MICE predicted to contribute 7% to number of foreign arrivals
Minggu, 4 September 2016 06:14 WIB | 869 Views
Photo document of international conference in Nusa Dua, Bali. (ANTARA/Nyoman Budhiana)
Badung (ANTARA News) - The Tourism Ministry predicted that Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) would contribute 5 to 7 percent to the total number of foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia in 2016.
The governments target for the number of foreign tourist arrivals in the country is set at 12 million this year.
Assistant Deputy of Development of Asia Pacific Market of the Tourism Ministry Vinsensius Jemadu said the target is relatively low as the MICE tourism facilities are still not sufficiently available in the country.
"The target is not too high as MICE facilities are found only in certain areas. MICE facilities are available only in Bali, Jakarta and Bandung," Vinsensius said in this Bali mountain city.
He was in Bali to prepare the 10th Conference of Asia Pacific Orthodontists (APOC) and the 11st annual meeting of the Indonesian Association of Orthodontists in Bali in September 1-3 this year.
He said starting this year, the government would be more aggressive in exploiting the potentials of MICE tourism.
So far the country has not been serious in seeking to tap the MICE tourism potentials, whereas MICE tourists are bigger spenders compared with holiday makers, he said.
MICE tourists are generally well educated people, and stay in more expensive hotels.
In a bid to draw more MICE tourists, the country has to be able to host more international events.
"The tourism Ministry will cooperate with other ministries or agencies in seeking to make Indonesia selected to host of more international events," Vinsensius said.
He said MICE tourists should be given special treatment such as by giving special lane at airports that they would not need to queue too long at immigration gate.
The government has set target for reign tourist arrivals at 20 million in 2019 and MICE visitors are expected to make up 20 percent of the total number.
The Tourism Ministry gave support for the 10th Conference of Asia Pacific Orthodontists (APOC) and 11st annual meeting of the Indonesian Association of Orthodontists in Bali in the form of dinner party with all participants receiving "udeng", Bali head band.
At the dinner attended by around 900 dentists from Asia Pacific countries, the Tourism Ministry presented a number of Indonesian tourism objects and destinations with their natural beauty and riches.
According to the Tourism Ministry, Indonesia was ranked only the 42nd MICE destination in the world in 2014 hosting 76 international meetings.
The number was small compared to 142 meetings hosted by Singapore, which was ranked the 29th , and 133 meetings hosted by Malaysia which was ranked the 30th and 118 meetings in Thailand, which was ranked the 33rd.
(Uu.H-ASG/H-YH)
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/1...to-contribute-7-to-number-of-foreign-arrivals
Indonesia encourages direct trade with Cuba
Minggu, 4 September 2016 01:49 WIB | 1.585 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government will encourage direct trade contact with Cuba to increase the value of the two countries bilateral trade, Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister A.M. Fachir has said.
"Indonesia will encourage direct trade contact with Cuba in order to increase the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries and appreciate the significant economic development in Cuba," Fachir said here over the weekend.
The deputy foreign minister made the remarks in connection with his meeting earlier with Cuban Director General for Bilateral Relations Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of Cuba, Ambassador Gerardo Penalver Portal.
During the meeting, Fachir discussed various issues of mutual concerns, both, at bilateral and multilateral forums.
"On the bilateral basis, the political relations of the two countries had been closely established. Yet this closeness should be translated into a concrete form of cooperation, among others in the fields of trade, health and agriculture," he said.
In the multilateral context, Indonesia and Cuba shared similarities in views and cooperation regarding various international issues, the deputy foreign minister said.
"In the bilateral aspect, Cuba pays attention to direct trade contact to increase trade relations by among others planning a Cuban trade mission to Indonesia and that of Indonesia to Cuba," Fachir said.
Meanwhile, Gerardo Penalver Portal expressed appreciation for the establishment of good cooperation between the two countries at various international forums.
Cuba appreciates Indonesias big contributions to the Non-Aligned Movement so that the movement remains relevant to the present conditions, he said. (*)
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/106561/indonesia-encourages-direct-trade-with-cuba
Combo card will be tested in 40 cities: Bank Indonesia
Sabtu, 3 September 2016 15:03 WIB | 969 Views
kartu Keluarga Sejahtera (KKS) (ANTARA FOTO/Wurryanti Puspitasari)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The combo card that promotes non-cash social assistance will be tested in 40 cities until the end of 2016, Bank Indonesia (BI) has stated.
If the trial goes off well, on January 1, 2017, the entire social assistance from the government can be channeled through the Family Welfare Card (KKS) Red and White combo device, Director of Elektronifikasi Program and Financial Inclusion of Bank Indonesia Pungky Purnomo Wibowo said Friday (September 2) night.
"January 1, 2017, we apply all of the Family Hope Programs and the rice prosperous social assistance (Rastra). Further, the student aid program and the School Operational Assistance (BOS) will be around that time as well," he said.
The combo card can be used to avail the Rastra, and family expectations (PKH) aid, Pungky explained in the demonstration project or the pilot project.
The combo card used in the "e-waroeng" (electronic shop and gotong royong/mutual help) are also agents of Financial Services Digital (LKD).
The beneficiaries of social grants (bansos) bring the Cards Family Welfare (KKS) issued by the Bank to the new joint four, namely Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Bank Negara, and Bank Tabungan Negara, and exchange it at "e-waroeng".
With the KKS, the public can receive Rastra basic foodstuffs such as rice, sugar, flour, and oil at subsidized prices.
Furthermore, the combo cards can not only be used to get help in the LKD functions, but can also be used for transactions such as cash withdrawals or transfers, as well as saving money, such as bank function nirkantor (branchless banking), Pungky said.
This combo card can make the distribution of social aid meet the rules of 6T - the right target, the right amount, the right price, right time, right quality, and right administration, Deputy Governor of BI Ronald Waas said on the occasion.
The government budget for social protection in 2017 reached Rp158 trillion, the BI recorded. With that budget, social protection assistance would be effective and appropriate.
Reported by Indra Arief Pribadi
(B020/INE/o001)
Edited by INE
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/106551/combo-card-will-be-tested-in-40-cities-bank-indonesia
Irjen Kemhan : Republik Korea Merupakan Mitra Strategis Indonesia Tingkatkan Teknologi Pertahanan
Berita Terkini | 2016-09-01 13:56:38 |
47 Kali Dibaca
Jakarta - Inspektur Jenderal (Irjen) Kemhan RI, mengatakan negara Korea Selatan merupakan mitra strategis Indonesia dalam hal upaya peningkatan teknologi pertahanan dan pendukung kesiapan operasional satuan TNI. Oleh sebab itu Korea Selatan diharapkan dapat memberikan manfaat bagi Pemerintah Indonesia untuk mengembangkan kemampuan industri sehingga dapat bersaing dan berkiprah di dunia internasional.
Hal itu diungkapkan Irjen Kemhan, Marsdya TNI Ismono Wijayanto saat sambutan pada forum pertemuan ke 5 Komite Kerjasama Industri Pertahanan (
Defence Industries Coorporation Committee / DICC ) Republik Indonesia - Republik Korea, Kamis ( 9/1) di Kantor Ditjen Pothan Kemhan RI, Jakarta.
Irjen Kemhan RI, menekankan tentang nilai strategis kerjasama teknologi dan industri pertahanan kedua negara yang ditunjukan melalui program pembangunan kapal selam dan pengembangan pesawat tempur KFX/IFX. Menurut Irjen, Pemerintah RI menaruh harapan besar bagi keberhasilan kedua program strategis tersebut karena akan menjadi pilar bagi hubungan dan kerjasama yang luas dimasa datang.
Sehubungan dengan forum pertemuan DICC, dijelaskan Irjen Kemhan merupakan implementasi dan tindak lanjut dari MoU antara pemerintah RI dan Republik Korea tentang pembentukan komite bersama kerjasama Industri pertahanan dengan tugas untuk membahas kemajuan kerjasama serta permasalahan di bidang industri pertahanan.
Terkait hasil pertemuan ini, Irjen mengharapkan nantinya akan mempererat hubungan antara industri pertahanan kedua negara dan berkontribusi pada peningkatan baik antara Indonesia dan Korea dimasa yang akan datang.
“ Melalui kerjasama industri pertahanan diharapkan tidak hanya terjadi pada pengadaan alutsista produk korea selatan oleh TNI, akan tetapi dapat dikembangkan menjadi kerjasama yang saling menguntungkan dalam upaya pengembangan industri pertahanan di Indonesia baik dari sisi SDM, fasilitas maupun teknologi, “ Ungkap Irjen Kemhan.
Sementara itu Menteri
Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Republik Korea, yang sekaligus Ketua Delegasi, Chang Myoung Jin saat pertemuan tersebut mengatakan Indonesia adalah negara satu-satunya dimana Pemerintah Korea telah meluaskan kerjasama industri pertahanan seperti program pesawat T-50, pembangunan kapal selam dan pengembangan pesawat tempur KFX/IFX guna mempererat hubungan kerjasama kedua negara yang terjalin dengan sangat baik.
“ Diharapkan melalui program kerjasama-kerjasama ini Indonesia dan Korea dapat berkembang menjadi negara pemimpin dan sahabat kerjasama di bidang industri pertahanan dikancah internasional,” jelas Menteri DAPA Korea Selatan.
Pada kesempatan pertemuan tersebut juga dilaksanakan penandatanganan protokol hasil pertemuan DICC ke-5, oleh Irjen Kemhan, Marsdya TNI Ismono Wijayanto dengan Menteri DAPA Republik Korea, Chang Myoung Jin. Turut menyaksikan penandatanganan, Dirjen Potensi Pertahanan RI, (Pothan), Timbul Siahaan, dan para Direktur dan pimpinan Industri pertahanan kedua negara. (MAW/JLY).
http://dmc.kemhan.go.id/post-irjen-...ndonesia-tingkatkan-teknologi-pertahanan.html
Sampoerna Announces New President Director
Jakarta. Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna, Indonesia's largest cigarette maker, announced Mindaugas Trumpaitis will take over as its new president director replacing Paul Norman Janelle, who will return to Philip Morris International's operation center in Lausanne, Switzerland.
HM Sampoerna is a subsidiary of Philip Morris Indonesia, and both are affiliated to Philip Morris International (PMI), an international tobacco company and the maker of the Marlboro brand.
"We have full confidence that Trumpaitis is the absolute best choice to lead Sampoerna going forward," John Gledhill, the president of the board of commissioners for Sampoerna, said in a statement on Monday (05/09).
The change will be effective after an extraordinary general meeting on Nov. 18.
"Businesses led by Mr. Trumpaitis have consistently achieved positive results, even in difficult operating and economic circumstances," Gledhill said.
Trumpaitis has been the managing director of Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, one of the largest tobacco manufacturers in Canada owned by PMI, for the past three years. Previously, he was the managing director of PMI in Mexico for three years.
Trumpaitis will have his work cut out when he takes over, with major changes in Indonesia's tobacco industry reportedly planned by the government, including bumping up cigarette excise to boost state revenue.
Net income at HM Sampoerna rose nearly 23 percent in the first six months of this year to Rp 6.1 trillion ($465 million) from Rp 5 trillion a year earlier, according to the company's financial statement.
The company booked Rp 47.3 trillion in net sales, up 8 percent from the same period a year earlier.
James Riady Joins Tax Amnesty Program, Gains Momentum for Tax Revenue
Jakarta. James Riady, chief executive of Lippo Group, has become one of the first Indonesian billionaire tycoons to announce his participation in the government-led tax amnesty program. Riady encourages other high-net-worth Indonesians to follow suit to support the government’s development agenda.
With Lippo Group — one of the country's major conglomerates — joining the much-lauded program, other big businesses in the country may now be persuaded to do the same, and help the government boost the so far slow progress of the program.
James, son of Lippo Group founder Mochtar Riady, said he had signed up for the amnesty program to declare his assets and repatriate them, a move that will help bring more dollars into the country and prop up the rupiah.
"This is a good time to invest in Indonesia as reform in infrastructure development has finally started," James, who is also the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) — Indonesia's strongest business lobby, said.
"I have always been transparent with my tax payment. What's uppermost in my mind is work and how to create jobs quickly, especially in remote areas," James told reporters.
Lippo runs a cradle-to-grave business in Indonesia. Its diversified investments range from healthcare and hospitals, real estates, department stores and retails, financial services, telcos, hospitality, news media, IT services to memorial parks and funeral homes.
The group has had its ups and downs, the latter occurring in the aftermath of the 1998 Asian financial crisis, but has managed to emerge as one of the biggest players in Indonesia’s economy.
"We have overcome many crises, especially back in 1998. I’m here today to tidy things up, make everything totally transparent," James said.
Wellian Wiranto, an economist with the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. in Singapore applauded James's move.
"If a big fish like James Riady joins the program in a public way, that lessens the restraint on everybody else to follow suit,” Wellian said, as quoted by Bloomberg on
its website on Friday.
"The momentum is here now, things will start to look up for tax amnesty soon."
Sofjan Wanandi, another tycoon who recently joined Vice President Jusuf Kalla’s advisory team, handed his tax files to the Directorate General of Taxes on the same day.
The sooner, the better
James did not specify where he would invest his repatriated assets in Indonesia, though he hinted that most likely they will be invested in much-needed infrastructure development in the country.
The nine-month amnesty program, which will last until March 31 next year, is divided into three phases.
A 2 percent special tax rate will be available until the end of September, 3 percent until Dec. 31 and 5 percent until March 31 next year.
Higher rates of 4 percent, 6 percent and 10 percent will be charged to businesses that declare their overseas assets without repatriating them.
The amnesty program is showing slow progress, even as the deadline for the lowest tax rate approaches at the end of this month.
So far only 2 percent of the total Rp 165 trillion ($12.5 billion) additional tax revenue target from the program has been achieved.
James urges other business leaders to follow his lead by joining the program.
"The tax office offers professional, fast and efficient services. There is nothing to be afraid of," he said.
The government intends to pull in Rp 4,000 trillion in declared assets and bring home as much as Rp 1,000 trillion from the program to make up for tax revenue shortfall. Tax revenue remains a key source for the government's development budget.
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/...x-amnesty-program-gains-momentum-tax-revenue/
Indonesia's Manufacturing Sector Sees Growth in August
Jakarta. Indonesian manufacturers increased their output on the back of demands from new businesses in August, pulling the sector back into the growth territory following a slump in July, the Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing purchasing managers' index survey revealed on Thursday (01/09).
"The return of growth in Indonesia’s manufacturing sector in August is a positive sign," Pollyanna De Lima, an economist at Markit, said in a statement.
The PMI — a composite of manufacturing output, new orders, exports and employment measures — inched up to 50.4 in August, compared to 48.4 in July.
A reading above 50 indicates a increase in overall manufacturing activity and, inversely, index of below 50 reflects decline.
Besides output, export orders also increased in August, ending 22 months of contraction, the report said. At the same time, raw material stock and semi-finished goods increased in August, reversing its drop in July.
The report said pre-production inventories "rose at a moderate pace" that was "the quickest in over two years," as manufacturers sought to secure stock, expecting higher prices for materials like metals, chemicals, textiles, plastic and paper.
Manufacturers had slight relief as factory gate charges — the cost of manufacturing goods, including labor, raw material, energy, and other indirect costs including loan interest rates, maintenance or rent — decreased for the first time in the history of the survey, indicating an increasingly competitive environment.
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that the country's annual inflation rate rose by 2.79 percent in August, compared to 3.21 in July. The country's core inflation — which excluded administered and volatile food prices — rose by 3.32 percent annually in the period, compared to 3.49 percent previously.
The survey data is also a reflection of local companies' concerns about the short-term outlook for new opportunities and production. This is highlighted by a reduction in payroll numbers which was the fastest this year, De Lima explained.
Indonesia's gross domestic product will likely accelerate to 5.1 percent this year, compared to 4.8 percent in 2015, on the back of lowered interest rates that support private consumption, De Lima predicted.
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/indonesias-manufacturing-sector-sees-growth-august/
