Archive for April, 2008
Indonesian people definitely deserve a better portrayal in the media. This country is more vibrant and culturally rich than nearby Malaysia, where tourism is its highest revenue raiser. Unlike Malaysia, Indonesia is doing much less to promote tourism in this beautiful country.
Indonesian tourism officials should work hard to promote the true image of Indonesia by working with the independent media. Indonesians are very cool people, but lack English speaking skills in comparison to Malaysians.
This often leads to poor communication between visitors and their hosts. Another negative factor is the lack of transparency in public life, which adversely affects the tourism sector too.
As a tourist, I like to pay fixed charges rather than a bargained fare, and it helps me to plan a trip with a budget.
Such transparent practices in every sector will bring more confidence to public life and thus contribute to the growth of tourism in Indonesia.
Indonesian civil movements should push for transparency in public life, to make solid changes to the current tourism situation.
ARIF
Jakarta
Source: The Jakarta Post
April 16th, 2008
Mohamad Mova Al Afghani, Jakarta
Indonesia’s coastline (approximately 81,000 kilometers) is one of the longest in the world, surrounding 17,508 islands large and small. In total, around 60 percent of Indonesia’s population lives near coasts. As an archipelagic state, Indonesia could gain much by effectively utilizing its coastal and small island resources. This is what, in addition to other considerations, underlies the enactment of Law No. 27/2007 2007 on the management of coastal zones and small islands.
One of the most crucial and controversial parts of the law is the introduction of a property rights system for coastal zones and small islands, namely the right to commercialize coastal zones (HPd), abbreviated as HP3. The owner of a HP3 would be able to utilize a designated area of the coastal zone. HP3 grants ownership of water columns (as well as small islands) in coastal zones.
Theoretically, there could be around 12 nautical miles times 81,000 kilometers of “greenfield” spaces in the sea, ready for exploitation, for up to 20 years. This is indeed a huge business opportunity. For companies whose core business is aquaculture (shrimp ponds, fishes, coral reefs, pearls) and eco-tourism, HP3 would be a crucial issue. What makes HP3 even more valuable is the fact that it can be used as security for loans.
Some NGOs and academics have expressed their concern over HP3. Some are of the opinion that HP3 should be totally rejected and some other only demand its modification by taking into account the rights of local and traditional fishermen. The arguments against HP3 vary. Natural disasters like tsunamis should also be taken into account.
HP3 is also considered to be a pro-rich policy, as it would be unreasonable for traditional and local fishermen to enter into such a scheme which entails high administrative costs.
Let us first consider the arguments above. Indeed, some parts of our coast could be vulnerable of tsunamis, but those located in internal waters are likely to be less exposed to the dangers. For the vulnerable parts, disaster mitigation measures might require the building of artificial or ecological infrastructure (sea defenses) in order to break the waves and such measures — they argue — might be in collision with HP3 rights. This concern is nevertheless already addressed by the law.
The second argument on public participation is important. Our Constitution specifically states the economy must be carried out as a “common endeavor” based on familial principle. The Coastal Management Law does say that when granting and monitoring HP3, public aspirations must be taken into account. But this role is only consultative as the public takes no part in the final decision-making process.
In addition to the lack of clarity on the participation of local communities in the granting of HP3 as explained above, the current law also opens a wide opportunity for private parties to apply for HP3 certificates, while ignoring that local and traditional communities have capacity constraints in doing the same thing.
The granting of HP3 certificates might be expensive, as there are quite a few prerequisites that the applicants must fulfill. As corporations are closer to banks, they can get loans easily. On the other hand, local and traditional fishermen may not be as bankable as corporations and the decision-making process there may entail higher transaction costs compared to corporations.
So, there is an asymmetrical position between the players here. The weaker parties must be granted facilities due to these asymmetries and the current law does not seem to guarantee this.
The law actually accommodates existing practices by obligating HP3 holders to “respect” the adat (customary) law. Nevertheless, the language of the law reflects that the rights of traditional societies are not treated on equal footing with certification-based rights. So, there are risks of “expropriation” of the pre-existing customary rights. Adat communities with fishery practices would therefore have a legal standing before the court, as their interest is clearly affected.
Another crucial point would be anticipation of the risks of the HP3 market. As explained above, HP3 could be used as a security for loans. If the market is good, it is theoretically possible to purchase as much HP3 certificates as possible (with loans from banks) and then re-sell to another company for a profit, while the field remains neglected.
The centerpiece of this law is in its implementing regulation and the Constitutional Court can play a role in how it should be drafted. In order to accommodate the interests of traditional and local fishermen, the HP3 structure could also be modified through the court’s recommendation.
The writer is the founder of the Center for Law Information (CeLI). He can be reached in movanet@gmail.com.
Source: The Jakarta Post
April 16th, 2008
Brisbane (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Ambassador to Australia and Vanuatu TM Hamzah Thayeb on Sunday dedicated the first Indonesian festival in Adelaide aimed at introducing this world`s largest archipelagic country to urban people in South Australia.
Held in the 14.5-hectare Rymil Park, the ambassador dedicated he event at about 11:00 local time attended by some local officials, spokesman for the Indonesian embassy in Canberra, Basriana Basrul, said.
The visitors visited at least 12 food courts offering Sumatra, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi and Java foods, in addition to an exhibition of artifacts and handicraft articles such batik, songket cloth and paintings, he said.
The Indonesian festival is expected to prompt an interest of more Australians in knowing more about the arts, music, history and food of Indonesia, he said.
With the development of public knowledge in South Australia, their understanding of Indonesia will certainly contribute to the revival of the Australian youngsters` spirit and interest in Indonesian language and culture, he said. (*)
Source: ANTARA News
April 15th, 2008
Brisbane (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is participating in a two-day international tourism fair at the Melbourne Exhibition Center starting on Saturday (April 12) to support its Visit Indonesia Year 2008 program.
A spokesman for the Indonesian consulate general in Melbourne, Jahar Gultom, said here on Saturday Indonesia`s participation in the fair was an effort to publicize its Visit Indonesia Year 2008 (VIY-2008) program.
He said Indonesia would also distribute 12,000 brochures on its tourist attractions at the fair which was participated in by hundreds of Australian and foreign companies and organizations engaged in the tourist industry.
“We are taking part in the Melbourne International Tourism Fair for the second time because we also participated in the event last March,” Gultom said.
Besides distributing thousands of brochures on its tourist attractions, Indonesia would also entertain fair visitors with Balinese and West Sumatran traditional dance performances.
Gultom said the Indonesian consulate general in Melbourne would also take the opportunity of the exhibition to promote a Festival Indonesia 2008 (FI-2008) which was going to be held in the Victorian city next August.
He said Festival Indonesia had been held in Melbourne annually by the Indonesian consulate general since 2005, and at FI-2008 in August West Java province would be the central theme.
“At FI-2008, we, in cooperation with Garuda Indonesia, will try to introduce West Java and other provinces in Indonesia to the Australian public,” Gultom said.
He said Indonesia was participating in the Melbourne International Tourism Fair under the auspices of the ASEAN Tourism Promotion Center (APCT) together with the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
During the fair last March 29-30, Indonesia`s stand was visited by more than 2,000 people many of whom asked when Garuda Indonesia would reopen its Brisbane-Denpasar-Jakarta flight route, Gultom said.
Under its Visit Indonesia Year 2008 program, Indonesia hopes to attract more than seven milllion foreign tourists. (*)
Source: ANTARA News
April 15th, 2008
By MICHAEL CASEY
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — A frog has been found in a remote part of Indonesia that has no lungs and breathes through its skin, a discovery that researchers said Thursday could provide insight into what drives evolution in certain species.
The aquatic frog Barbourula kalimantanensis was found in a remote part of Indonesia’s Kalimantan province on Borneo island during an expedition in August 2007, said David Bickford, an evolutionary biologist at the National University of Singapore. Bickford was part of the trip and co-authored a paper on the find that appeared in this week’s edition of the peer-reviewed journal Current Biology.
Bickford says the species is the first frog known to science without lungs and joins a short list of amphibians with this unusual trait, including a few species of salamanders and a wormlike creature known as a caecilian.
“These are about the most ancient and bizarre frogs you can get on the planet,” Bickford said of the brown amphibian with bulging eyes and a tendency to flatten itself as it glides across the water.
“They are like a squished version of Jabba the Hutt,” he said, referring to the character from Star Wars. “They are flat and have eyes that float above the water. They have skin flaps coming off their arms and legs.”
Along with the lungless frog, Bickford said his team discovered two new lizard species and four other species of frogs during their two-month trip.
Bickford’s Indonesian colleague, Djoko Iskandar, first came across the frog 30 years ago and the biology professor from the Bandung Institute of Technology has been searching for it ever since. Five earlier expeditions had proven fruitless.
Iskandar said it was exciting to see the frog alive in its natural environment but another thing altogether to realize it was lungless.
Iskandar said the first sign that something was unusual with the frog was after it was captured in the field. The first specimen died in a bucket of water, which prompted the researchers to take the remaining frogs back to the lab for further investigation.
“We just suspected that something was peculiar about this frog because it died even in water,” Iskandar said. “When we cut it open, we found it had no lungs, no trachea not even a wind pipe.”
Graeme Gillespie, director of conservation and science at Zoos Victoria in Australia, called the frog “evolutionarily unique.” He said the eight specimens examined in the lab showed that lunglessness was consistent with the species and not “a freak of nature.” Gillespie was not a member of the expedition or the research team.
Bickford surmised that the frog had evolved to adapt to its difficult surroundings, in which it has to navigate cold, rapidly moving streams that are rich in oxygen.
“It’s an extreme adaptation that was probably brought about by these fast-moving streams,” Bickford said, adding that it probably needed to reduce its buoyancy in order to keep from being swept down the mountainous rivers.
He said the frog could help scientists understand the environmental factors that contribute to “extreme evolutionary change” since its closest relative in the Philippines and other frogs have lungs.
Bickford and Gillespie said the frog’s discovery adds urgency to the need to protect its river habitat, which in recent years has become polluted due to widespread illegal logging and gold mining. Once-pristine waters are now brown and clogged with silt, they said.
“The gold mining is completely illegal and small scale. But when there are thousands of them on the river, it really has a huge impact,” Bickford said. “Pretty soon the frogs will run out of the river.”
Source: http://ap.google.com/article/
April 11th, 2008
22nd Asian International Stamp Exhibition scheduled to be held in Jakarta October 23-28, 2008 at Jakarta International Exhibition Centre, Mangga Dua Square, Jakarta, Indonesia .
ARTICLE 1: OBJECTIVES OF EXHIBITION
1.1 JAKARTA 2008, 22nd Asian International Stamp Exhibition (hereafter referred to as JAKARTA 2008) is organized with the following objectives:
- to expand and develop friendly relations and close cooperation among FlAP members and to promote every aspect of philately in the FlAP region;
- to observe the 200th anniversary of Anyer-Panarukan Postal Highway;
- to observe the 1OOth anniversary of Indonesian National Awakening;
- to observe the 80th anniversary of “Youth Pledge”;
- - To promote “Visit Indonesia Year 2008″.
[=1.2 The theme of JAKARTA 2008 is “Philately: a Bridge to Friendship among Men”
ARTICLE 2: ORGANIZATION, VENUEANQ DATE
2.1 JAKARTA 2008 is jointly organized by Indonesian Philatelists Association, The Directorate General of Posts and Telecommunications of The Republic of Indonesia and PT Pos Indonesia.
2.2 JAKARTA 2008 will be held at the Jakarta International Exhibition Centre, Mangga Dua Square, Jakarta, Indonesia
2.3 JAKARTA 2008 will open on October 23, 2008 and close on October 28, 2008, totally 6 days.
ARTICLE 3: PATRONAGE AND CO-ORDINATOR
3.1 JAKARTA 2008 (22nd Asian International Stamp Exhibition) will be organized under the patronage of the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FlAP).
3.2 Mr. Tay Peng Hian is the FlAP Co-coordinator of JAKARTA 2008.
ARTICLE 4: REGULATIONS
4.1 JAKARTA 2008 (22nd Asian International Stamp Exhibition) will be governed by the following Regulations:
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The General Regulations of the FIP for Exhibitions (GREX)
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The General Regulations of the FIP for the Evaluation of Competitive
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Exhibits at FIP Exhibitions (GREV)
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The Special Regulations of the FIP for the Evaluation of Competitive Exhibits at FIP Exhibitions (SREVs)
The Individual Regulations for JAKARTA 2008 (22nd Asian International Stamp Exhibition)
ARTICLE 5: CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
5.1 The Regulations governing the conditions of participation of exhibitions are stated in the articles 9-18 of the GREX.
5.2 Participation in the Competitive Classes is opened to all collectors who are members of the societies affiliated to member federations of FlAP.
5.3 Participation in the Non-Competitive Classes will be by invitation, solely at the discretion of the Organizing Committee.
5.4 All exhibits except Literature must have been the property of the exhibitors for at least two years before the Exhibition.
5.5 The exhibitors may exhibit using a pseudonym provided that his true name and identity are known to the Organizing Committee and to the Jury.
ARTICLE 6: APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE
6.1 The Regulations governing the conditions of the application and acceptance are stated in the articles 10, 11 and 12 of the GREX.
6.2 Exhibitors must obtain their Exhibit Application Forms from their Commissioners. A separate Exhibit Application Form should be used for each exhibit.
6.3 When submitting the Exhibit Application Form, the exhibitor shall attach the brief description of the exhibit in English or a copy of the introductory page. 6.4 Duly filled Exhibit Application Forms should be sent through their Commissioners to reach the Organizing Committee by February 1 5, 2008. 6.5 Notification of acceptance from the Organizing Committee, together with the number of frames allocated to exhibitors, will be sent to their Commissioners by May 30, 2008.
6.6 Exhibitors cannot withdraw their applications without valid reasons once their participation has been accepted by the Organizing Committee.
6.7 The Commissioners will collect all the frame fees from their exhibitors, and remit the full amount to the Organizing Committee by July 15, 2008 at the latest. The remittance should be made payable to “Indonesian Philatelists Association” and sent to the Indonesian Philatelists Association at Jalan Pos No 2. Kompleks G.P.1. Jakarta 10710, Indonesia.
6.8 There is only ONE ENTRY FORM. There are no preliminary and final entry forms.
ARTICLE 7: EXHIBITION CLASSES
JAKARTA 2008 (22nd Asian International Stamp Exhibition) is a General Asian International Stamp Exhibition.
The Classification of the Exhibition Classes is as follows:
7.1 Group I Non-Competitive Classes
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Class 1 Court of Honor
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Class 2 Jury Class
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Class 3 Others
7.2 Group II Competitive Classes
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Class 1 FlAP Championship Class for collections that have been awarded three FIP / FlAP large gold medals at the exhibitions patronized by FIP / FlAP over the past 10 years (1998-2007)
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Class 2 Traditional Philately
National Class (Netherlands East Indies / Indonesia)
Asia and Australasia
The Rest of the World
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Class 3 Postal History
National Class (Netherlands East Indies / Indonesia)
Asia and Australasia
The Rest of the World
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Class 4 Postal Stationery
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Class 5 Aerophilately
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Class 6 Astrophilately
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Class 7 Thematic Philately
A) Nature
B) Culture
C) Technology
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Class 8 Maximaphily
• Please indicate clearly in the Exhibit Application Form as to the sub-class (A, B or C) the exhibit is entering.
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Class 9 Revenue
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Class 10 Youth Philately
Collectors aged 13 to 15 years
Collectors aged 16 18 years
Collectors aged 19 21 years
(As of January01, 2008)
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Class 11 Literature
Philatelic books, pamphlets and studies (issued after January 01, 2003)
Philatelic journals, periodicals (issued after January 01, 2006) Stamp catalogues (issued after January 0 1, 2006)
• Please indicate clearly in the Exhibit Application Form as to the sub-class (1, 2 or 3) the exhibit is entering.
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Class 12 Experimental Class
One-Frame Exhibit
Exhibits in this Class should not be One Frame extracted from a multiple frame exhibit and should be based on a narrow subject that is best treated as One Frame. Exhibits are also welcome from novice exhibitors who are developing a subject which is capable of expanding to more than One Frame in the near future.
Awards are represented by CERTIFICATES:
- GOLD 90 to 1 00 points
- VERMEIL 80 to 89 points
- SILVER 70 to 79 points
- BRONZE 60 to 69 points
Certificate of Participation will be given to exhibits attaining less than 60 points. Exhibits will be classified under:
- A) Traditional
- B) Postal History
- C) Postal Stationery
- D) Aerophilately
- E) Astrophilately
- F) Thematic
- G) Maximaphily
- H) Revenue
• Please indicate clearly in the Exhibit Application From as to the sub-class (A-H) the exhibit is entering.
7.3 The Organizing Committee reserves the right to reject any exhibits in whole or in part without assigning any reason for such rejection.
ARTICLE 8: SIZE AND ALLOTMENT OF FRAMES
8.1 The displayframes will have a capacity for 16 (4 x 4) standard size sheets.
8.2 Sheets larger than 23cm x 29cm as well as black or dark colored sheets will not be accepted.
8.3 For entries in the Non-Competitive Classes: 1- 5 frames
8.4 Exhibitors in the Competitive Classes will be allocated the following number of frames:
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Class 1 :8 frames
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Class 2 9, 12 FIP / FlAP Large Vermeil and above : 8 frames
FIP / FlAP Vermeil and below : 5 frames
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Class 10.1 : 2-4 frames
10.2 : 3-5 frames
10.3 : 4-5 frames
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Class 11 Literature Exhibits must be sent to the Organizing
Committee in duplicate
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Class 12 One frame exhibit : 1 frame
ARTICLE 9: PARTICIPATION FEE
9.1 There is no fee for Non-Competitive Classes entries
9.2 The participation fee for Competitive Classes (except Class 10, 11 & 12) will be US$25 per frame
9.3 The fee for participation in Youth Philately (Class 10) and Literature (Class 11) is US$25 per exhibit
9.4 The fee for participation in One-Frame Exhibit (Class 12) is US$50 per exhibit.
ARTICLE 10: SECURITY MEASURES
10, 1 The Organizing Committee will take reasonable precautions to ensure that adequate security is provided to protect the exhibits during the Exhibition period,
10, 2 Exhibitors will be encouraged to adequately insure their exhibits,
ARTICLE 11: HANDLING OF EXHIBITS
11, 1 Exhibits delivered by Commissioners must reach the Organizing Committee by October 21, 2008,
11, 2 Exhibits (other than Literature) arriving by mail must reach the Organizing Committee by October 09, 2008,
11,3 Exhibits of Literature (in duplicate) must reach the Organizing Committee by August 2O, 2008, The exhibits will not be returned, One set each of the exhibits will be donated to the Organizing Committee and Flap respectively, at the end of the Exhibition,
11.4 Exhibits arriving later than the date stipulated above will not be judged, Frames fee will not be refunded in case of late or non-arrival of exhibits
11.5 Each exhibit sheet must be placed in a transparent protective cover, the sheets shall be numbered on each page at the lower left-hand corner, and all sheets shall be kept in envelopes supplied by the Organizing Committee,
11, 6 the exhibits received will be duly acknowledged with proper receipt. Exhibits will be returned in exchange for their receipt after the exhibition if delivered personally by the Commissioners, Otherwise, exhibits will be returned by the same manner of transportation as they were submitted,
ARTICLE 12: JUDGEMENT AND AWARDS
12,1 The Jury for JAKARTA 2008 (22nd Asian International Stamp Exhibition) will be appointed by the Organizing Committee in consultation with the FIAP Co¬ordinator, Members of the Jury will be FIP / FlAP accredited Jury members, 1Z,Z A number of Apprentice Jury Members may also be appointed with the Consultation of the FlAP Co-coordinator and with the recommendation of the FlAP Member Federations from where the Apprentice is invited,
12.3 Exhibits in Non-Competitive Classes will receive suitable commemorative awards,
12.4 For Competitive Classes (excep1 class 12, see Article 7, 2), the awards are as follows:
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Large Gold medals
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Gold medals
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Large Vermeil medals
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Vermeil medals
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Large Silver medals
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Silver medals
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Silver Bronze medals
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Bronze medals
All medals will be accompanied with appropriate certificates.
L2.5 the only award in Championship Class is the Grand Prix d’Honneur, a valuable objet d’art. Exhibits in the Championship Class not receiving the Grand Prix d’Honneur will receive a Large Gold medal or an objet d’art of equivalent value.
L2.6 there are two Grand Prizes for the Exhibition on JAKARTA 2008 (22nd Asian International Stamp Exhibition): the Grand Prix International and the Grand Prix National.
L2.7 The Jury’s decision will be final, hence, objections will not be considered.
L2.8 Special Prizes provided by the Organizing Committee and donated by the organizations and people of participating countries and regions will be placed at the disposal of the Jury. Any particular wish expressed by a donor should be observed in making awards, if possible.
L2.9 The Jury may express felicitations for those exhibits demonstrating outstanding philatelic research or originality.
L2.1O Expert Team
Since TAIPEI 96 (10th Asian International Stamp Exhibition), an Expert Team was appointed to examine the exhibits for fakes and forgeries etc. An Expert Team will be appointed by the JAKARTA Z008 Organizing Committee in consultation with the FlAP Co-ordinator. The philatelic materials chosen by the Expert Team will be examined through the relevant equipment including a high power microscope and color scanner or any other equipment considered necessary by the Expert Team.
ARTICLE 13: RIGHTS OFTHE ORGANIZING COMMITIEE
13.1 The Organizing Committee reserves the right to make changes in these Individual Regulations, in consultation with the FlAP Co-ordinator.
13.2 The Organizing Committee reserves the right to decide on any questions not covered by the FlAP and FIP Regulations or these Individual Regulations.
ARTICLE 14: ACCEPTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL REGULATIONS OF JAKARTA 2008
14.1 By signing the entry form, the exhibitor accepts all provisions for those Individual Regulations for JAKARTA 2008.
ARTICLE 15: ADDRESSES
15.1 The address of the Organizing Committee of JAKARTA 2008 is:
JAKARTA 2008 Organizing Committee JI Pos No 2, Komplek GPI
Jakarta 10710, Indonesia
(Tel) 62-21-3518711
(Fax) 62-21-3518710
15.2 The address of the Commissioner General of JAKARTA 2008 is:
Mr. Koes Karnadi
JI Pos No 2, Komplek GPI Jakarta 10710, Indonesia
(Tel) 62-21-3518711
(Fax) 62-21-3518710
(Email)koesbali@hotmail.com
15.3 The address of the FlAP Co-ordinator is:
Mr Tay Peng Hian
3 Kian Teck Way Singapore 628732
(Tel) 65-62612421
(Fax) 65-62662750
(Email)fiap@pacific.net.sg
Source: http://my-indonesia.info/
April 11th, 2008
(Balidiscovery) Tempo Interaktif writes that the State Power Board (PLN) recorded a Rp. 3 billion (US$326,000) drop in power usage during Bali’s traditional day of silence or Nyepi on March 7, 2008.
Bali’s transformation for 24 hours into a virtual ghost town with all streets empty, places of business closed and airport shut down allowed PLN officials to cease operations at the 80-megawatt Steam Generation Station at Pemaron and the 130-megawatt gas generating station at Gilimanuk.
Experts also estimate that Bali’s 24 hour shut down reduced by 20-30,000 tons of amount of hydrocarbon emissions from the 200,000 vehicles and 80 airplanes that went silent in Bali on March 7, 2008.
Source: www.balidiscovery.com
April 10th, 2008
Arab businessmen and real estate tycoons are showing more interest in South East Asia, which include Emaar Properties, Pacific Inter-Link Sdn Bhd, Al Ghurair Group, Ras Al Khaimah and Limitless.
The planned projects include a tourist resort, an oil palm plantation, an oil refinery, a port, a railway and properties.
With a population of more than 234 million and an area covering 1.9 million square meters, Indonesia can truly be described as the largest Islamic state.
According to the Arab Asian Financial Forum (AAFF), the average Arab citizen has little or no information at all about Indonesia which has 17,507 islands, 6,000 of which are inhabited. The Annual Summit of the Arab Asian Financial Forum, which will take place in Hotel Mulia (Grand Ballroom) on June 5-6 2008, will try to improve trade ties and financial sector activity among Arab and Asian countries.
Indonesia is one of the main oil producing countries and is an active member of OPEC, the most powerful oil cartel in the world. But despite the religious links between the Arab world and Indonesia, the trade ties between the two sides are not up to expectations.
Indonesia’s main export markets are Japan (22.3% of Indonesian exports in 2005), the United States (13.9%), China (9.1%), and Singapore (8.9%). The major suppliers of imports to Indonesia are Japan (18.0%), China (16.1%), and Singapore (12.8%).
The 3rd Annual Summit of the Arab Asian Financial Forum will try to find new avenues whereby oil wealth can be invested into sustainable projects that can fuel the aspirations of generations to come. With ‘From Energy to Knowledge’ as this year’s main theme of the annual summit of AAFF, bankers, insurers, and energy experts will focus on the concrete steps that have to be taken within the coming couple of years in order to develop market dynamics.
In 2005, Indonesia ran a trade surplus with export revenues of $83.64bn and import expenditure of $62.02bn. The country has extensive natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas, tin, copper, and gold. Indonesia’s major imports include machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, and foodstuffs.
‘Indonesian exports to Middle Eastern countries in 2005 touched $2.3bn, up from $1.8bn in 2001. Real GDP growth in Indonesia stood at 6.3% year on year in the second quarter of 2007, accelerating slightly from 6.0% in the first quarter,’ says an executive at the Arab Asian Financial Forum.
This strong momentum is expected to be maintained into 2008, when growth is forecast at 6.4%, up from an estimated 6.3% in 2007.
Consumer confidence indicators continue to show a lack of optimism, but consumer spending nonetheless increased by 4.7% year on year in the second quarter, its strongest increase in 11 quarters. Falling lending interest rates and strengthening confidence in economic stability should allow consumer spending to remain an important driver of growth during the forecast period.
In addition to regional and international financial dialogue, the 3rd Annual Summit of the Arab Asian Financial Forum will also look at opportunities in Indonesia. Lower interest rates, the new investment law, efforts to encourage infrastructure investment and a new package of measures introduced by Bank Indonesia (the central bank) to stimulate bank lending will all contribute to strong private-sector investment, which grew by 6.8% year on year in the second quarter of this year.
Despite strong domestic demand, average inflation is estimated to have been considerably lower in 2007 than in 2006, largely because the fuel price rises in late 2005 dropped out of the base of comparison in October 2006. Rice shortages pushed up inflation at the start of 2007, but the government has relaxed its ban on imports of rice, which has tempered price rises.
The 2007 rice harvest is thought to have exceeded expectations, which will allow stocks to be replenished and will help to contain prices in 2008. The sharp depreciation of the rupiah in August will push up import prices, but high unemployment will ensure that wage pressures remain relatively subdued. The high forecast for international oil prices should not threaten Indonesian consumer price inflation, as the government subsidizes fuel prices, and its relatively secure fiscal position means that it is unlikely to pass on the burden of higher oil costs to consumers and businesses.
The Arab Asian Financial Forum has been working hard for a few years now to improve bilateral relations between the Arab Countries and South East Asia. Notably, Arab ministers, central bank governors, and bnaires have supported the endeavor by actively participating in AAFFs annual summits in places such as Singapore and Malaysia. In recent years, Indonesian officials and business delegations made regular visits for many Arab countries and most notably the rich oil Gulf States to strengthen trade and investments.
Thee Indonesia based National Agency for Export Development (NAFED) a unit of the Indonesian Government’s Ministry of Industry and trade, has set itself the export growth target in 2006 at 7 per cent as against Indonesia’s total exports of non oil and gas in 2003 which touched at $57.2bn and export growth touched 5.2%.
Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), said: ‘Given the cultural bonding UAE and Indonesia shared, there was need to further strengthen the trade relation between the two countries. Under the auspices of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, we are constantly exploring opportunities to develop trade with brotherly countries.’
Apart from the trade ties, the Arab Asian Financial Forum says that UAE companies showed keen interest in investing in Indonesia.
Etisalat last month has taken a 15.97 per cent stake for Dhs1.6bn in Excelcomindo, the third largest mobile operator in Indonesia.
Etisalat has acquired 1.132bn ordinary shares of the telecom from Rajawali Group. The deal will give Etisalat the right to nominate a seat on the Board of Commissioners and one seat for the Board of Directors of the telecom company.
Excelcomindo has around 13 million mobile subscribers in Indonesia, representing a market share of approximately 14% as of 30 September 2007.
In addition, Excelcomindo has built one of Indonesia’s highest quality mobile networks, with fiber optic transmission infrastructure covering all major cities. This raises the number of subscribers in the companies that Etisalat manages or contributes towards to over 50 million subscribers with a total population of 832 million people across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The Arab Asian Financial Forum is supported by various large financial institutions. This year’s Annual Summit is sponsored by AlBaraka Banking Group (ABG) (Platinum Sponsor), International Investment Group (IIG) (Gold Sponsor), Trust International Insurance and Reinsurance Company (Silver Sponsor), Intaj (Silver Sponsor),Tadamon International Islamic Bank (Bronze Sponsor), Al Salam Bank (Bronze Sponsor), Aman Insurance and Reinsurance Company (Bronze Sponsor), Credit Libanais Bank (Gold Sponsor), Credit Libanais (Delegates bag sponsor), among others.
Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Company also announced plans to increase its investment in Indonesia’s tourism and hotel sector, the chairman of the company said.
Chairman Prince Awalid bin Talal bin Abdulazizal Saud, the world’s 13-richest man, made the remarks at the press conference after meeting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the presidential office. However, the chairman declined to disclose how much more the company is going to invest in Indonesia.
The Kingdom Holding Company owns total assets of $20.3bn, according to the Forbes Magazine. ‘We are committed to strengthen our position in Indonesia. We have been looking for certain opportunities in the hotel industry that we hope to materialize in coming months,’ he said.
The Kingdom Holding Company has already invested in two luxurious hotels and the banking sector in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, said Awalid.
‘We already have presence in Mandarin Hotel and Four Seasons Hotel and the City Group, banking Industry,’ he said. On certainty of investing in Indonesia, Awalid praised the country’s newly-passed investment law by the Indonesian parliament.
Officials said that Indonesia is among the most beautiful multi-faceted and fascinating holiday destinations in the world. It offers beautiful beaches for swimming, trekking tours through spectacular volcanic landscapes, one of the most beautiful golf courts and diving in unique underwater worlds. They added that nearly 5 million foreign tourist had visited Indonesia during the year 2006. Of this, an estimated 56,000 tourists were from the Middle East. This is against 38,337 visitors during 2004. Indonesia targets a minimum of 6 million visitors from across the globe in 2007.
‘In the first seven months of 2007, Indonesia attracted a little more than 2.5m guests from the world over, which marked a distinct increase of around 13%. The year 2008 is to add another 20%. And the booming Qatar is certainly our target’, one Indonesian said in Doha.
‘Tourist operators expect more than 300,000 Arab tourists to visit the islands of Indonesia in 2008 thanks to the extensive promotion TV campaigns. They added that investors are planning to spend $3bn in the construction of hotels and beach resorts in at least 12 islands in Indonesia,’ says an AAFF representative.
The Annual Summits of the Arab Asian Financial Forum have been covered by the most prestigious members of the regional and international press, including the likes of Asia News Channel, Al-Jazeera, and CNBC Arabia.
Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/
April 9th, 2008
By Bambang Purwanto
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jambi province has been preparing local tourist sites and attractions as well as setting up support facilities and infrastructures in its effort to make the Indonesia Visit Year (VIY) 2008 program a success.
Jambi Governor H Zulkifli Nurdin has brought all businesspeople dealing with the tourism sector in the province together calling on them to make concerted efforts to make the Visit Indonesia Year (VIY) and Visit Jambi Year (VJY) programs a success.
The local chapter of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) and the local chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (Ihra) had expressed readiness to promote tourist objects both at home and abroad, Zulkifli said.
The governor had also called on relevant state-owned companies including plantation and construction enterprises as well as airlines to take active parts in making the national and local tourism programs a success.
This year, Jambi will hold various tourist events including the Muorojambi Temple Festival(May 28-June 2), the Batang Merangin Rafting Championship (May 25-30), the Lake Kerinci Festival (July 17-20) and the Jambi Cultural Week (December 10-15), besides organizing a meeting for all Indonesian men of letters.
The local administration has made the Muorojambi Temple as an integrated cultural, historical, scientific, religious, culinary and agro tourism site.
Head of the Jambi Provincial Culture and Tourism Office, Hj Mualimah Radhiana said the two-kilometer square tourist site has 86 small and big temples.
The temple which is the historical heritage of the Sriwijaya Kingdom and the Islam Malay Kingdom in Jambi becomes an icon in the Visit Indonesia Year (VIY) program.
For the Muarojambi Temple Festival, the Jambi provincial administration was focusing on developing rivulets leading to the temple complex.
“We are offering passage on the Batanghari River to the Muarojambi Temple Festival to guests who can enjoy the views along the river,” Muallimah said.
In addition to the four events, Jambi was also offering the `Mandi Syafar` event (a traditional bathing ritual usually held in the second Islamic month of Syafar) in March, the Jambi Discount Event in February and the Procession of Sahur (eating before daybreak for fasting) in the Ramadhan fasting month.
Jambi is optimistic that the number of tourists it would attract during the VIY 2008 would increase compared to the previous year when the figure was recorded at 616,000, including 5,000 foreign tourists, she said.
The local administration had also cooperated with the association of representatives for the Indonesian Buddhists (Walubi) to hold the Muorojambi Temple Festival in May or in coinciding with the celebration of Buddha`s birth on May 20.
In 2007, the Buddha`s birth was celebrated by thousands of Buddhists from different countries at the Muorojambi Temple some 30 kilometers east of Jambi city.
Besides historical and cultural tourist objects, Jambi will also attract tourists with natural tourist sites like the Kerinci Seblat National Park in Kerinci district.
Kerinci district is one of Jambi`s potential tourist destination as it has interesting natural tourist sites including Lake Kerinci, Lake Gunung Tujuh, Mt. Kerinci, Telun Berasap Waterfalls and hot water bathing places.
In addition, the province also makes Batanghari river a potential tourist destination in support of the Visit Indonesia Year (VIY) program. The river will be made as a water way for tourists to the Muorojambi Temple.
Tour packages
In the meantime, tour operators and travel agents grouped in Asita`s Jambi chapter have been preparing tour packages in support of the Visit Indonesia Year (VIY) program.
Chairman of Asita`s Jambi chapter M Ali Rahman Siwoon said the association in cooperation with businesspeople in other provinces in Indonesia and abroad has been promoting Jambi`s tourism potentials through different activities like the Jambi Travel Mart.
Asita`s Jambi chapter is offering ecotourism objects like the Berbak National Park in Tanjung Jabung Timur district and the Muorojambi Temple which are always visited by a lot of domestic and foreign tourists.
Jambi is also offering other tourist events like the Slank Lovers Parade, the Jambi Adventure City, the Lake Sipin Festival, Fun Tour, Rain Forest Off Road, the International Batik Festival and the Jambi Expo 2008.
Head of the Jambi Provincial Culture and Tourism Office, Hj Mualimah, said Jambi has been ready to make the VIY 2008 a success as it already has 11 star hotels, 107 non-star hotels and seven homestays, 33 reastaurants and 342 food stalls.
She said Jambi has 269 tourist objects, 46 travel agents, five convention facilities and 117 arts groups which can be found in 10 districts and cities in the province.
The government, represented by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, launched the Visit Indonesia Year (VIY) 2008 program on December 26, 2007.
Gearing up to make the Visit Indonesia Year (VIY) 2008 program a success, the Indonesian government is calling on all its regional administrations and embassies abroad to intensively promote the country`s tourism potentials.
On efforts to promote the VIY 2008 abroad, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said the government had made them among others through websites, road shows in several countries and participation in annual tourism mart exhibitions, including those held in Berlin (Germany), London (Britain) and China.
Indonesia`s traditional tourism markets are Japan, Australia, Korea, Taiwan and a number of European countries besides new markets such as China, India, Russia and countries in the Middle East.
In support of the VIY 2008 program, Minister Jero Wacik had also provided Visa On Arrival (VOA) facilities to 63 countries, an increase from 29 countries before his appointment as minister.
Indonesia is promoting its tourist potentials through a Visit Indonesia Year program for a second time. The first time it did so was in 1991.
From the VIY program, the Culture and Tourism Ministry had set a target of earning 6.7 billion US dollars from seven million foreign tourists expected to visit Indonesia.
Source: ANTARA News
April 8th, 2008
New Airbus airplanes will help Mandala Airlines reach its goal of carrying 25 percent more passengers this year, CEO Warwick Brady said last week.
“We are planning to invest a total of Rp 1.8 billion (US$206,232) on 30 new Airbus airplanes to achieve our 25 percent annual growth of passengers,” Warwick said.
Mandala Airlines head Diono Nurjadin said from 2009 the airline would operate with only two types of Airbus — the A-320, capable of carrying 180 passengers, and the A-319, capable of carrying 144 passengers.
The “new generation” airplanes will improve airline efficiency, Diono said.
“By using these new generation airplanes, we will be able to save 30 percent of fuel consumption,” he said.
The airline has switched from using the Boeing 737-200, which served the airline for 25 years.
“We are going to return all the Boeing-type aircraft that we rent and sell those that we own,” Diono said.
Warwick said low-cost carriers were forced to boost efficiency to compete.
“It is a myth that low-cost carriers are unsafe. On the contrary, we follow international standards and are the safest type of airline in the world. Low-cost carriers’ accident rate per 1,000 flights is less than other types of airlines,” he said.
The number of low-cost flights in the Asia-Pacific region has jumped from 3,900 in 2001 to 60,000 in 2007, according to the international flight information company OAG.
Mandala is currently undergoing an operational safety audit to receive certification by the International Air Transport Association.
Diono said although Mandala Airlines was not a member of the association, it had decided to be audited.
“We want to show the world we are meeting its standards,” he said. (lva)
Source: The Jakarta Post
April 7th, 2008
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