………………………………. 6 Indonesian Maritimes Ministry May Seek to Triple Aquaculture Production ...... 6 Indonesian Economic Growth Ticks Up As Confidence Increases ...... 6 Government Pitches in Support for Micro Financing and Sets Aside Guarantee Funds …………. 8 President Targets Economy to Grow 7 Percent in 2014 ……………………………………………….. 8 Development of Nuclear Power Plants Built Next Year and Operate Year 2016 …………………. 9 UK Trade Minister Praises Indonesia ………………………………………………………………. 9

Socio-Cultural Issues Bali Named World's No. 2 Region for Travelers by Lonely Planet ...... 10 Air France to Open Denpasar-Amsterdam Route Soon …………………………………………….. 10 Indonesia's Government Urges Support of Komodo for World Wonder Online Campaign ...... 11 Finland Explores Tourism Cooperation with Surabaya ……………………………………………. 11 RI Visited by Over 4.6 Million Tourists Until September …………………………………………. 12 Foreign Tourists Can Ask for VAT and PPnBM Reimbursement …………………………………. 12 Indonesia by province: East Java ……………………………………………………………………. 12

ENVIRONMENT ISSUES Indonesia Readies Climate Compromise ……………………………………………………………. 14 Experts Reject RI’s Carbon Emission S tatus ……………………………………………………….. 15 RI Trying That Agreement is Reached in Copenhagen …………………………………………….. 16

REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL ISSUES UN Lauds RI Military Contingent in Congo for High Dedication …………………………………. 16 Indonesia A Linchpin for the ASEAN Wheel ……………………………………………………… 17 RI and EU Sign Partnership and Cooperation Agreement …………………………………………. 17 News Focus: Nobel Peace Prize Winners Expected in Ambon ……………………………………. 18 RI to Maintain IMO Executive Board Membership ………………………………………………… 19

IINNDDOONNEESSIIAA UULLTTIIMMAATTEE IINN DDIIVVEERRSSIITTYY

www.my-indonesia.info Bi – Weekly Bulletin, Issue 22, November 14, 2009

fchi DOMESTIC ISSUES Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa had said the government’s priorities included achieving quality growth, reducing Political Issues poverty, creating jobs, improving infrastructure and focusing on the development President Yudhoyono Vows to Eradicate of agriculture and industry. Indonesia's 'Judicial Mafia' in 100 Days The government outlined 45 programs President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on intended to address the country’s most Thursday (5/11/2009) named the eradication of pressing needs during its first 100 days. the country’s “judicial mafia” as his Among them, 15 were named top priorities. government’s top priority during its first 100 days, shifting the focus away from the Among other things, Yudhoyono had stressed ambitious and extensive economic goals the need to increase the country’s capacity to outlined just last week. generate electricity.

“This will be our priority in the first 100 days,” “Power supply can become an obstacle to Yudhoyono said, following a cabinet meeting. economic growth, business and investment,” “We will take real action to eradicate the he said. judicial mafia.” He said the government would focus on clean Yudhoyono said the judicial mafia included energy, including geothermal power and those involved in bribery, blackmail, the fixing hydropower, after completion of the first phase of lawsuits and the intimidation of witnesses. of the “fast track” electricity generating program, which involves creating 10,000 “The judicial mafia could be anywhere — in megawatts of capacity with coal-fired plants. the National Police, the Attorney General’s State utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara has Office, judicial agencies and the Corruption struggled to meet soaring demand for Eradication Commission ...” he said. electricity, resulting in frequent rolling blackouts. He acknowledged that it would be difficult to wipe out such an entrenched culture of Yudhoyono also vowed to spend more money corruption. He also revealed a new address — to develop the country’s ailing infrastructure. PO Box 9948, Jakarta 1000 — where people He said the central government would work could mail complaints about irregularities in with regional administrations and public- the judicial system. private partnerships to develop power projects, roads, airports and seaports. Yudhoyono’s shift in focus followed the public broadcasting this week of wiretapped The government also vowed to disburse Rp 2 telephone conversations that revealed an trillion ($210 million) in business loans and Rp apparent plot involving members of the 20 trillion a year in capital loans to encourage National Police and the Attorney General’s entrepreneurship and indirectly fight graft and Office to attack the Corruption Eradication poverty. Commission (KPK) by framing two of its deputy chairmen with allegations of “We’ve only passed 30 percent of the first corruption. hundred days, we have another 70 percent,” Yudhoyono said. “But without a plan, we are Just last week at the National Summit, the almost certain to be doomed to failure.” government had outlined an ambitious list of programs related primarily to economic Key 100-Day priorities are Eradicate ‘judicial development. mafia’, Revitalize defense industry, Eradicate terrorism, Electricity generation and Food At the summit, organized by the Indonesian production and security. (the Jakarta Globe) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin),

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respondents took precaution against the worst Economic Issues scenario.

Indonesia Ranked As the Second Most According to Catherine Eddy, the increase of 9 Confident Country points to 86 in October from 77 in April in global consumer’s confidence showed that in Indonesia ranked as the second most confident the last six months most consumers got more country in the world in terms of economic optimistic.The survey also showed that Hong growth in the third quarter, a survey showed on Kong increased its consumer’s confidence by Monday (2/11/2009). The AC Nielsen 14 points to 93 from 79, the biggest increase in Company Indonesia, a leading survey the world, followed by South Korea (+13 company, said that Indonesia ranked second points) and Brazil (+12 points). after India in the survey conducted on Sept. 28 Source: Nielsen Survey: Indonesia ranks 2nd to Oct. 16, followed by Norway in the third most confident country in Q3 place while the lowest position was occupied by Latvia and Japan .The Nielsen’s Global While Global Recovery Sputters, Indonesia Consumer Index examined consumer’s Strong, IMF Says confidence, main concern and spending by more than 30,500 Internet users in 54 Indonesia’s strong domestic countries. fundamentals should allow its economy to remain strong despite the prospects for a more ”Meanwhile, consumer’s confidence in sluggish global recovery than had recently Indonesia heavily depends on inflation. been predicted, the International Monetary When we have high inflation, consumers tend Fund said on Monday (2/11/2009). to react by showing decreasing level of Milan Zavadjil, the IMF’s chief consumer’s confidence,” said Catherine Eddy, representative in Jakarta, forecast that the the company’s executive director for consumer country’s economy would grow by 4.8 percent research. in 2010, just below the government’s target of at least 5 percent. On the contrary, with significantly recovered “We expect the Indonesian economy to inflation pressure this year, consumer’s grow by 4 percent in 2009 and 4.8 percent in confidence among Indonesians has increased, 2010,” Zavadjil said. “We know it is below the she said.”2009 is a good year for consumers in consensus, but we still see the potential the point of view of price, especially if it upside.” compared to 2008 when households were Zavadjil said the relatively really in the hard times with two digits conservative expectation was not because the increase in many fields,” she said. country’s economy was weaker than thought, but because the global economy was. According to Catherine, September’s index He said most of the positive signs of was bigger than June’s, so this is good news recovery in the global and Asian economies that market is still optimistic about the future. were fueled by massive stimulus packages and She added that there was another factor extraordinarily loose monetary policies issued contributing to the high consumer’s by many countries in reaction to the economic confidence.”Indonesians believe in political crisis. and economic stability in the country,” she However, some indicators had raised said.”The company’s data showed that doubt over the health of any broader recovery, Indonesia’s consumer’s confidence index was he said. These included persistently high at 115 in the second half from 104 in the unemployment rates and weak retail demand. previous period, or an increase of 11 Zavadjil said most Asian countries percent.The survey also showed that even were in a precarious position because of their though Indonesians had high optimism of reliance on exports to support their economies, economy, half of them retained spending and meaning stimulus was needed to maintain saved their money. It showed that half of the stable growth.

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UBS global economist Paul Donovan VW to Make RI Southeast Asian had voiced similar estimates on Thursday, Production Base saying the shape of the global recovery would likely resemble a “Nike swoosh” rather than a Jakarta - German car maker Volkswagen (VW) classic “V.” intends to make Indonesia its production base However, both economists agreed that in Southeast Asia, a spokesman said. the slower global recovery would have only a "VW regards Indonesia as a priority in minor impact on Indonesia’s economy. Southeast Asia," PT Garuda Mataram Motor “The recovery in Indonesia is self- Chief Executive Officer Andrew Nasuri said sustaining ... due to strong domestic demand,” on Thursday (5/11/2009). Zavadjil said, adding that the 4.8 percent PT Garuda Mataram Motor is VW`s sole growth would be achieved mainly through that agent in Indonesia. domestic demand. He said VW itself had succeeded in Edward Teather, a senior economist at expanding its market in China and India by UBS, said Indonesia had advantages that making huge investment in the two countries. would allow it to grow faster than its To expand its market in Indonesia, VW neighbors. would increase the types of products, intensify “Compared to Malaysia and Thailand, marketing promotion and build more Indonesia has huge room for domestic assembling plants (completely knocked down spending, given the high rate of the savings car factories), he said. and investment compared to GDP, the highest VW would go ahead with its plan to invest in Asia outside China and India,” he said. in Indonesia. The German car maker was UBS sees the country growing by up to likely to set up a joint venture company with 5.3 percent in 2010. It said the government’s local partners, he said.(ANTARA) target of 7 percent growth by 2014 was reachable if appropriate measures were taken. Sanyo and Hino May Invest $100m Early in “The key to higher growth is 2010 for Expansion increasing productivity per capita, and infrastructure development would do this. Early next year the country may see two With strong domestic demand, I also believe separate investments worth US$100 million in foreign investors will remain confident in total from two Japanese companies, Hino and putting their investments here,” Teather said. Sanyo, Industry Minister M.S. Hidayat said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Monday (2/11/2009). has said the country needed Rp 2,100 trillion ($220 billion) of investment per year for the “At the beginning of next January, I will next five years to be able to reach the 7 percent inaugurate new investment in two industrial target. sectors, electronics and trucks, both from Fauzi Ichsan, a local economist from Japan,” he said at the State Palace after Standard Chartered Bank, said the IMF’s lower reporting the results of the 2009 National forecast might be caused by expectations of a Summit held last week. slower global economic recovery, which “still has an effect on exports and commodity “The two investments will together total $100 prices.” million.” “However, we also see that the potential upside is bigger than the downside He said the two companies have agreed to risk. The potential upside would depend on invest in market expansion because of the how fast the government could roll out planned largely “conducive” business climate here. infrastructure projects,” he said. (Jakarta Hidayat added he would go to Japan early next Globe) year as part of the investment planning process.

These statements confirm previous reports saying that PT Hino Indonesia Manufacturing plans to spend $17 million in investment to

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triple its truck production capacity from 10,000 investment of $11 billion, employing more units to 30,000 units per year by expanding its than 282,000 workers.(the Jakarta Post) existing factory in Purwakarta, West Java. PT Mandiri Focus on European Investor “This investment will materialize as soon as this year’s end, if not in 2010,” the Industry Jakarta - PT Mandiri Manajemen Investasi to Ministry’s director for land and military cooperate with PT Julius Baer Advisors transportation industries Panggah Susanto said Indonesia to focus on European investors. The previously. investors will be drawn to invest in Indonesia in the form of shares in rupiah. He said Hino planned initially to realize its plan in 2008 but had to delay it because of the As stated by Chief Director of PT Mandiri negative impacts of the global economic Manajemen Investasi Abiprayadi Riyanto downturn, which previously held back the real through cooperation with PT Julius Baer sector. Advisors Indonesia in Jakarta, on Wednesday (4 / 11). “They delayed their investment implementation until now because they wanted According to Abiprayadi, Indonesia has to see out the crisis situation first,” he said. potential for large investments. "Indonesia is one of countries that continue to be monitored Panggah said the government would push by foreign investors, as well as other Asian Hino, which would expand not only its truck countries, namely China, Brazil, and India," he production but also the production of its said. supporting components, to use more local content components. Indonesia's economic growth in 2009, which surplus of 4 percent amid a worsening Hino produces dump trucks and head trucks, economy global after financial crisis, shows among other types. Indonesia's macroeconomic conditions are good. Established in 1982, Hino is controlled by its parent company Hino Motors ltd with 40 "This good condition is not only in the capital percent, local automaker and distributor of market. Demand for government securities and imported cars PT Indomobil Sukses stocks also rose. Besides of the economic International with 40 percent and Sumitomo prospects for 2010 and 2011 are also projected Corporation with 20 percent. to remain good, "he said.

There are no details as yet as to Sanyo’s Despite good economic growth, still few planned investment. foreign investors, mainly from European countries, who know about this potential. In September, a large delegation of Japanese investors came to Indonesia to meet then PT Mandiri Manajemen Investasi focus to industry minister Fahmi Idris. attract European investors due to Indonesia´s economic conditions is better than the United During the meeting, the delegation said States. Meanwhile Asian investors, such as Japanese investors who already have Hong Kong and Singapore, already familiar established in Indonesia planned to boost their with and know very well how to invest in investment by up to $1 billion here over the Indonesia. next five years to strengthen their market positioning in the country. Related to targeted shares, Riyanto has not decided yet. According to him, it needs According to latest Indonesian government extended examination. record, there are 875 Japanese companies currently operating in Indonesia, with a total Director of PT Julius Baer Advisors Indonesia, Salina Nordin said, it will inform foreign

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investors about potential investment in international trade moving again. National Indonesia. natural rubber producers set target to exports natural rubber in 2010 could reach 5 billion Up to November 2, 2009, PT Mandiri U.S. dollars as global economy improved. Manajemen Investasi has amounted to Rp 13.5 trillion funds to manage. "The competition is Chairman of the Indonesian Rubber tighter. Therefore, fund managers must be Companies Association (Gapkindo) Asril more creative in developing an attractive Sultan Amir expressed this in Jakarta, product for investors and we are committed to Thursday (5/11/2009). Indonesia is the second do that, "said Abiprayadi. ( unofficial largest natural rubber producer in the world translation, Kompas) with production of 2.3 million to 2.5 million tons per year from 3.2 million hectares area of Minister of Industry Promises to Simplify rubber trees. Investing for Japan Indonesia, Thailand, as the biggest natural Minister of Industry Muhammad Suleman rubber producers, and Malaysia work together Hidayat promised to ease investment for since 2001 to manage global supply of rubber Japanese businessmen. However, they require under a memorandum of understanding of Bali detailed explanation about the prospects of Concorde . The deal was able to stop the cooperation between Japan and Indonesia. declining prices of natural rubber when it "I'll speed up, facilitate, and not long-winded," touched 0.54 U.S. dollars per kilogram since Hidayat said after seeing a number Japanese November 2001 to reach U.S. $ 2.3 per businessmen joined in the Kansai Economic kilogram in October 2009. Federation (Kankeiren), the Department of Industry, Jakarta, on Monday (9/11/2009). This year natural rubber exports of Indonesia is estimated at 2.5 billion U.S. dollars. Thanks to Indonesian government prioritizes on food relatively good weather factor that made industry, food and beverage, agriculture-based Indonesia rubber production could reach 2.5 processing, electronics, textile industry and million tons. infrastructure, including power plants (power plant). "They just ask to simplify the "The remarkable economic growth in Asia cooperation," he said. next year will create high demand for natural Director General of Metal, Machinery Textile rubber. If its price can be maintained at 2 U.S. and Multifarious of the Ministry Ansari dollars per kilogram, we will be able to attract Bukhari said, they talked about the foreign exchange 5 billion dollars in 2010, infrastructure within the one-hour meeting. "said Asril said. "Especially electricity", said Ansari. In addition, they also discussed about the harbor, The price of oil 80 U.S. dollars per barrel is the transport, and human resource development in main factor of increasing demand for natural the environment. rubber. The price of synthetic rubber automatically surged following the increasing During the meeting, according to Ansari, price of oil. As result, many industries will use Minister Hidayat offers four industry sectors to natural rubber again. Japanese investors. All four are agri-business industry, transportation industry, and The positive economy growth of China, India, technology industry telecommunication, and and Asia Pacific would be the dominating basic processing industries. ( unofficial factor triggers the request of natural rubber. translation, TEMPO Interactive) According to Asril, this condition is reasonable because China, India, and Indonesia are the Rubber Exports May Achieve 5 Billion U.S. three countries that still have positive growth, Dollars in 2010 while other countries are still in crisis.

Jakarta – The condition of economy global Domestic consumption of natural rubber was began to recover and shows positive growth of expected to increase in 2010. According to

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Asril, the domestic industry will increase catfish, seaweed, shrimp and gouramy the consumption of natural rubber. ( unofficial main contributors. translation, Kompas) Output could be boosted further by providing enough funds to buy high-quality Prime Pineapple Exports to Iran Start 2010 seedlings and improve infrastructure, Fadel said. Jakarta - Next year, Indonesia will start to To encourage production, the export fresh pineapple fruit commodities to government was also proposing to create an Iran. This is revealed by Mohamad Sulaiman agency to buy fish at guaranteed stable prices, Hidayat, Minister of Industry of Indonesia, he said. “The new agency would function like after accepting the Iranian Ambassador to Bulog [the State Logistics Agency] for the Indonesia, Behrooz Kamalvandi, in his office, fishery sector,” he said. Bulog sets the on Friday (6/11/2009). farmgate price for rice. To achieve the goal, the ministry has "They are interested in importing pineapples asked for a extra Rp 1.6 trillion ($170 million) from Indonesia. Pineapples have very high in next year’s budget, on top of the Rp 3.2 demand in market there," he said. During the trillion it received this year. meeting, Hidayat said Iran also discussed To reach the target, the government cooperation in the field of horticulture. and industry players would need to work hard because the aquaculture industry still faced Hidayat was response enthusiastically to Iran's many problems, said the Maritime Affairs and plan disbursed investment in food and Fisheries Ministry’s director general of beverage industry. "They intend to join aquaculture, Made L Nurdjana. (cooperation) with us". He said aquaculture had not reached its potential because of a lack of investment and Hidayat said Iran has guaranteed the food and research. Made said he was optimistic the goal beverage industrial products will be marketed was achievable if the House approved the extra in Europe and Iran. money. Arif Satria, a fisheries expert from the Hidayat will ask his staff member to follow-up Bogor Institute of Agriculture, said the goal the plan. "I will send 20 delegates to the would be very difficult to reach in just one Iranian businessmen," he added responding to year. these opportunities. ( unofficial translation, However, he said the target could be Republika) reached in five years if the ministry was determined. Indonesian Maritimes Ministry May Seek to “We need lots of breakthroughs to Triple Aquaculture Production improve the domestic aquaculture sector,” Arif said. Minister for Maritime Affairs and Additional capital, technology, Fisheries Fadel Muhammad said Tuesday that infrastructure and landscape management was his ministry would set the ambitious goal of needed, he said. Setting guaranteed minimum tripling aquaculture production next year if its prices for seafood products was a good idea, proposed 50 percent budget increase is Arif said. approved by the Finance Ministry and the The country has yet to realize its full House of Representatives. potential in aquaculture. There are 500,000 to Increased production of seaweed, and 600,000 hectares of fish farms, out of a total nile and silver catfish will be targeted to meet potential area of 1.25 million hectares.(Jakarta the goal. Globe) Fadel said aquaculture output had increased by an average of 20 percent a year Indonesian Economic Growth Ticks Up As over the past five years. Based on the Confidence Increases ministry’s data, the output of aquaculture fisheries in 2008 was 3.5 million tons, up 25 After three consecutive quarters of percent from the previous year, with silver slowing growth, Indonesia’s economy started

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to improve in the third quarter, growing 4.21 Slamet said private consumption percent compared with the same period last contributed 63 percent of the nation’s gross year. domestic product in the third quarter. However, with the agriculture and “In the third quarter there are school manufacturing sectors still growing more vacations, the start of new academic year, slowly than other sectors, the outlook for the Ramadan and Idul Fitri, which contributed employment market remained gloomy, the greatly to private consumption,” he said. Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said on The non-tradable, or services sector, Tuesday (10/11/2009). continued to outperform more traditional The economy expanded 3.87 percent sectors such as agriculture, mining and in the third quarter from the previous three manufacturing, Slamet said. months to June 30. “We would prefer the tradable sector The year-on-year GDP growth was in to grow faster than the non-tradable one, since line with economists’ predictions and the it has traditionally provided more jobs. But government’s projection for the quarter of 4.1 since early 2000, the services sector, especially percent to 4.3 percent. communications, has been outpacing it,” he The economy started to slow in the said. fourth quarter of last year because of the Ikhsan Modjo, director of the Institute impact of the global financial crisis, after for Development of Economics and Finance, enjoying steady growth of more than 6 percent said the service sector’s contribution to the throughout 2008. global economy was increasing. It continued to slow to 4.45 percent in “This is not unique to Indonesia. first quarter of 2009 and to 4.05 percent in the However, this means job creation in the future second quarter of this year. could be harder,” he said. “In the third quarter, our economy has “Job creation would also be crucial in started to pick up. This is a sign of recovery the coming few months, to ensure that some from the global financial crisis,” said BPS momentum would be sustained in domestic deputy chairman Slamet Sutomo. demand,” said Gundy Cahyadi, an economist He said the upward trend was in line from IDEAGlobal in Singapore. with improving business confidence. According to the latest BPS “Businesses experienced an increase in employment figures, issued in August, their revenues in the third quarter, while Indonesia has 9 million people unemployed consumers have experienced rising incomes out of at total of 113 million workers, or an and lower inflation, which boosted their unemployment rate of 8.14 percent. consumption,” Slamet said. However, if the numbers of only Enrico Tanuwidjaja, an economist partially employed people are also taken into from the OCBC Bank in Singapore, said account, the figure could double, according to Indonesia was helped by its high level of analysts. domestic demand, and to some extent, the Seven percent annual national growth government’s fiscal stimulus package. has been cited as the figure the nation needs to “The recent fiscal stimulus package reach to soak up all the new workers entering seemed to have had a significant impact on the economy every year. consumption. While the outlook for the Looking forward, Enrico said manufacturing sector and exports still hinge Indonesia’s economy would continue to grow significantly on a global recovery, the local this year. economy remains strong on the back of steady “Going forward, the better than private consumption and a broad domestic expected Q3 GDP growth figure is likely to market.” ascertain the solid fundamentals of the country BPS reported that government in weathering the current financial storm,” he spending rose by 10.2 percent year on year in said. the third quarter of 2009, household He added that he expected 4.5 percent consumption was up by 4.7 percent, and GDP growth in the fourth quarter.(Jakarta investment spending by 4 percent. Globe)

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Government Pitches in Support for Micro Financing and Sets Aside Guarantee Funds Sandiago Uno, Kadin’s deputy chairman for micro, small and medium enterprises and Aiming to accelerate the development of cooperatives, said the chamber expected the micro, small and medium enterprises government to establish a micro financing (MSMEs), the government will allocate Rp 2 institution to make it easier for micro trillion (US$202 million) each year over the borrowers to access loans. next five years as a guarantee for them to secure bank loans. So far, micro borrowers have received Rp 14 trillion under the government’s micro loan Access to financing has been one of the major program (KUR) this year, out of a total Rp 20 obstacles for the industry to grow, and this is trillion earmarked in the 2009 state budget, what this fund — which could guarantee Sandiago said. lending of up to Rp 20 trillion a year — is expected to change, President Susilo Bambang The government disbursed Rp 12.5 trillion in Yudhoyono said Thursday. KUR loans last year, out of Rp 14 trillion allocated in the 2008 state budget. “Every year, there will be Rp 20 trillion in funding [for MSMEs], with Rp 2 trillion to be KUR loans are channeled through BNI, Bank set aside from the state budget as a guarantee,” Mandiri, BRI, BPD, Bank Syariah Mandiri and he said at the opening of the 2009 National Bank Bukopin.(the Jakarta Post) Economic Summit. President Targets Economy to Grow 7 “In five years, there will be Rp 100 trillion in Percent in 2014 funding in a scheme to help provide micro and small enterprises with working capital.” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has targeted the domestic economy to grow by Yudhoyono, however, also underlined that seven percent at the end of his second five- prospective borrowers should be creative and year term in office. have a sense of entrepreneurship, calling for a “In the next five years we certainly want to reform in the national educational system to increase our economic growth. For example, help students develop their entrepreneurial we want to achieve an economic growth of 7 skills. percent or more in 2014 on assumption that the current global votality will not recur,” he said In the future, he said, students who had at a cabinet meeting here on Friday. undergone 12 years of schooling were If the global financial crisis which started in expected to become not so much “job seekers” 2007 did not occur the domestic economy as “job creators”. might grow 7 percent, he said. But because of the global economic meltdown He lamented the low number of entrepreneurs the government had revised downward its in Indonesia, less than 1 percent of total economic growth target, he said. population, compared to the United States and “Because of the global economic crisis we Singapore with 15 percent and 7 percent. have suffered a setback. In the next five years we want our economy to return to its right MSMEs are one of six economic topics being track, to grow 7 percent or more to promote discussed at the two-day summit being held at the people`s living standards,” he said. the Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place. The president went on to say that in the next five years he also would encourage the The summit is being jointly hosted by the creation of good governance by continuing government and the Indonesian Chamber of bureaucratic reforms. Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to hear He also paid attention to evenly distribution of suggestions from all stakeholders in the development gains by emphasizing that all economy to help shape the country’s next five- parties and regions had equal rights to year economic plan. development programs.

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He underscored the need for regional governments, particularly governors, regents In a coordination meeting with the Minister of and mayors to cooperate with the central State for Research and Technology, he added, government in implementing development the House Commission VII asking BATAN to programs. make strategic efforts to accelerate the To that end, the home affairs minister should utilization of nuclear energy for energy intensify communication between the central reactors. In addition, studies need to be government and regional administrations, he comprehensive on utilization of natural said.(ANTARA) uranium Indonesia and nuclear waste research. It needs a reliable technology selection and Development of Nuclear Power Plants Built competitive. Next Year and Operate Year 2016 The Commission VII requested the preparation Jakarta – Based on the path of nuclear energy of human resources who are competent and industry development in Indonesia, the experienced for the operation of nuclear power construction of two nuclear power plants will plants and increase socialization. In other begin next year. Thus, in the year 2016 it is hand, human resource capabilities are not only estimated to have started operating nuclear seen from technical aspect, but also cultural. power plants. The Commission's Parliament also stressed attention to the operating system security, However, until now there have been no peace, safety, and health and community established party contractors to perform workers and environmental protection. construction. This is expressed by Adi Wardoyo, Deputy Head of the National "People should have information, both positive Nuclear Energy Agency of Development and and negative sides, related to nuclear power Nuclear Technology. plant," he said.

Blueprint for national energy management, In preparation for the construction of nuclear said members of the House of Representatives power plants, BATAN will focus on the Commission VII, Mohammed Najib, will set a development of nuclear infrastructure and the road map (roadmap) development of nuclear preparation of the necessary human resources energy industry until the year 2025. These to support the national nuclear program. "We maps are based on management decision- have implemented the basic infrastructure making long-term nuclear energy in 2005- support self-evaluation program," said Adi. 2010. (unofficial translation, Kompas)

Route maps that set the development of UK Trade Minister Praises Indonesia nuclear power plants 1 and 2 will begin in 2010 to 2011 and the nuclear power plants UK Trade Minister Lord Davies of Abersoch is would be year 2016-2017. Two years later to visit Indonesia on 3-4 November 2009 to (2018-2019) carried out the construction of encourage the Indonesian government to resist nuclear power plants 3 and 4. Operation in the temptation of protectionism. Lord Davies 2023-2024. of Abersoch, Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business will be the first UK "Targeted nuclear energy supplies 4-5 percent government minister to hold talks with the new electricity of Java-Madura and Bali in 2025," Indonesian administration since recent said Mohammed Najib. elections were held.

According to him, the target energy (primary) His trip is the second leg of a visit that also mix in 2025, as stipulated in Presidential saw him visit Malaysia. He will meet the Regulation No. 1 of 2006 on National Energy Minister for Finance and the Minister for Policy noted, nuclear utilization is only about 1 Trade to support the government in their percent of the group of new and renewable efforts to maintain open markets. He will also energy, the total target of 5 percent.

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meet the Minister for Energy to show support Pacific communications manager Adam for UK companies in Indonesia. Bennett said. “Whatever your own style dictates, you should be able to find inspiration Lord Davies said: "Indonesia is a growing in these destinations.” (Jakarta Globe) economic power in the region and one of a number of countries that is likely to become Air France to Open Denpasar-Amsterdam increasingly important in the future. We have Route Soon identified this country as a high-growth market and one that has great potential for UK Denpasar - Air France, in cooperation with exporters. Indonesian companies can also KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) of the benefit from trading and doing business in the Netherlands, will begin a direct Denpasar- UK. Keeping borders open is the only way to Amsterdam service via Singapore next Dec 7, increase prosperity. I want to express my a spokesman said. support for the Indonesian Government and Air France - KLM Country Manager Axel also hear from British companies what more Colen made the statement after a meeting with we can do to support them. I am equally keen Denpasar Mayor IB Rai Darmawijaya Mantra that Indonesian companies should see the UK here on Tuesday (10/11/2009). as the business partner of choice." Colen said Air France would make its maiden flight to Denpasar on December 7, Last year Indonesian GDP grew by 6.1 per 2009 because European tourists, especially cent. The economy has been helped in part by from the Netherlands, were keenly interested a $5billion stimulus package. The country has in visiting the Indonesian resort island of Bali. a growing and affluent middle class of some "Air France's direct flights from Amsterdam 20 million people that has considerable buying to Denpasar will make it easier for European power. British retailers are well represented in tourists to visit Bali rather than having to make the country.(Republika) a transit in Jakarta," Colen said. He said Air France Airbus A300 jetliners with a capacity of 425 seats would serve the Socio-Cultural Issues Amsterdan-Denpasar route three times a week, namely every Monday, Wednesday, and Bali Named World's No. 2 Region for Saturday. Travelers by Lonely Planet Denpasar Mayor Rai Mantra in the company of local tourism office chief Putu Budiasa said Bali has been named one of the best he welcomed Air France's plan to conduct regions in the world to visit in a new Lonely direct flights from Amsterdam to Denpasar. Planet travel guide. With the direct flights of Air France from The famed Island of the Gods came in Amsterdam to Denpasar, Rai Mantra said, second behind Alsace in France, and ahead of there was hope that the number of Eurpean Fernando de Noronha in Brazil. Lake Baikal in tourists visiting Bali would increase. Russia was the other Asian region to make the "The direct flights will certainly have a top 10 list. positive impact on tourism in Bali in the The top three countries were El international community's eyes, because Air Salvador, Germany and Greece, while the top France is a famous airline that will increase the three cities were Abu Dhabi in the United Arab interest of European tourists to visit Bali," Rai Emirates, Charleston in the United States and Mantra said. Cork in Ireland. Meanwhile, Putu Budiasa said the number The book “Best in Travel 2010,” of European tourists visiting Bali was released on Monday (2/11/2009), is the travel continuing to increase year after year. company’s fifth annual collection of the best "In terms of countries of origin, tourists places to go and best things to do in the year from France are the highest in number, ahead. followed by those from the Netherlands, “This is a collection of destinations Germany, and Britain," Budiasa said. and experiences that we rate as the stuff people Data from the Bali tourism office indicated really should consider for next year,” Asia- that of a total of 1,464,739 tourists who visited

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Bali from January to August this year, 26 Masyhud said Indonesia’s biggest percent or 383,863 people were from Europe. rivals would be the Amazon rainforest, (ANTARA) Germany’s Black Forest, the El Yungue National Forest in Puerto Rico, the Puerto Indonesia's Government Urges Support of Princesa Underground River in the Philippines Komodo for World Wonder Online and the Sunderbans Delta, the world’s largest Campaign mangrove forest at the mouth of the Ganges River, which is spread across India and With the Komodo National Park a Bangladesh. finalist to become one of the new seven In a 2007 contest by the wonders of nature, the government is urging New7Wonders Foundation to decide the seven the country to support its bid before voting man-made wonders of the world, the Buddhist closes in 2011. Borobudur temple in Yogyakarta was passed “We’ve reached the final stage now, over due to a lack of votes. although on the list we’re in fifth place, The Komodo National Park, which is sometimes sixth,” said Masyhud, a spokesman located in East Nusa Tenggara and from the Ministry of Forestry, on Tuesday. encompasses the three main islands of “But it can change anytime until 2011, so it is Komodo, Rinca and Padar, was established in a very dynamic vote.” 1980 to protect and preserve the population Organized by the Swiss-based and habitat of the unique Komodo dragons New7Wonders Foundation to help preserve the native to the area. world’s heritage sites, the Komodo National There are currently about 2,500 Park has been nominated to become a natural Komodo dragons on Komodo and Rinca wonder alongside 27 other places around the islands between Sumbawa and Flores.(Jakarta world, including the Amazon rainforest, Great Globe) Barrier Reef and Grand Canyon. People can vote for the seven final Finland Explores Tourism Cooperation wonders on the campaign’s Web site at with Surabaya www.vote7.com/n7w or by telephone. The winners will be announced in 2011. Surabaya - Finnish tourism managers Other wonders nominated include explored tourism cooperation with Surabya Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Halong Bay through "Surabaya Tourism Promotion Board in Vietnam, the Black Forest in Germany and (STPB)" following their visit several resorts in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands. the city last Friday. On July 7, 77 nominees were selected "During their two-day stay in Surabaya, the in the preliminary stage from a popular vote by Finnish tourism mangers visited House of people from around the world. Sampoerna (HOS) Museum, Sunan Ampel Twenty-eight finalists were then religious tourist site, and Surabaya Old City," selected by an expert team led by a former STPB Executive Director Yusak Anshori said director general of the United Nation’s culture here on Monday (2/11/2009). and heritage agency, Unesco. Anshori said the visit by Finnish tourism The Komodo National Park managed managers was a follow up of an approach to secure a place among the 28 finalists and is between Finland and Indonesia two years ago. now eligible to be voted for in the final seven After the visit, they would also approach the natural wonders of the world. tourists from Scandinavia, Sweden, and “In order to win this, we want people Norway to promote the tourism in Surabaya. to vote Komodo as the first option and the "We have been visited by ten representatives latter options should be finalists with slim of Finnish travel bureaus, Finnish ambassador chances of winning,” Masyhud said, adding to Indonesia, and a number of journalists from that Lake Toba in North Sumatra had also the country," Anshori said. made it into the nominee stage of the He said the reason the Finnish tourism competition but missed out on the final round managers chose Surabaya as their destination of 28 sites. was because as one of the gateways into

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Indonesia, the city was easily accessible from Indonesia has set the target of tourist arrivals Finland. this year at 6.5 million. The figure is projected According to Anshori, the tourists from to increase to 7 million next year.(ANTARA) Finland were easier to get seats for Surabaya than for other areas in Indonesia, especially Foreign Tourists Can Ask for VAT and during "peak season." PPnBM Reimbursement "If the tourists come to Indonesia through Surabaya and then go to Bali, they will have Jakarta - Foreign tourists can ask for a refund much to see," Anshori said, expressing of their value added tax (VAT) and sales tax optimism that the number of Finnish tourists on luxury goods (PPnBM) which has been paid visiting Surabaya in the years to come would when they are leaving Indonesia. increase significantly. This is arranged by Article 16E of Law No.42 Bu he said the number of Finnish tourists of 2009 on the Third Amendment of Law No. visiting Surabya was one percent of the total 8 of 1983 on VAT and PPnBM, which will 8,385 tourists from Europe since January to apply as from April 1, 2010. July this year.(ANTARA) Law No. 42 of 2009 mentioned that the VAT RI Visited by Over 4.6 Million Tourists and PPnBM are already paid for the purchase Until September of taxable goods.

Jakarta - More than 4.61 million foreign The requirements needed to ask for tourists visited Indonesia in the first nine reimbursement VAT and PPnBM is that the months of 2009, up 1.07 percent from the same VAT must be at least Rp500 thousand which period last year, a Tourism and Culture can be adjusted by a Government Regulation. Ministry official said. Besides, the taxable purchases were made "In September 2009 alone, the number of within one month before departure. tourist arrivals was 493,799," head of the (ANTARA) ministry`s data processing and network system center Ir. Wibowo said here on Monday Indonesia by province: East Java (2/11/2009). Compared to the same period last year, the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009 slightly fell 1.44 percent, he said. He said seven entry points including Ngurah Rai, Polonia and Sam Ratulangi Airports saw an increase in the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009.

A total of 218.245 foreign tourists visited Indonesia via Ngurah Rai Airport in East Java is one of Indonesia provinces that September 2009, a 15.32 percent increase located on the eastern part of Java Island and compared to the same period last year, he said. also includes Madura and Bawean islands. It Meanwhile, the number of tourist arrivals has a variety of attractions, from temple sites through Polonia Airport in Medan and Sam to scenic beaches, a sand-sea, highland-lakes, Ratulangi Airport in Manado respectively rose volcanoes, marine gardens and wildlife 20.96 percent to 9,702 and 24.85 percent to reserves. The province claim to fame in 2,633 from a year earlier, he said. modern history is its vanguard role in the He said eight other main entry points struggle for independence of Indonesia against including Soekarno-Hatta and Juanda Airports colonial forces in 1945. recorded a decline in the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009. The administrative center of the province is The number of tourist arrivals through located in Surabaya, the second largest city in Soekarno-Hatta Airport in September 2009 fell Indonesia and a major industrial center and 10.96 percent to 87,047 compared to the same port in the nation, after Jakarta. Its economy is period last year, he said.

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based on agriculture, fishery, oil industries, Wilwatika is Tretes, one of the most beautiful coffee, mangoes and apples. mountain resorts of East Java.

Tourist Office Mount Kawi Fortune Hunting Jl. Wisata Menanggal, Surabaya 60241 This sage’s grave on Mt. Kawi is a famous Phone. (031) 853114-6, 8531820-1 pilgrimage site for those who seek to increase Fax. (031) 8531822 their worldly blessings. Possessing an Website: http://www.eastjava.com intensely Javanese atmosphere, with frequent Email : [email protected] . wayang and gamelan performances, the grave itself is built on a hilltop. On both sides of the Getting there long stairway leading to the top is an The province is efficiently connected to the assortment of sacred springs, Chinese houses rest of Java by good roads, regular trains, and of worship, flower and souvenir stalls and air services between Surabaya and other major other interesting sights. cities in the country including Denpasar in Bali, which is only half an hour’s flight away. Surabaya Surabaya is the capital city of province that Tourism Events offers many good hotels, shopping centers and • Reog Ponorogo is a unique and daring variety places for entertainment. Its well performance that dancers carry a very stocked zoological garden includes several heavy headdress of tiger head species of Indonesia fauna such as orang utans, ornamented with peacock feathers. komodo dragons and a collection of nocturnal The dance depicts a fight between a animals. tiger and two noblemen on horseback. The Reog Festival held every August Mount Bromo 17 in Ponorogo, 200 km southwest of Many local and foreign travelers make the trek Surabaya. for the mystical experience of watching the sun rise from the crest of the Bromo volcano. A • Karapan Sapi (Bull Races) in pony ride from the village of Ngadisari takes Bangkalan Madura, about two hour by you over a sea of sand to the foot of the speedboat from Surabaya, is a very volcano. Ascend the 50 steps to reach the rim. popular sport among locals. It is an On the vast expanse of sand, formerly a annual championship event and held caldera, there are two volcanoes: the extinct every September and October after Batok which is the perfect cone and Bromo. harvests. Volcanic sulphur fumes and smoke still emanate from the depths, and when the God of Places of Interest Bromo begins to rumble, the surrounding Trowulan - Pandaan - Tretes population quickly brings their offerings. The Trowulan village and its surrounding areas are annual offering ceremony of Kasada is held on believed to be site of the ancient capital of the 14th day of Kasada, the 20th month in Majapahit kingdoms. Archaeological Tenggerese local people calendar year. It is a excavations in the area have recovered many dazzling event when villagers from the terracotta ornaments, statues, pottery and stone surrounding areas bring their humble offering carvings which are displayed at the Trowulan to holy volcano. Museum. After the museum is Candra Wilwatika, an open-air theatre in Pandaan, Alas Purwo National Park/Wildlife Reserve located 45 km south of Surabaya presents It is located on the tip of East Java, just off the classical East Javanese ballet performances on Surabaya-Banyuwangi mainroad, is dry each full moon night from June to November. country side of open savannah, forests and The performances are based either on the scrubland, bordered by marshes, swampy Ramayana stories or East Java’s legends and groves and white sand beaches. About 81 km folklore. The backdrop of Mt. Panangungan to the south of Banyuwangi, this park is a makes the performances an enchanting home to 700 wild buffaloes and many other experience. About 10 km from Chandra species of world animals which can be 13

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observed from viewing tower. A land rover or completed in 1260 to honor one of the kings, jeep is needed to traverse these rugged, grassy and is a gem of Singosari temple art. Next to plains. In the nearby there is G (Grajagan) Malang, around 120 km southwest and 11 km Land which the waves is famous for foreign north of Blitar is well-preserved Penataran surfers. temple in the Singosari-Majapahit temple complex, dating from the fourteenth century. Kaliklatak The temple terraces are decorated with A commodities plantation 450-750 m above Ramayana bas reliefs. sea level on the slopes of Mt. Merapi, Kaliklatak covers 2.500 acres of land Bull Races (Karapan Sapi) producing coffee, rubber, cocoa and spices Madura Island, famous for its bull races where visitors can join a tour to the plantation (Karapan Sapi), is part of the province of East to see the entire process, from cultivation to Java, though it has its own traditions and harvest and processing for export. language. Madura can be reached within half an hour by ferry from Surabaya. Sukamade Turtle Beach The beach is about 78 km south of Kawah Ijen (Ijen Crater) Banyuwangi, and known for its deep turquoise The volcanic cone of Ijen dominates the waters and 250 kg sea turtles which come to landscape at the eastern end of Java. Crater of lay their eggs here. Ijen is filled by a spectacular turquoise blue lake, its surface streaked in wind-blown Meru Betiri Reserve patterns of yellow sulphur. Kawah Ijen is the Here at the southeastern tip of province, the world’s largest highly acidic lake and is the last of Javanese tigers sought for refuge. A site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining hundred and fifty years ago the Javanese tiger operation in which sulfur-laden baskets are inhabited most of Java and was even hand-carried from the crater floor. Many other considered a nuisance in some populated areas. post-caldera cones and craters are located Wildlife of all kinds thrives here, like black within the caldera or long its rim. The largest panthers, leopards and sea turtles. concentration of post-caldera cones forms an E-W-treading zone across the southern site of Malang the draw to its waterfalls, hot springs, and Malang is located around 90 km south of dramatic volcanic scenery. It is located at Licin Surabaya, one of the most attractive hill towns sub district, 45 km from the city of on Java. A strong sense of civic pride is Banyuwangi. evident from the well-maintained and elaborately painted becaks (traditional Source: www.my-indonesia.info , transportation), the groomed Main Square, and http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/ clean buildings and streets. The cool climate is a welcome respite from Surabaya. 20 km from Malang on the southern flank of Mt. Arjuna, are Selecta and Songgoriti, popular hill resorts ENVIRONMENT ISSUES with hot springs. Nearby is Batu, famous for its apples gardens. Indonesia Readies Climate Compromise

Temples The potential for deadlock at the upcoming Between Surabaya and Malang, there is a town United Nations climate change summit in of Singosari, where remnants of the 13th Copenhagen has led Indonesia to prepare a century Singosari Kingdom include a temple “worst-case scenario” proposal, Rachmat and two gigantic guardian statues, the main Witoelar, executive chairman of the National gateway to the capital of the kingdom. Jago Council on Climate Change, said on temples dates back to 1268, and is one of the Wednesday (11/11/2009). most enchanting temples in East Java. Scenes from folktales and the Mahabarata epic The Copenhagen summit, to be held Dec. 7 to decorate the side panels. Kidal temple was 18, aims to produce binding targets for 14

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emissions cuts deeper than the 5 percent percent from 2005 levels by 2020. mandated by the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. But the final negotiations before Copenhagen, held last “As for the negotiations, we have been week in Barcelona, Spain, did little to inspire approaching European countries and also confidence that the December summit will lobbying China,” he said.(the Jakarta Globe) result in a consensus on emissions reductions. Experts Reject RI’s Carbon Emission Status The biggest sticking point, Rachmat said, has been the refusal of developed countries to Environmental experts say the country is not a commit to deeper cuts in carbon emissions. carbon emitter, countering a report sponsored Rachmat said the toughest part of the talks was by the World Bank and Britain’s development getting developed countries to agree to cut arm that ranked the country the world’s third- emissions by 15 percent to 40 percent from largest emitter after the US and China. 1990 levels by 2020, commensurate with the The report, which was released in 2007, said Bali Road Map. that Indonesia’s total annual emissions of carbon dioxide reached 3 billion tons after the “We have already decided on our proposal, US, the world’s top emitter with 6 billion tons, which takes into account the worst-case followed by China with 5 billion tons. scenario,” Rachmat said. “It means that if there are deadlocks, we will be proposing a middle Nani Hendiarti, a marine researcher from the ground to bridge the debate.” National Assessment and Application of Technology Agency (BPPT), said Tuesday If the countries cannot agree to the Bali Road (10/11/2009) that Indonesian waters absorbed map cuts, he said, Indonesia would propose more carbon than they released. Nani said the that they commit to non-legally binding conclusion was based on her study that reductions and a six-month delay before the analyzed data of sea temperatures from the last agreements made at Copenhagen are enshrined 24 years. into law. This would essentially buy time to Her simulation showed that the country’s negotiate more substantial cuts, he said. waters with cool average temperatures were larger than To highlight the challenges, Rachmat pointed areas with average warm temperatures. to the United States, where legislation must be passed by a Congress not necessarily amenable Cool seawater absorbs carbon, while warm to heavy-handed cuts in emissions. seawater releases it.

He added that Indonesia’s commitment to the “I have estimated that the average temperature carbon-trading scheme known as Reducing of our cool waters is minus 0.18 degree Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation Celcius, while our warm areas have an average would not be affected if an agreement on temperature of 0.08 degree Celcius,” she said emissions cuts were not reached at the during a press conference held by the Copenhagen summit. Association of the Indonesian Scholars of Oceanography in Jakarta. “We’ve heard all the speculation that the Copenhagen summit will not be successful. The research result shows the average However, we’re very determined that it will temperature of cool waters is twice as large as not completely fail,” said Agung Laksono, the the temperature of warmer seawater,” she said. minister of people’s welfare who is also the She added that over the last 24 years, vice chairman of the National Council on Indonesian waters were characterized by Climate Change. cooler temperatures. She acknowledged that Indonesia released huge amounts of carbon, Meanwhile, State Minister of the Environment but said the amount released was smaller than Gusti Muhammad Hatta said that with or that absorbed. without the new treaty, Indonesia would keep its commitment to reduce emissions by 26

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“We have phytoplankton beneath our waters between the parties involced in reaching the that absorbs carbon,” she said. global aim. Danish Minister of Climate and Energy Phytoplankton obtains energy through the Affairs as president of the 15th COP, Connie process of photo-synthesis. Hedegaard, reintegrated that the Copenhagen meeting must reach an ambitious agreement in “Photosynthesis is responsible for much of the line with the Bali Mandate. oxygen present in the earth’s atmosphere. In the Climate Change Talks in last October Therefore, it absorbs a lot of carbon to release in Bangkok, the UNFCCC still failed to reach oxygen.” a short and long term agreement on the global target of lowering global greenhouse gas She estimated the number of Phytoplankton emissions. could reach a million cells per liter of water. In the meantime, the talks on the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol is also still Edvin Aldrian, chairman of the Center of Air facing a dead end, due to the reluctance of the Quality and Climate Change at the industrialized countries to talk about their Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics target in the second-haze commitment for Agency (BMKG), told the conference that sea 2012.(Media Indonesia) temperatures had a more significant impact on the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere than illegal logging. (the Jakarta REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL Post) ISSUES RI Trying That Agreement is Reached in UN Lauds RI Military Contingent in Congo Copenhagen for High Dedication

Jakarta - Indonesia will make efforts so that Jakarta -The United Nations Department of the participants of the 15th conference of Peace Keeping Operation (UNPKO) Chief Le parties (COP) of the Climate Change World Roy has lauded the Indonesian military Conference to be held in Copenhagen, contingent in the Democratic Republic of Denmark, in December 2009 would reached Congo for its high motivation, dedication and agreement. loyalty. "Indonesia as initiator of the Bali Action Roy expressed the appreciation while Plan two years ago will constantly try that inspecting the UN peacekeeping force at agreement would be reached in Copenhagen," Dungu in Congo recently, spokesman for the executive chairman of the Climate Change Indonesian contingent in Congo Captain Agus National Council (DNPI), Rachmat Witoelar Hermansyah said in an e-mailed statement on said in Jakarta Tuesday (3/11/2009). Friday (6/11/2009). Rachmat is also Indonesian chief delegate The UN was very thankful to the Indonesian to the United Nations Climate Change military contingent for its high motivation, Negotiations in Barcelona, Spain, on dedication and loyalty while joining the UN November 2-6, 2009. peace keeping force in the Congo, he said. The negotiations are the last of the series of He said the UNPKO chief asked the talks prior to the 15th COP in Copenhagen Indonesian military contingent to do its utmost next month. while performing its duties. "There is not much time left. Without a In response, commander of the Indonesian serious commitment of the United States and military contingent Lt. Col. Arnold said his the other industrialized nations in efforts at side was ready to perform humanitarian tasks reducing their green house gas emissions, the in the Congo and cooperate with military conference in Copenhagen would fail in saving contingents from other countries. the planet," Rachmat Witoelar said. UN officials including Le Roy, Special Racmat said the Indonesian delegation will Envoy of UN Secretary General Allan Doss, continue to try bridging the differences and UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Monuc) Lt. Gen. Babacar Gaye visited

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Dungu to inspect UN peacekeeping forces and 16 East Asian countries to meet ahead of the other UN bodies such as UNICEF, UNHCR, G-20 summit. Yudhoyono’s ability to OCHA, WFP, UNHR, COOPI, MSF, ICCR, crystallize the issues illustrates his FICDAN, and ORGAN. statesmanship and leadership qualities. The visit is a manifestation of the UN`s seriousness to peacefully resolve the prolonged He has elevated Indonesia onto the global conflict in the Congo. The UN is also serious stage and, under his presidency, Indonesia is in helping the local people who have fallen displaying the hallmarks of a country that not victim to the conflict which has engulfed the only has the largest and fastest-growing country since 1952. economy in the region, but of a nation that has Monuc Commander Lt. Gen. Babacar Gaye the capacity to set agendas that will take the said the Indonesian military contingent had so association forward. On his first overseas trip far contributed a lot to the peace process in the after being inaugurated to a second five-year Congo. (ANTARA) term, the president called on all East Asian countries to maintain real growth and to push Indonesia A Linchpin for the ASEAN ahead with resolving the deadlock in World Wheel Trade Organization talks.

These are challenging times for the global As the only ASEAN member to be part of the economy and for the Association of Southeast G-20, Indonesia has both a duty and a Asian Nations (ASEAN), which met over the responsibility to represent the organization weekend in Thailand. Forged during the there, at what is viewed as the most influential turbulent 1960s, ASEAN has evolved from a global grouping, even ahead of the Group of group that sought to restore political stability Seven industrialized nations. But as Indonesia in the region to an economic bloc, and now rises, so does ASEAN. into a major player on the global geopolitical stage. The organization has also grown from The new emerging world order is still being the original six members to 10, with the defined, but ASEAN’s role will remain central inclusion of the three Indochina countries and in shaping this order. As Indonesia’s new Burma. foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa, noted, it’s difficult to imagine how Indonesia can More important, ASEAN now has as dialogue influence the G-20 if it does not play an partners all the major economies in the East influential role within ASEAN.(the Jakarta Asia region plus India. This is a powerful Globe) grouping representing half the world’s population and some of the world’s fastest RI and EU Sign Partnership and growing economies. Indonesia has long been Cooperation Agreement seen as the natural leader of ASEAN, given its size and central position in Southeast Asia. Jakarta - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marty When Indonesia has been strong and Natalegawa signed a Cooperation and economically robust, ASEAN has been strong Partnership Agreement (PCA) with the and forceful. Conversely, when Indonesia European Union in Jakarta Monday struggled to overcome its internal problems (9/11/2009) to improve the bilateral relations following the 1997 financial crisis, ASEAN between Indonesia and the European Union. too suffered. Under President Susilo Bambang According to Marty Natalegawa, the PCA Yudhoyono, Indonesia is once again asserting was signed after the two sides discussed many its leadership within ASEAN and, as a member important regional and global issues. of the Group of 20, on the broader global Signing for Indonesia was Foreign Minister stage. Marty Natalegawa and acting for Sweden was his counterpart Carl Bildt, who was also acting It comes as no surprise that Yudhoyono’s director of the European Union Council, the address at the summit touched on Asia’s role EU Troika represented by Karel Kovanda and in overcoming the global financial crisis and a Helga Schimd, policy director of the EU new proposal for the foreign ministers of the Council Secretariat, said in Jakarta, Monday. 17

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In addition, the foreign minister hoped that Indonesian students in the European Union as the agreement will build a stronger relationship well as in education, and research. (ANTARA) between Indonesia and the European Union. Marty also asserted that discussed in this News Focus: Nobel Peace Prize Winners opportunity also was how to implement the Expected in Ambon ideas and thoughts of the two delegates to improve the relationships that have been Jakarta- Nobel Peace Prize winners Nelson established. Mandela of South Africa and Muhammad The purpose of the PAC is to build bilateral Yunus of Bangladesh have been invited to relations and cooperation in the international attend the 29th World Peace Day area, expand trade and investment between the commemoration ceremony in the scenic two parties for mutual benefit, and develop eastern Indonesian city of Ambon this month. cooperation in all relevant sectors of trade and World Peace Day committee chairman investment and removing all barriers. Djuyoto Suntani said in Semarang, Central In addition, the agreement was also aimed Java, on Monday (2/11/2009) that Mandela, at establishing cooperation in various fields the former South African president, had been including commerce, cooperation in migration invited to attend the event in Ambon. issues, including legal and illegal migration Djuyoto was in Semarang to check the and human trafficking, building cooperation in finishing stage of the making of a world peace resolving human rights issues and laws, and gong by a Central Java craftsman in Jepara combating transnational crimes like terrorism, district. and the proliferation of weapons of mass He said President Susilo Bambang destruction. Yudhoyono was scheduled to strike the gong "This is the first time for the European to mark the opening of the World Peace Day Union signed a PAC with a country, especially commemoration ceremony in Ambon in the one of the ASEAN countries, to show the middle of this month. seriousness in the implementation of expanded Commenting on Mandela`s expected cooperation with Indonesia," Carl said, adding presence in Ambon, Djuyoto said there was as that the European Union has become yet no official confirmation whether the Nobel Indonesia`s biggest market. Peace Prize winner would come or not. RI and the EU have identified several The former South African leader now 91 priority issues in 2010, such as trade and years old, has received more than one hundred investment issues, environment, education, awards over four decades for his efforts and human rights and democracy. services not only to his nation but also to In trade and investment, Indonesia and the people across the world. European Union established business The most prestigious among all the awards relationship valued at 20 billion Euros which he received was the Nobel Peace Prize which had increased by six percent every year. was presented to him in 1993. As many as 750 European firms have Nelson Mandela not only received countless invested in Indonesia, and Indonesian awards and honors from his own country but companies have started investing in the has been bestowed with numerous foreign and European Union. international awards too. In the environmental sector, both sides He shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 discussed climate change which has swept the with Frederik Willem de Klerk. world, improved cooperation in matters Born on July 18, 1918 in Transkei, South relating to the environment such as fisheries Africa, Mandela was the first to be elected as and forestry, the mitigation and reduction of president in a fully representative democratic emissions in accordance with the high-level election to hold office from 1994 to 1999. environment conference to be held in Before he became president, Mandela was Copenhagen in December. an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the In the education sector, Indonesia and the African National Congress`s armed wing. EU will enhance cooperation such as under the "We are still waiting for confirmation of "Erasmus Mudus" scholarship program for Mandela`s presence in Ambon because it depends on his state of health ," Djuyoto said,

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adding that other international figure such as and a Swimming Competition in Teluk Dalam Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize winner on October 29. Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, The governor said the commemoration of was also invited for the event. World Peace Day in Ambon would be a great In 1998 Yunus was awarded the Concorde honor for the provincial government. Prince of Asturias award, and in 2006, Yunus "Therefore the government and the people and the bank were jointly awarded the Nobel of Maluku should maintain the security and Peace Prize, "for their efforts to create stability in Ambon to make the international economic and social development from event a great success," the governor said. below." Ambon island is an integrated part of the "We are looking forward to the presence of whole Maluku archipelagic province of Mandela and Yunus in the eastern Indonesian Indonesia where the capital of the province and city of Ambon," Djuyoto said adding that the the city of Ambon is located. ambassadors of friendly countries in Jakarta After a three-year communal conflict in were also invited to attend the international Maluku from 1999-2001, Ambon island today event. is becoming more attractive tourist destination. Meanwhile, World Peace Day local With its rugged mountains along the interior committee chairman Cak Saimima said parts of the island, Ambon is a beauty by its recently the exact date for the observance of own where visitors can find a lot of tourist the 29th World Peace Day in Ambon was for attractions, natural as well as cultural and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to fix. historical, like white sandy beaches, sea "It is up to President Yudhoyono to set the gardens, clove and nutmeg plantations, ancient date of the occasion because he will have to fortresses, museuma, old churches and strike the world peace gong which is now still mosques, friendly people, musical society, and being made by a craftsman in Jepara, Central many others with about 12 selected diving Java," Cak Saimima said. spots around the island. Saimima said Coordinating Minister for The city of Ambon was founded in the late People`s Welfare Agung Laksono would 1500s or early 1600s after the Nossa Seinhora facilitate a meeting between a Maluku da Annunciada fortress was erected by the delegation led by Governor Karel Albert Portoguese Conquistadores. Ralahalu and the president to discuss and fix The Dutch took it over in 1602 and renamed the date. the fortress "Kasteel Victoria." It was later "The commemoration of the 29th World renovated and enlarged, and again given a new Peace Day was originally scheduled on name, "Kasteel Nieuw Victoria," which has November 10, 2009 but it will be observed in survived up to the present.(ANTARA) conjunction with National Heroes` Day, and therefore had been postponed until November RI to Maintain IMO Executive Board 15, but the final decision on the date is for the Membership president to make," Saimima said. He said Governor Ralahalu declared the Jakarta - Indonesia intends to maintain its commemoration of World Peace Day on the membership in the International Maritime final day of the Ambon Jazz Plus Festival on Organization (IMO)`s executive board at the October 11, 2009. organization`s 26th meeting in London on On the occasion, Governor Ralahalu urged November 23-December 4, a minister said. the Maluku people to be grateful because their Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi region had been chosen to host various cultural said here on Thursday (5/11/2009) "We will activities at national and international level. mobilize support from a number of countries He also expressed his gratitude to all artists ahead of the meeting. This is important and musicians who had come to participate in because it has to do with the issue of the the Ambon Jazz Plus Festival (AJPF) as a form Indonesian region and aspects of shipping of support for World Peace Day in Ambon. safety in the country," he told newsmen. The observance of World Peace Day was Freddy said his side was ready to maintain followed by a Maluku Cultural Seminar on the country`s membership in IMO`s executive October 19, Cultural Carnival on October 27,

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board but it would also take account of the situation at the meeting. The initial target right now is maintaining the country`s membership in Category C which groups 20 countries that hold special rights in shipping and navigation and reflect geographically fair representation. "That is the target for the time being," he said. The director general of sea transportation, Sunaryo, meanwhile said on a separate occasion that his side would closely monitor the convention that would bind the shipping world. In view of that, he said, the government must be careful when it would make ratifications at the convention. "When making ratifications they must not only think of their right but also their obligation. In essence there must be a balance between right and obligation," he said. He also said that to ratify was a must but selection must be done regarding what had to be ratified. Regarding targets Sunaryo said it would depend upon the situation at the meeting in London later. "Efforts have been made and so we just have to wait for the results," he said without elaborating. According to the provisions, in order to be able to become an IMO board member a country has to get support from half plus one of the number of IMO membership or minimally 84 of 167 members of IMO. In the election of the IMO board membership of Category C for the 2007-2009 period Indonesia ran and won the post collecting 114 votes from 145 countries.(ANTARA)

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