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VIRAL INDONESIAN RUPIAH 1 ( ONE ) DENOMINATIONS. IS IT A REVALUATION OR REDENOMINATION?


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Bank Indonesia Highlights Three Major Benefits of Digital Rupiah

Translator: Dewi Elvia Muthiariny   Editor: Markus Wisnu Murti

20 August 2021 18:22 WIB

Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo delivers a presentation at the Digital Transformation For Indonesian Economy event at the Kempinski Hotel, Jakarta, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. TEMPO holds a discussion entitled Digital Transformation for Indonesian Economy themed Finding The New Business Models. TEMPO/M Taufan Rengganis

Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo delivers a presentation at the Digital Transformation For Indonesian Economy event at the Kempinski Hotel, Jakarta, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. TEMPO holds a discussion entitled Digital Transformation for Indonesian Economy themed Finding The New Business Models.  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Perry Warjiyo believed the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or digital rupiah will bring many positive impacts on the economy, particularly on the country’s payment system. He said there were at least three benefits of digital rupiah.

First, it will promote efficiency due to its circulation via digital blockchain technology platforms and distributed ledger technology (DLT). “We will circulate digital rupiah through the blockchain digital technology platform and DLT so the distribution will be efficient,” said Perry in a virtual press conference on Thursday, August 19.

Second, digital rupiah will slash transaction costs in banking services. “Bank transactions in the money market will be efficient and have zero transaction costs because banking is connected to the digital currency system.”

Third, Perry explained the digital rupiah would result in savings for the retail side because of low transaction costs. It will also offer fast transactions with the help of BI Fast and QRIS.

 

“There are many benefits of CBDC, in terms of transaction costs, transaction speed, and circulation of money in the economy. All of them boost efficiency, productivity, and economic growth other than being more inclusive for the financial economy,” said Perry.

However, Perry acknowledged that digital rupiah was not without risks. Thus, Bank Indonesia will continue to develop its risk management, including cyber security.

 

link  :  https://en.tempo.co/read/1496802/bank-indonesia-highlights-three-major-benefits-of-digital-rupiah

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The Differences between Digital Rupiah, Electronic Money and Cryptocurrencies
Adam Rizal - Wednesday, June 2, 2021 | 10:00 WIB

Rupiah Digital


Bank Indonesia (BI) provides information on the rupiah digital currency or Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) that will be used in the future in financial transactions.

BI said that currently Bank Indonesia was formulating the creation of a digital currency or Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

The product, which will be named Digital Rupiah, is a representation of digital money that is a symbol of state sovereignty or sovereign currency issued by the central bank and is part of its monetary obligations.


Bank Indonesia (BI) provides information on the rupiah digital currency or Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) that will be used in the future in financial transactions.

BI said that currently Bank Indonesia was formulating the creation of a digital currency or Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

The product, which will be named Digital Rupiah, is a representation of digital money that is a symbol of state sovereignty or sovereign currency issued by the central bank and is part of its monetary obligations.

"So we will see the economic conditions and the digitalization context that is being pushed by Bank Indonesia," wrote BI in its official explanation.

Central bank digital currency-Digital Rupiah in the form of digital money to be issued and controlled by the central bank. Its supply can be increased or decreased by the central bank to achieve economic goals.

Central bank digital currency-Digital Rupiah is different from electronic money. Digital Rupiah is digital money issued by the central bank so it is the central bank's obligation to the holder.


Bank Indonesia (BI) provides information on the rupiah digital currency or Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) that will be used in the future in financial transactions.

BI said that currently Bank Indonesia was formulating the creation of a digital currency or Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

The product, which will be named Digital Rupiah, is a representation of digital money that is a symbol of state sovereignty or sovereign currency issued by the central bank and is part of its monetary obligations.

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"So we will see the economic conditions and the digitalization context that is being pushed by Bank Indonesia," wrote BI in its official explanation.

Central bank digital currency-Digital Rupiah in the form of digital money to be issued and controlled by the central bank. Its supply can be increased or decreased by the central bank to achieve economic goals.

Central bank digital currency-Digital Rupiah is different from electronic money. Digital Rupiah is digital money issued by the central bank so it is the central bank's obligation to the holder.


"While electronic money is a payment instrument issued by the private sector or industry and is the obligation of the issuer of the electronic money to the holder.

Digital Rupiah is also different from cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Where cryptocurrencies are not regulated by any regulator and some are in limited supply.

Then, rupiah is a legal means of payment to conduct transactions in accordance with the law (UU). This can be done in cash and non-cash.

Digital currency, continued BI, will have to be fortified with a firewall to avoid cyber attacks. The central bank will prepare the design and security system before the public can use digital currency.

In addition, the central bank is also considering the CBDC technology used in other countries. One of them is the form of the platform.

For information, a number of countries are reviewing the issuance of digital currencies in the midst of the increasing popularity of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Some of the countries that are currently studying include the UK, China, Japan, and the European Union.

 

link  :  https://infokomputer.grid.id/read/122721033/perbedaan-digital-rupiah-uang-elektronik-dan-mata-uang-kripto

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Indonesia targets its crazy rich Asians with 35% income tax in bid to heal coronavirus-hit economy

JUNE 21, 2021
20210621_Rupiah_Reuters.jpg?itok=SIB7hDAU
 

In a bid to boost government coffers decimated by the coronavirus pandemic, Indonesia is considering a sweeping tax overhaul that would add value-added tax (VAT) to foodstuffs, education and health care, hike rates for high-net-worth individuals and put major carbon emitters in the firing line.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo asked parliament recently to discuss proposals to amend the 1983 law on general tax provisions and procedures.

A leaked draft of the government’s proposals showed it was seeking a new tax rate for the highest earners; a new carbon tax; and to widen the scope of VAT to include staple foods, education, health-care and social services, public transport, manpower, postal money orders and even coin-operated public telephones.

 

Indonesia’s need to collect more revenue comes after its budget deficit reached 6.09 per cent of GDP last year. Jakarta has allowed the deficit to grow as a response to the pandemic but has said it would return the deficit to within the legal limit of three per cent of GDP by 2023.

The government hopes that if the tax reforms go ahead next year as planned it will not need to seek further foreign debt, which had reached US$418 billion (S$562 billion) as of April.

Key to its plan is raising the income tax rate for high-earners, defined as those with an annual income of at least five billion rupiah (S$465,000). Indonesian taxpayers are currently grouped into four tax brackets, ranging from five per cent to 30 per cent rates.

In comparison, Singapore also implements progressive income tax rates, ranging from zero per cent to 22 per cent, while Malaysia’s rates are between zero per cent and 30 per cent, and Hong Kong’s range from two per cent to 17 per cent.

Under the proposed amendment, the highest earners will be taxed at 35 per cent, five per cent more than at present.

At the same time, Indonesia is planning to relaunch a tax amnesty programme first introduced in 2016 to allow rich individuals to reveal their undeclared assets and settle their back taxes without punishment.

When the programme was first introduced, some 4.813 trillion rupiah in undeclared assets were revealed.

Bhima Yudhistira, executive director at the Jakarta-based Centre for Economic and Law Studies, or Celios, said the new rate for highest earners should be even higher.

“The government should impose a tax rate of between 40 per cent to 45 per cent. If they only increase it by five per cent, that is not enough,” Bhima said. “This is a good move, but the monitoring will be a little bit tricky.”

Bhima said there were still plenty of tricks rich people could use to evade taxes, such as cross-border transactions, noting that such practices didn’t stop after the 2016 amnesty.

He said many rich people did not have tax ID numbers and some even changed their citizenship to evade taxes.

Taxing the rich could prove a lucrative path for Southeast Asia’s largest economy, which on some estimates is set to have the biggest surge in high-net-worth individuals in the world, more even than China.

Wealth Report 2021, released by London-based consultancy Knight Frank in March, projects the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, or those with a net worth of more than US$30 million, in Indonesia to rise 67 per cent annually from 2021 to 2025.

A study by MGM Research in 2019 estimated there were 756 Indonesians with a net worth of more than US$30 million and 401 of them were living in Jakarta.

According to the Deposit Insurance Agency, adding up the total wealth of all Indonesians who had at least five billion rupiah in the bank would come to 432.96 trillion rupiah as of April – a rise of nearly 15 per cent from the previous year and the biggest increase of any tier of deposit.

Staple foods tax

Jakarta is also proposing to add VAT to staple foods such as rice, corn, soy, salt, meat and eggs using a multi-tariff system ranging from five per cent to 25 per cent and to boost the current standard VAT rate of 10 per cent to 12 per cent, according to the leaked draft.

Additionally, the new 12 per cent rate would be imposed on items currently not subject to VAT, such as tuition fees and health-care services.

Economists generally agree that Indonesia needs to reform its policies to increase its tax base and boost compliance. Tax revenue contributed only 8.94 per cent of Indonesia’s GDP last year, dropping from 10.73 per cent in 2019, following a trend of recent years.

According to the World Bank, Indonesia’s tax ratio is lower than the developing countries’ average of 27.8 per cent.

However, the proposed widening of VAT to include staple foods, education, and health care is controversial.

Enny Sri Hartati, director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), said it underlined the government’s insensitivity to the public’s declining buying power caused by the pandemic.

Indonesia on Thursday (June 17) recorded 12,624 new coronavirus cases, its most since February, showing that the country is well into a second wave of infections. Since the beginning of the pandemic Indonesia has recorded more than 53,000 deaths.

“These new tax policies could affect the people’s buying power, that is why the resistance is quite high now,” she said.

Indeed, the public has voiced their dissatisfaction loud and clear. Twitter user Hilmi Firdausi demanded the government reconsider.

“The people are in hardship because of the pandemic, please do not add to it by increasing the price of food. That would make things harder for the lower class. Please listen to us,” Hilmi tweeted.

In response to the controversy, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati uploaded a video on June 14 of her visiting a traditional market in south Jakarta, where she chatted to a grocer named Rahayu.

 

The grocer asked whether it was true that she would have to impose VAT on her groceries in the future.

“I explained to her that the government would not slap taxes on the foods that are being sold in the traditional market, which is a necessity for the general public,” she wrote in the caption.

Taxes would be imposed on “premium” foods such as basmati and shirataki rice, as well as Wagyu beef, “whose prices can reach 10 to 15 times that of regular beef,” she said, without elaborating on what constituted a “premium” product.

But Enny of Indef warned that if taxes were put on premium food items, those products would “be replaced with imported food, which may be exempt from import duty under the prevailing free-trade agreements”.

Indonesia has free-trade agreements with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China, among others.

Even imposing one per cent VAT on foods such as rice could prove inflationary, she said.

“Forty per cent of the public are in the lower economic class and will be hurt by increases in the prices of staple foods. Another 40 per cent, the middle class, will also be affected as daily expenses for Indonesia’s middle class are only US$5 to US$6, compared to more than US$10 overseas,” Enny added.

Carbon tax

Plans for the carbon tax have so far proven less controversial. The tax is aimed at helping Indonesia reduce emissions by its target of 29 per cent by 2030, or 41 per cent with international help.

The government is proposing a tax on carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane emissions of between US$5 to US$10 per ton of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent).

The first industries to be targeted will be pulp and paper, cement, power plants, and petrochemicals.

“The carbon tax is a good thing to have, but I hope it will not be implemented on end-products for customers, such as fuel,” Bhima of Celios said. “It should be imposed on upstream industries, particularly extractive industries such as coal.”

The government should earmark the revenue from the carbon tax for environmentally friendly purposes, such as developing the domestic electric vehicles industry, Bhima said.

 

link  :  https://www.asiaone.com/asia/indonesia-targets-its-crazy-rich-asians-35-income-tax-bid-heal-coronavirus-hit-economy

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Visitors from 18 countries, excluding Singapore, can visit Indonesia

 11th October 2021

Visitors from 18 countries, excluding Singapore, can visit Indonesia

Visitors from 18 countries, excluding Singapore, can visit Indonesia

 

Regarding the countries that can enter Indonesia, there are 18 countries, which will be announced in an integrated manner and in a circular letter from the Home Affairs Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Travelers from 18 countries, excluding Singapore, will be allowed to enter Indonesia once international flights to Bali reopen on October 14, 2021, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has said.

These countries will be listed in the Instruction of the Home Affairs Ministry, which will be released soon, he informed.

"Regarding the countries that can enter Indonesia, there are 18 countries, which will be announced in an integrated manner and in a circular letter from the Home Affairs Minister," Pandjaitan announced at an online press conference here on Monday.

Although he did not mention the other countries, he said that Singapore has been excluded from the list. The decision was made because Singapore has not met the level 1 and 2 standards, in accordance with WHO provisions, he added.

Cases of COVID-19 in Singapore have not subsided, Pandjaitan noted. Data recorded on Sunday pegged the number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore at 2,809, he said.

As COVID-19 cases have declined in Indonesia, the government has permitted some leeway, including reopening of international flights to Bali, which will kick off from October 14.

He deemed the reopening as a good tiding. In the past week, the national daily confirmed cases have declined by 98.4 percent. Likewise, the daily confirmed cases in Java and Bali regions have dropped by 98.9 percent from their peak on July 15.

On Sunday, 39 additional deaths were recorded due to COVID-19.

Despite the improvement, Pandjaitan urged the people to remain vigilant and continuously follow the health protocols.

"The President again reminded us, his assistants, so that things don't get out of control in the midst of the current situation. Keep cases as low as possible for a long time and must be consistent," he concluded.

 

link  :  https://en.antaranews.com/news/193709/visitors-from-18-countries-excluding-singapore-can-visit-indonesia

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Ngurah Rai Airport prepared for reopening international flights

 9th October 2021

Ngurah Rai Airport prepared for reopening international flights

A participant scans a QR code for health document checks during a simulation for international flight handling at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, on Saturday (October 9, 2021).

 

Badung, Bali (ANTARA) - Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport operator and local tourism stakeholders conducted a simulation on international arrivals handling to assess the airport's readiness for resuming international flights next Thursday (October 14, 2021).

"Today, we conducted a simulation to test our standard operating procedure on handling international arrivals," Transportation Ministry's director general of air transport, Novie Riyanto, informed in Badung, Bali, on Saturday.

The simulation involved 90 people, including two infants, from the airport community, he said. They were simulated to arrive from Incheon Airport, South Korea, and directed to follow international arrivals procedures, he added.

The passengers were directed to a thermal scanner upon disembarking from the aircraft, he said. Those with body temperature below 38 degrees Celsius were allowed to proceed, while those whose temperature was above the limit were directed to the observation room for a health assessment, he disclosed.

Passengers directed to the observation room underwent a health assessment, with those deemed healthy allowed to proceed, while arrangements were made to transfer unhealthy passengers to the hospital, Riyanto said.

After passing the temperature checks, arriving passengers were directed to the registration counters to get a printed barcode for the next procedure, he added. At the next post, passengers were asked to present mandatory arrival data, including health certificates and proof of quarantine hotel observation, to the airport official, he informed.

After the registration point, passengers were directed to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test before proceeding for an immigration check, he said.

The passengers were then directed to a holding area after passing immigration checks to meet with the staff of their quarantine hotel while awaiting the PCR test result, Riyanto stated. The officials estimated the procedure would take around 60 minutes, he said.

The director general said the authority would assess and evaluate the simulation result to allow procedure revisions before the airport begins allowing international arrivals on Thursday while ensuring a detailed and strict implementation of protocols to protect passengers' health and prevent COVID-19 infection.

"We will arrange the procedure in detail, including arranging the flight slots, passengers walk direction, and the PCR test procedure. We are proceeding with the simulation to improve our procedure and ensuring correct implementation on D-day," Riyanto remarked. 

 

link  :  https://en.antaranews.com/news/193509/ngurah-rai-airport-prepared-for-reopening-international-flights

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Indonesia's plan to reduce self-quarantine period for travelers lauded

 8th October 2021

Indonesia's plan to reduce self-quarantine period for travelers lauded

House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VI Deputy Speaker Gde Sumarjaya Linggih. 

 

Jakarta (ANTARA) - House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VI Deputy Speaker Gde Sumarjaya Linggih praised the Indonesian Government’s plan to reduce the required self-quarantine period for travelers arriving from abroad to Indonesia, from eight to five days.

A reduction in the self-quarantine period also applied to foreign tourists keen on visiting Indonesia, including Bali.

In his statement on Friday, Linggih expects to witness an increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia, with the reduction of this self-quarantine period since tourism had come to a halt on account of the implementation of public activity restrictions (PPKM).

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) indicated that the number of visitors to Bali dropped by 99.99 percent, according to Linggih.

"This is a positive move for the development of our economy, especially Bali. I hope that Bali would be able to recover its tourism as soon as possible. I am upbeat that COVID-19 would be brought under control just as we expected," he stated.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto told journalists after attending a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, on Thursday, that the government would reduce the time for self-quarantine to five days for travelers from abroad.

"It has been decided during a meeting to discuss the quarantine period that (Indonesia) is open (for travelers from abroad)," Hartarto noted.

In addition to Bali, President Jokowi also urged officials to start preparing for opening tourism in other island regions, such as Riau Islands, with a low level of PPKM.

According to the plan, Bali can receive visitors from abroad by opening the Ngurah Rai International Airport from October 14, 2021. Tourists have to undergo self-quarantine and routinely conduct PCR test. 

 

link  :  https://en.antaranews.com/news/193293/indonesias-plan-to-reduce-self-quarantine-period-for-travelers-lauded

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Supports international flights opening at two airports: MPR chairman

 7th October 2021

Supports international flights opening at two airports: MPR chairman

Supports international flights opening at two airports: MPR chairman

 Jakarta (ANTARA) - People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Bambang Soesatyo has voiced support for the government's plan to reopen international flights at two airports in the near future.

The two airports are Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali and Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra.

"I support the government's plan which aims to restore the country's tourism and economy," Soesatyo said in a written statement issued here on Thursday.

However, he asked the local governments resuming international flights to remain vigilant and enforce strict security and supervision at every entrance to Indonesia, especially international entry through air transportation.

This would anticipate and prevent the spread of possible new COVID-19 variants in Indonesia through transportation serving international routes, he said.

The government must quarantine foreign nationals and Indonesian citizens traveling abroad after they enter Indonesian territory, he added.

The effort is important to prevent new cases of COVID-19 emerging due to international travel, he explained.

Soesatyo also asked the government to prepare regulations or provisions for international travelers that would include task force preparedness, quarantine provisions, health protocols implementation, and proper and accurate COVID-19 testing.

The government and all relevant parties must also remain alert during any easing of existing policies, especially policies related to the reopening of international travel, he affirmed.

"Do not let negligence happen that can again increase the COVID-19 cases in the country," he said.

Earlier, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir had said that he expected the establishment of a Health Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sanur village, Bali province to revive the province’s tourism sector.

During his meeting with the Bali governor, he also discussed the readiness of state-owned enterprises to support the reopening of international flights to Bali.

"Readiness and vigilance at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport as the main access for tourists have to be properly maintained and improved to provide services with guaranteed standard health protocols," Thohir remarked. 

 

link  :  https://en.antaranews.com/news/193145/supports-international-flights-opening-at-two-airports-mpr-chairman

 

 

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Borobudur reopening trial with PeduliLindungi going well: official

 21st September 2021

Borobudur reopening trial with PeduliLindungi going well: official

Borobudur reopening trial with PeduliLindungi going well: official

Tourists visit Ratu Boko Temple in Prambanan, Sleman, Yogyakarta on July 3, 2021.

 

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The authorities of PT Taman Wisata (TWC) Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko Temples have said that the reopening trial of the Borobudur and Prambanan Temple tourism park using the PeduliLindungi application is going smoothly.

Prambanan unit general manager, Putro Lelono, said the implementation of the PeduliLindungi app in the area did not run into any serious obstacle.

"The network connection is good during the barcode scanning process. There are no network disturbances in the Prambanan area that hamper the tourist flow," Lelono said in a written statement received here on Tuesday.

However, some problems were reported in the area, he added. The first one involved tourists not carrying mobile phones, or running out of Internet data, or bringing children under 12 years old, he explained. Those aspects complicated the implementation of PeduliLindungi in the temple area, he said.

Meanwhile, acting General Manager of the Borobudur unit and Manohara, Jamaludin Mawardi, said that during the trial period, visitors will undergo several stages of inspection. When entering the gate, they will be screened by security officers for their vaccination status, he informed.

"In addition, children under the age of 12 are not allowed to enter the temple area because they have not been vaccinated," Mawardi added.
 
One of the tourists, Aini, said that there were no significant problems when scanning the PeduliLindungi QR barcode in the Prambanan area.

"We have prepared for the application. The officers at Prambanan also help the process in a friendly manner. So, everything goes great," she added.

Another tourist, Dewi, appreciated the implementation of the health protocols in the temple area. The health protocols assure the comfort and safety of tourists, she said.

The officers conducted a very strict health protocol. They did a good job, she remarked.

The number of tourists who visited TWC Prambanan on September 19-20, 2021 stood at 643. Meanwhile, the number of visitors at TWC Borobudur was recorded at 1,268. Meanwhile, the maximum number of visitors in the areas has been capped at four thousand tourists per day.
 

link  :  https://en.antaranews.com/news/190249/borobudur-reopening-trial-with-pedulilindungi-going-well-official

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Jokowi: Indonesia to Build World's First Green Industrial Park

Translator: Dewi Elvia Muthiariny  Editor: Laila Afifa

13 October 2021 15:16 WIB

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said the government will start building the world's first Green Industrial Park. The construction was planned to commence next month.

“It will produce green products, green energy. All of them will be new and renewable energy,” he said while briefing the participants of the XXIII Short Education Program (PPSA) and the 2021 LXII Regular Education Program (PPRA) of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) at State Palace, Central Jakarta, today, Oct. 13.

Widodo said the park will be built in North Kalimantan in an area of around 20,000 hectares. One of the energy sources to be used is the flow of the Kayan River. 

The head of state said Indonesia must start to prepare for industrial development based on green technology as the world demands the country to participate in developing a more environmentally friendly industry.

 

“Because in the future, in the next 10 years, the European Union, the United States will no longer want to buy goods produced from industries that use coal [as the energy resource]. They don't want it anymore. Everything is going that (green) way. We have to go ahead,” he underlined.

Jokowi also claimed that this Green Industrial Park will be the first in the world and many parties have shown their interests in it. “Many people have been lining up to book this area because they know green energy will be used here.”

 

link  :  https://en.tempo.co/read/1516838/jokowi-indonesia-to-build-worlds-first-green-industrial-park

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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo speaks in a recorded statement at the Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 (P4G) summit on May 31, 2021

 

 

Jokowi Unveils Ambition to Build World’s Largest Green Industrial Area in Kalimantan

BY :JAYANTY NADA SHOFA

MAY 31, 2021

Jakarta. Indonesia will have the largest green industrial area in the world, according to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

The head of state showed off the ambitious plan at the Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 (P4G) summit on Monday. Located in North Kalimantan, the industrial estate will provide an impetus for green growth.

"Indonesia is currently developing the world's largest green industrial area in North Kalimantan. It will have a huge potential in renewable energy," Jokowi said in a recorded address.

"Indonesia also has the vision to build a carbon market and will have the world's largest carbon stock.”

In addition, Jokowi highlighted Indonesia’s openness for investments and technology transfers in the drive to become carbon neutral. He said, “funding and technology transfers are key in green development and carbon neutrality.”

At the South Korea-hosted conference, Jokowi also spoke of the Job Creation Law — the government’s strategy to tackle investment red tapes. He highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment for a synergy between investment and job creation with green development. 

“The Job Creation Law illustrates Indonesia’s commitment to ensure that economic growth and social progress does not jeopardize the environment,” the president said.

On a separate occasion, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan revealed the green industrial area would span 12,500 hectares. It would also run on hydropower with a capacity of 11,000 megawatts.

According to Luhut, the green industrial area also aligns with Indonesia’s target to reach net-zero carbon emission by 2060.

"We are hoping its groundbreaking can be held this year," Luhut said early this month, as quoted from local news outlet Antara.

 

link  :  https://jakartaglobe.id/news/jokowi-unveils-ambition-to-build-worlds-largest-green-industrial-area-in-kalimantan

 

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Indonesia's Jokowi charts green energy, tech for future industry

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JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo announced on Thursday (Aug 26) a three-pronged strategy to boost Indonesia's economic growth, providing insight into the direction of government policy over the remainder of his term in office.

The three key aspects are the green economy, the digitalisation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and as well as the development of downstream industries.

 

With regard to the first of those three, Jokowi said the government was planning to build a “green industrial park” by October 2021 to produce “green products” using only renewable energy.

As for the second key aspect, the government wants all 60 million MSMEs to be able to sell their goods and services on e-commerce and other digital platforms.

 

Today, only a fifth of them tick that box.

Elaborating on the third key aspect, the President noted that the government had begun downstream industrial development in early 2020 with a ban on nickel ore exports and said this had lifted steel exports to US$10.5 billion.

The scheme would be expanded to other commodities, namely bauxite, gold, copper and palm oil.

“We know that the future of green products looks promising, and we have a great opportunity in this,” Jokowi said in his opening remarks at the 100 Economists event.

The President's speech signals the next step in a long-term shift in economic policymaking for a government that in the past had seemed focused on quick gains from extractive industries with little concern for ecological repercussions.

According to the Finance Ministry, coal, crude palm oil (CPO) and raw mineral exports are the main sources of revenue from export levies and non-tax income.

Meanwhile, in 2020, renewable sources accounted for 11.2 per cent of the national energy mix, while the rest came from fossil fuels, according to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) executive director Fabby Tumiwa said the concept of green economics should be accompanied by commitments to reduce emissions, waste and the extraction of natural resources.

It also demanded fair treatment of local communities so that they also benefited from the development.

“The term ‘green’ must not just be a slogan; there is a lot to do to [justify] such a claim,” Fabby told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The concept, he said, should be incorporated in a clear transition for all industries across Indonesia and reduce reliance on natural resources and extractive industry exports.

“One industrial park is not enough to [proclaim] a green economy. The whole industry must move in the same direction,” Fabby said.

Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) executive director Mohammad Faisal said the government, so far, had not been consistent about downstream development, which he said would require a much firmer policy.

He cited as an example the nickel ore industry, where most companies only refined the raw material one or two steps up from the ore stage, such as into ferronickel or stainless steel, rather than into finished products like batteries.

“We have to push added value to a higher level. If not, ‘downstream’ will be a mere label, without real value,” Faisal told the Post on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Faisal said the drive for digitalisation of MSMEs faced several obstacles, as the government had not provided sufficient digital infrastructure, especially with regard to internet access.

He added that digitalisation should be followed by a long-term plan to empower and develop MSMEs, especially to ensure the competitiveness of their products in the market.

“Digitalisation should not stop at putting MSMEs on [online] platforms. We need to ensure that their products can compete with others, especially foreign ones,” Faisal said.

Earlier, industry leaders signalled that the country was more than capable to drive growth from industrial clusters, even in remote areas, as technology has enabled digital infrastructure to bridge the gap that physical infrastructure has lacked for decades.

Schneider Electric’s Indonesia and Timor-Leste cluster president Roberto Rossi suggested it would become increasingly easy for companies to switch to green energy as the supporting technology became cheaper.

“Today, global investors and big players are looking for sustainable companies. The money is shifting from the old way of fossil fuels to green energy,” he said during a webinar held by the Post on Tuesday.

Rossi went on to say that the world was entering the “Electricity 4.0” era backed by green energy and digital infrastructure as the operational backbone. Electric energy would be two to five times more efficient than other forms of energy, he said.

Indosat Ooredoo’s chief strategy and innovation officer, Arif Musta’in, said the company planned to build more than 7,100 4G sites by the end of the year.

The telco launched its commercial 5G network in June. Indosat plans to continue rolling out 4G and 5G networks to more areas while phasing out 2G and 3G. Arif went on to say that Indosat had so far deployed 164 base transceiver stations (BTS) under the universal service obligation (USO) programme, most in outermost and isolated areas.

“This shows that it is possible to reach out to broader regions that may [have very poor] connectivity. The pandemic is not keeping us from delivering connectivity,” he said.

 

link  :  https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2021/08/27/indonesia039s-jokowi-charts-green-energy-tech-for-future-industry

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Indonesia builds industrial park to welcome US, Japanese investors

The Indonesian government plans to build an industrial park serving Japanese and US plants relocated from China amid the US – China trade tension.
VNA Monday, June 08, 2020 15:21 
Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian government plans to build an industrial park serving Japanese and US plants relocated from China amid the US – China trade tension.

Indonesian industry minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said in a statement on May 29 that the construction of the Brebes Industrial Park is based on Presidential Regulation Number 79 issued in 2019 on accelerating development in the country’s Central Java, which targets an economic growth of 7 percent.

The Brebes IP is targeted to be a core industrial centre for the textile, leather and footwear, food and beverage, furniture, pharmaceutical and medical equipment. State-owned enterprise PT Wijayakusuma Industrial Estate has been assigned as the developer and manager of Brebes, with no further details given on the investment for the project.

The master plan and feasibility study are expected to complete in July 2020, Kartasasmita said, hoping that related land acquisition of 3,976 hectares for the development of the park can be realised soon. This area covers three sub-districts, namely Bulakamba, Tanjung, and Losari.

Industrial parks are part of Indonesia’s national priority projects in 2020. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has recently approved 89 infrastructure projects to build this year./. 
 
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S. Korea, Indonesia sign MOU on offshore plant service industry cooperation

 
 AEN20211013009700320_01_i_P4.jpg
 

SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) — South Korea and Indonesia agreed Wednesday to boost cooperation and exchanges in the fields of offshore plant service and maritime industries, the fisheries ministry said.

South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Indonesia’s Ministry for Maritime and Investments Affairs inked a memorandum of understanding in Jakarta earlier in the day, under which the two sides vowed to seek various ways of cooperation in the sectors by pushing for joint technology development and active exchanges among private entities.

As the first project, the two nations are scheduled to begin the joint work of dismantling three decrepit offshore platforms in the Southeast Asian country this year and complete it by 2025, the ministry said, adding that the project is expected to help South Korean firms make inroads into overseas offshore plant markets.

Ahead of the signing ceremony, South Korea’s Oceans and Fisheries Minister Moon Seong-hyeok held bilateral talks with his Indonesian counterpart, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, and discussed ways to protect maritime environments and jointly respond to climate changes, according to the ministry.

 

link  :  https://kopico.or.kr/s-korea-indonesia-sign-mou-on-offshore-plant-service-industry-cooperation/

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Unique Moment Marco Materazzi Greets Minister of SOEs, Wants to Meet Soon

October 13, 2021
10 Photos of Ada Hegerberg, First Women's Ballon d'Or Winner

“Even though he was less successful when he led Inter Milan, it turns out that the presence of Erick Thohir gave a positive impression.”

ONENEWS.MY.ID – Even though he is no longer the owner of Inter Milan, the presence of Erick Thohir seems very memorable for several former Nerazzurri players. One of them, Marco Materazzi. In fact, Matrix specifically sent a message to the SOE Minister.

Erick’s involvement at Inter began in September 2013 when the club’s owner and president, Massimo Moratti, confirmed that he was in discussions to sell a 70% stake in the club to an “Indonesian entrepreneur ( Erick Thohir )”.

Then, on October 15, 2013, after a long negotiation, International Sports Capital HK Limited led by Erick (60%), Handy Soetedjo (20%), and Rosan Roeslani (20%) agreed to hold the majority stake in I Nerazzurri. They acquired 70% of Moratti’s shares.

The process was followed by an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (EGMS) which appointed Erick as the new chairman of Inter’s board of directors. He replaces Moratti, who will remain with the club as Honorary President. During Erick’s tenure, former Nerazzurri I captain, Javier Zanetti, was hired as vice president in 2014.

However, in June 2016, Erik sold part of his stake to Suning Holdings Group owned by Chinese billionaire Zhang Jindong. Erick remains as chairman of the club, as well as the second largest shareholder. Then, on October 26, 2018, Zhang’s son, Steven Zhang, became the new president, replacing Erick.

Furthermore, on January 25, 2019, FC Internazionale Milano SpA officially announced Lion Rock Capital from Hong Kong reached an agreement with Erick to acquire 31.05% of its shares.

 

10 Photos of Ada Hegerberg, First Women’s Ballon d’Or Winner

During 4.5 years in charge of Inter, the club’s achievements were disappointing. Inter’s position in the final standings of Serie A is five, eight, four, seven and four. They also failed in the Coppa Italia. Likewise, his only appearance in the 2016/2017 Champions League, which ran aground in the group stage.

Despite his lack of success, Erick apparently left a good impression on the Nerazzurri personnel. For example, Materazzi.

As revealed from the upload on Erik’s personal Instagram account, @erickthohir, Wednesday (13/10/2021) afternoon, Materazzi made the message with the Indonesian women’s badminton player, Greysia Polii. It looks like the video was made in Aarhus, Denmark, on the sidelines of the Uber Cup team badminton tournament.

In the short video, Materazzi asks how Erick is doing. “Hi Erick, how are you? Hope to see you soon. I know you are now a minister,” said the player who became the victim of Zinedine Zidane’s anger in the 2006 World Cup final.

“Hopefully we can meet in Indonesia soon,” said Materazzi while holding a racket accompanied by Greysia.

In the video, Materazzi is wearing a black T-shirt wrapped in a red sports jacket with a red-and-white flag. Next to him sat accompanying the gold medal-winning badminton player at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Both of them looked happy because Greysia was known as a supporter of I Nerazzurri.

 

link  :  https://onenews.my.id/2021/10/13/unique-moment-marco-materazzi-greets-minister-of-soes-wants-to-meet-soon/

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Indonesia Covid: Slow start as Bali re-opens to foreign tourists

Thu, October 14, 2021, 11:47 AM
Visitors enjoy the beach during the government relaxed Covid-19 restrictions
Bali's beaches have been fairly deserted since travel restrictions were put in place last year
 

The much anticipated re-opening of Indonesia's famed tourist island Bali has seen a slow start, with no international flights scheduled.

As of Thursday, fully vaccinated travellers from 19 countries including China, India, and France can enter Bali. The UK is not on the list.

But visitors must first serve a five-day quarantine in a hotel.

 

Officials had closed the international airport in April last year to stop the coronavirus from spreading.

In July, Indonesia became the epicentre of Covid in Asia, but daily cases have since reduced significantly.

Now the tourism sector is hoping that some of the 6 million foreigners who visited the island in 2019, before the pandemic hit, will return.

The island has one of the highest vaccination rates in Indonesia, with more than 82% fully vaccinated, according to health ministry data.

But according to flight monitoring site Flightradar24, there were no international flights scheduled to land at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport on Thursday and Friday.

"Until today, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Bali Airport still hasn't received any international flight slot request, whether a flight to Bali or from Bali. But, instructions from the national COVID-19 task force said that Bali is now an entry point for international flights to Indonesia," the airport's spokesperson Taufan Yudhistira told Reuters news agency.

Officials had only released the full list of countries on Wednesday evening, and have said they expect hotel and flight bookings to pick up over time.

There were also reports that details of the re-opening including visa requirements were scant.

'Burden for tourists'

Hotels, restaurants and other businesses catering to tourists have been gearing up for the re-opening.

"This is very good news, it's very promising to revive the economy in Bali," Asih Wesika, the deputy chair of the Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (Apindo) in Bali, told BBC News Indonesian earlier this week.

But he was also worried that the quarantine requirement would be a "burden for tourists" and turn off many people. Most travellers, such as the Chinese who made up the second highest number of tourists pre-pandemic, typically visit Bali for short periods.

Visitors wear protective mask at Beach Walk Mall during Covid-19 restriction relaxation
 
Bali's move to reopen comes as several rival tourist destinations in South East Asia relax entry restrictions

"Now that they are required to be quarantined and have to bear the cost by themselves, this becomes an even more expensive vacation cost," he said.

The head of the Bali tourism office, I Putu Astawa, told BBC News Indonesian that the Covid situation remained "dynamic". "If there is a new variant, we must be careful first while we evaluate further developments," he said.

But he said the government was considering the possibility of reducing the quarantine period to three days, and eventually doing away with the quarantine requirement altogether.

The 19 countries are: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Norway.

Officials said they chose countries considered by the WHO to be low-risk with few positive Covid cases.

Australia, where most of Bali's tourists came from before the pandemic, was conspicuously absent from the list. The country is currently seeing another wave of infections.

Bali's move to reopen comes as several rival tourist destinations in South East Asia are beginning to relax travel restrictions for foreigners.

Since earlier this year the Thai island of Phuket has been welcoming fully vaccinated travellers from any country, and from 1 November travellers from certain countries will no longer need to serve quarantine.

Vietnam is also planning to open up its tourist island of Phu Quoc in November to fully vaccinated foreign tourists.

 

link  :  https://news.yahoo.com/indonesia-covid-slow-start-bali-043643931.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

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Bali reopens to international flights but no tourists in sight

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Authorities in Bali said there were no international flights expected on Thursday

 

Thu, October 14, 2021, 12:58 PM

 

Bali reopened to international flights from select countries on Thursday, including China, Japan and France, as the pandemic-struck Indonesian holiday island took a step toward welcoming back tourists.

But authorities in Bali, which lost its primary source of income as tourism dried up, said there were no international flights expected on Thursday.

Foreign visitors must be vaccinated, quarantine in a hotel for five days and follow strict visa requirements under new entry rules for travellers.

 

"We're ready and waiting for international flights," said airport spokesman Taufan Yudhistira.

"But so far there's nothing scheduled today."

Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport was open to travellers from 19 countries including South Korea, China, Japan, France, the United Arab Emirates, Dubai and New Zealand, authorities said.

The partial reopening, however, does not include Australians -- a key source of the millions of tourists who flocked to the palm-fringed island before the pandemic.

Indonesia was previously devastated by the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus -- recording more than 56,000 new Covid cases in just one day in mid-July.

The government announced emergency restrictions in the hardest-hit areas, shutting down non-essential businesses and limiting people's movement.

But case numbers are now falling nationwide as the government ramps up vaccinations across the Southeast Asian archipelago of 270 million people.

Authorities have begun a steady easing of restrictions as the country sees a decrease in daily confirmed Covid cases and deaths.

 

link  :  https://news.yahoo.com/bali-reopens-international-flights-no-055821717.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

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Indonesia's Bali reopens to international tourists, but with no flights

Indonesia's resort island of Bali set to reopen for international flights after border closures

Indonesia's resort island of Bali set to reopen for international flights after border closures

Indonesia's Bali reopens to international tourists, but with no flights

Stanley Widianto and Agustinus Beo Da Costa
Wed, October 13, 2021, 7:27 PM

By Stanley Widianto and Agustinus Beo Da Costa

DENPASAR (Reuters) -Indonesia's holiday island of Bali reopened to foreign tourists after 18 months of pandemic hiatus on Thursday, but the island is lacking one crucial ingredient: international flights.

Tourism-reliant Bali is scheduled to reopen on Thursday and though its Ngurah Rai international airport has carried out simulations preparing for tourists to return, it is not expecting much to happen soon.

 

"So far there is no schedule," said Taufan Yudhistira, a spokesman for the airport.

Indonesia's tight immigration measures during the pandemic have devastated the island, with widespread closures of hotels, shops and businesses.

The government is eager to revive Bali's beleaguered tourism industry in response to a sharp fall in new coronavirus cases since July, when Indonesia was Asia's COVID-19 epicentre.

But details about the reopening, such as visa requirements and which countries they apply to, have so far been patchy.

Indonesia only confirmed the 19 eligible countries in a statement late on Wednesday, which include China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, and several countries from Western Europe and the Arabian Gulf.

The move follows Thailand's calibrated reopening that began in July with much fanfare, with the islands of Samui and Phuket https://reut.rs/3nioKWn welcoming vaccinated tourists from multiple countries, with hundreds on the opening days.

Vietnam plans to welcome foreigners to its Phu Quoc https://reut.rs/3Dg54Hv island next month.

But some Indonesian tourism industry representatives say Bali's reopening plan not matched by demand.

I Putu Astawa from the Bali tourism agency said hotel reservations were few.

"Not yet because the timing is so sudden," he said, when asked about a spike in bookings. "They need time to take care of visas and flights."

As well as requiring Bali visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Indonesia has stipulated they must spend their first five days in quarantine, a measure rival tourism markets are phasing out.

"We are ready to accept tourists who visit Bali, but certainly it does not mean all the guests suddenly visit Bali," said Ida Bagus Purwa Sidemen, executive director of the island's hotel and restaurant association.

"At the earliest, by the end of the year we can evaluate whether the situation has improved."

In a video released on the president secretariat’s YouTube channel to mark the reopening on Thursday, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster said reviving tourism was essential for the island.

"It is very much in our interest for tourism to recover because 54% of Bali's economy relies on tourism sector," he said.

 

link  :  https://news.yahoo.com/doubts-over-demand-eve-indonesias-122744094.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

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Bali welcomes back foreign travelers as COVID cases subside

Thu, October 14, 2021, 10:58 AM
Virus Outbreak Indonesia (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
 

The Indonesian resort island of Bali welcomed international travelers to its shops and white-sand beaches for the first time in more than a year Thursday — if they're vaccinated, test negative, hail from certain countries, quarantine and heed restrictions in public.

President Joko Widodo credited Bali's high vaccination rate, and the country's COVID-19 caseload has also declined considerably. Indonesia has had around 1,000 cases a day in the past week after peaking around 56,000 daily in July.

Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport will welcome new foreign arrivals from 19 countries that met World Health Organization’s criteria such as having their COVID-19 cases under control, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the government minister who leads the COVID-19 response in Java and Bali, said in a statement late Wednesday.

 

He said all international flight passengers must have proof they've been vaccinated two times, test negative for the coronavirus upon arrival in Bali and undergo a 5-day quarantine at designated hotels at their own expense. They'll also have to follow stringent rules at hotels, in restaurants and on beaches.

“We have to do this with caution because we need to stay alert,” Pandjaitan said.

Tourism is the main source of income on the idyllic “island of the gods” that is home to more than 4 million people, who are mainly Hindu in the mostly Muslim archipelago nation. Bali's tourist areas were deserted two decades ago after visitors were scared off by deadly terror attacks that targeted foreigners, but the island has worked to overcome that image.

More than 6 million foreigners arrived in Bali each year prior to the pandemic.

Foreign tourist arrivals dropped six-fold from 6.2 million in 2019 to only 1 million in 2020, while 92,000 people employed in tourism lost their jobs and the average room occupancy rate of classified hotels in Bali was below 20%. Statistics Indonesia data showed the island’s economy contracted 9.31% year-on-year last year.

After closing the island to all visitors early in the pandemic, Bali reopened to Indonesians from other parts of the country in the middle of last year. That helped the island’s gross domestic product grow a modest 2.83% in the second quarter this year, ending five consecutive quarters of contraction.

The July surge, fueled by the delta variant, again totally emptied the island's normally bustling beaches and streets. Authorities restricted public activities, closed the airport and shuttered all shops, bars, sit-down restaurants, tourist attraction spots and many other places on the island. It reopened to domestic travelers in August.

Sang Putu Wibawa, the general manager at Bali’s Tandjung Sari Hotel, said only two of its 40 rooms were occupied on average and he hoped the reopening would help the occupancy rate back to normal.

“We have been waiting for this moment for so long,” he said. “This outbreak has hammered the local economy ... we are very excited to welcome foreign guests by observing health protocols.”

Widodo said deciding to reopen Bali was based on its high vaccination rate as well as wanting to revive its economy. He said more than 80% of the Bali population has been fully vaccinated.

“Based on this situation, I am optimistic and we have decided to reopen international flights to Bali,” Widodo wrote in his official Instagram on Saturday.

Overall, 59.4 million of Indonesia’s 270 million people are fully vaccinated and another 43.2 million are partially vaccinated. Indonesia has confirmed more than 4.2 million cases and 142,811 deaths from COVID-19, the most in Southeast Asia.

Tourists from 19 countries are now able to visit the Bali and Riau islands provinces — Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, and Norway.

 

link  :  https://news.yahoo.com/bali-welcomes-back-foreign-travelers-035846626.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

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Bali surf school owner eagerly awaiting imminent return of foreign tourists

Indonesia opens up the tourist island of Bali

Indonesia opens up the tourist island of Bali

 

Sultan Anshori
Tue, October 12, 2021, 4:13 PM
 

By Sultan Anshori

BALI, Indonesia (Reuters) - Surf school owner Halfia Londa is pinning all her hopes on Indonesia's plan to reopen the island of Bali to some foreign tourists from mid-October.

Halfia's business at Kuta Beach is among hundreds of tourist businesses to have been crippled by the Indonesian government's decision to suspend all international flights to and from the popular island destination from April 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The closure stripped away most of Halfia's business virtually overnight, plunging her into debt. With very little income, she was evicted from her rented house and has been relying on the generosity of friends to get by.

"Just to be able to eat, I have to borrow money," Halfia said, outside her surfboard rental shack on Kuta Beach. "We try to be economical, we eat twice a day without lunch ... we try to always cook what we can eat for at least two days."

There was some hope this week when the government announced it would reopen Bali and the neighbouring islands of Batam and Bintan on Oct. 14 to travellers from 18 countries, including China, New Zealand and Japan. Previous plans to reopen the tourism hotspot have been repeatedly delayed.

Visitors will be required to quarantine for five days at their own expense.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest economy, has experienced one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the region. It has officially recorded more than 4 million cases and 142,000 deaths, and public health experts believe the true toll is far higher.

However, case numbers have eased significantly in recent months, to fewer than a thousand cases a day, compared with a peak of 56,000 cases a day in July.

The country exited its first recession in more than two decades in the second quarter, though economists have warned that the subsequent COVID-19 resurgence and the ensuing social restrictions likely weighed on the recovery's momentum.

Bali, where tourism accounts for more than half the economy, has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. The once thriving holiday spot has been eerily quiet for months, with hotels, restaurants and beaches shuttered and thousands of hospitality jobs gone.

Tirta Mursitama, an expert in international business at Binus University, said now was the time to seize the opportunity to innovate in Bali's hospitality and tourism sector.

"We know that every business is changing, so there's a need to become innovative," he said.

Halfia has kept her board rental business open for the few local customers still around, offering two-hour rentals for 150,000 rupiah ($10) - half the pre-pandemic price.

"I hope that the arrival of tourists back to the island can give us a chance to work again, live our daily lives and to revive the economic opportunities," she said.

 

link  :  https://news.yahoo.com/bali-surf-school-owner-eagerly-091359670.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

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Bali is ready to welcome international tourists: Tourism Ministry

 18 hours ago

Bali is ready to welcome international tourists: Tourism Ministry

Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry's Crisis Management Special Staff Henky Hotma P Manurung (right) along with Deputy Governor of Bali Tjok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati (left) during the the "Bali's Readiness to Welcome International Tourists" webinar observed from here on Wednesday (October 13, 2021)

 

 

Bali is ready to welcome international tourists with all the procedures that we hope to lay together - the regional and central governments.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry is confident that Bali is ready to welcome international tourists.

"Bali is ready to welcome international tourists with all the procedures that we hope to lay down together - the regional and central governments," the Ministry's Crisis Management Special Staff Henky Hotma P. Manurung stated during a webinar observed from here on Wednesday.

During "Bali's Readiness to Welcome International Tourists" webinar, Manurung noted that one of the reasons for the optimism behind Bali's readiness was due to COVID-19 vaccination having reached 99 percent for the first dose and 90 percent for the second dose.

In addition, most tourism businesses in Bali have received the Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environment Sustainability (CHSE) certification, he pointed out.

Based on direct review and observation of the service simulation at Ngurah Rai Airport's international arrival terminal, the entire process was simulated in detail and in accordance with stringent health protocols, he affirmed.

According to Manurung, this reflects positively on the confidence of Bali's residents and calls on the international community to visit Bali.

"We are optimistic that the collaboration we have forged was purely to rebuild the spirit of tourism and creative economy workers in Bali and the entire existing ecosystem," Manurung emphasized.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of Bali Tjok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati stated that Bali's tourism sector is a primary sector that should be looked out for.

The man, who is often referred to as Cok Ace, noted that the people of Bali are ready to welcome international tourists owing to the high percentage of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Furthermore, the people in Bali have diligently complied with health protocols during the pandemic, he stated.

However, Sukawati opined that not too many tourists would visit Bali at the start despite the international airport being opened tomorrow on October 14, 2021.

 

link  :  https://en.antaranews.com/news/194089/bali-is-ready-to-welcome-international-tourists-tourism-ministry

 

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Indonesian govt sets entry requirements on foreigners coming to Bali

 12th October 2021

Indonesian govt sets entry requirements on foreigners coming to Bali

Indonesian govt sets entry requirements on foreigners coming to Bali

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

 

Why do we determine the quarantine period to be five days? Because the virus incubation period is 4.8 days, thus the risk will be lower.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Government has listed a number of entry requirements that foreign tourists seeking to enter Bali Province will need to fulfill once international flights reopen on October 14, 2021.

"The reopening of international flights to Bali is expected to be able to gradually recover the province’s economy," Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said at an online press conference on Monday.

Still, as directed by President Joko Widodo, the reopening has to be carried out carefully although the number of COVID-19 cases has declined significantly, he added.

"The transmission rate of the virus is still over one. However, we hope that it will become less than one this week," the coordinating minister continued.

He also said that the President has asked for the tightening of health protocols at the international arrivals gate of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport.

In addition, the self-quarantine management has to be maintained, while the vaccination coverage target needs to be fulfilled, he added.

"Gianyar District is the only region in Bali in which vaccination coverage has to be improved. Only 38 percent of the elderly in the region have been vaccinated. Hence, we are targeting the coverage to reach 40 percent in the next few days," he said.

The Indonesian Government has set pre-departure and on-arrival requirements for international flight passengers. As per the pre-departure requirements, the visitors:

1. Must be coming from a country with level one and two confirmed cases and a positivity rate below five percent,

2. Have negative results of the RT-PCR test, taken a maximum of 72 hours before departure,

3. Have received the second COVID-19 dose at least 14 days before departure and have a vaccination certificate written in English other than the language of the country of origin,

4. Have health insurance with a minimum coverage value of $100 thousand and the ability to cover the cost of COVID-19 treatment, as well as

5. Have proof of accommodation payment.

Meanwhile, as per the on-arrival requirements, visitors:

1. Will need to fill out the electronic health access card (e-HAC) through the Indonesian Health Ministry’s PeduliLindungi app, and

2. Carry out the on arrival COVID-19 RT-PCR test at their own expense and stay at their inns while waiting for the test result.

"If the result is negative, the travelers will have to conduct self-isolation in their lodgings that have been reserved for five days. On the fourth evening since the arrival, they will be required to do another RT-PCR test. If the result is negative, they will be allowed to end the self-quarantine," Pandjaitan explained.

In addition, the quarantine requirement also needs to be applied to Indonesian citizens who come from abroad, the minister said. Self-isolation has to be conducted for five days as the risk of virus transmission becomes lower after the fifth day, he added.

"Why do we determine the quarantine period to be five days? Because the virus incubation period is 4.8 days, thus the risk will be lower," he added. 

 

link  :  https://en.antaranews.com/news/193777/indonesian-govt-sets-entry-requirements-on-foreigners-coming-to-bali

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Yep, when all you sheeple finish jumping thru these government socialist controlling hoops we have established, then welcome to our great free country. Hope you enjoy your stay. Oh do you have your 100K insurance card?? International travel has and will continue to be such a pain in the ass, few, if any, will want to travel.

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Bali Reduces International Visitor Quarantine To Five Days

John Ollila
 
Bali, which is reopening for international flight arrivals from tomorrow (October 14, 2021), is set to lower the mandatory time spent locked up in a hotel room from eight nights to five, while the rest of Indonesia is set to require just two nights of quarantine.
xBali-Indonesia.png.pagespeed.ic.rHhmCSgfCa.webp
 

Indonesia and Bali have sent very mixed signals regarding the country’s opening for foreign visitors, flip-flopping a few times along the way.

The country was for a long open for visitors who hold a business or other type of visa, but issuance of even those was abruptly ended earlier this year but later resumed. In addition, everyone is required to quarantine at one of the hotels in Jakarta upon entering the country.

As the situation with Covid-19 has improved lately, Indonesia has tried to come up with a process that would allow easier access to tourists that certainly wouldn’t be willing to spend more than a week locked up in a hotel before being allowed to roam freely.

Indonesia, as a whole, is not dependent on tourism, but the popular holiday destination of Bali is. More than half of the island’s economic activity is directly contributed to tourism.

However, the Governor of Bali would like to lessen the island’s dependency on this sector and expand to other not so high-value areas such as agriculture (cannot make this up).

Conclusion

Not sure if many tourists would wish to begin their two-week holiday in Bali first quarantine in their hotel rooms for five nights? I certainly wouldn’t.

Two nights in a nice hotel in Jakarta could perhaps be acceptable for a wider audience, but countries that require quarantine only attract visitors with ties such as business or family.

You can argue that parts of Bali have become overdeveloped in the tourism field. However, there are still parts of the islands that are lovely. You should not spend too much time in Nusa Dua, Seminyak, Kuta, etc.

 

link  :  https://loyaltylobby.com/2021/10/13/bali-reduces-international-visitor-quarantine-to-five-days/

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How to Enter Bali from Overseas after 14th October – Indonesia Expat

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The government will prohibit foreign travellers from countries that have a COVID-19 positivity rate above five percent from entering Bali.

This rule will be applied when international arrivals reopen to Bali on 14th October 2021.

They can come from countries with level 1 and 2 confirmation cases with a positivity rate of less than five percent, said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Luhut continued to say that foreign travellers are required to carry out a PCR test in their country of origin no later than three days before departure. They are also required to receive two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before departure.

Travellers who enter Bali are also required to have health insurance with a minimum value of US$100,000, show proof of payment for accommodation while in Indonesia, and also fill out an e-HAC on the PeduliLindungi app.

Furthermore, upon arrival, they have to undergo another PCR test, where they are allowed to wait at the hotel at their own expense while waiting for the test results.  If the test is positive, they are obliged to quarantine.

“Quarantine will be in a special quarantine hotel for five days, then do PCR on the night of the fourth day. If the results are negative then on the fifth day, they can get out of quarantine,” he said.

The government stated that international flights will be opened for foreign tourists from 18 countries starting on 14th October.

Access has been expanded from the previous announcement of only five countries, namely South Korea, China, Japan, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and New Zealand.

“Regarding the countries that can enter Indonesia, there are 18 countries, which will be announced in an integrated manner and in a circular letter from the Home Affairs Minister,” added Luhut.

 

link  :  https://theindonesianews.com/how-to-enter-bali-from-overseas-after-14th-october-indonesia-expat/

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link  :  https://www.toursbylocals.com/Bali-Tours?gclid=8af5a4d262e21a0724cdc5bb444a591c&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=8af5a4d262e21a0724cdc5bb444a591c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=05G Asia - south east (USA)&utm_term=+bali +tour&utm_content=001B Bali - Generic&gclid=8af5a4d262e21a0724cdc5bb444a591c&gclsrc=3p.ds

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