No.04 /10, April 2010 - indonezia.ro Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of...

No.04 /10, April 2010

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Romania, Her Excellency Mrs. Marianna Sutadi has presented the Letters of Credence to His Excellency Mr. Traian Băsescu, President of Romania, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, on April 12, 2010. The handing in of the letters marks the commencement of the official duty of Ambassador Marianna Sutadi in Romania.

After presenting the Letters of Credence, Ambassador Marianna Sutadi and President Traian Băsescu held bilateral talks in a warm and friendly

atmosphere. Ambassador Marianna Sutadi conveyed warm greetings from the President of the Republic of Indonesia and, in reply, the President of Romania conveyed his warm greet-ings to the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

President Traian Băsescu and Ambassador Marianna Sutadi talked about ways to improve the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Romania. President Traian Băsescu stated that even if there is deficit for Romania in the trade balance, the Romanian side will try to stabilize the situation and both sides agreed to strengthen the bilateral relations and to develop the trade relations. They also talked about the developments in both countries.

Ambassador Marianna Sutadi is the 14th Indonesian Ambassador to Romania. She previously served as Vice Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Jakarta. Her predecessor was Mrs. Nuni Turnijati Djoko (2004-2007). The Indonesia - Romania diplomatic relationship has lasted for 60 years, starting from February 20, 1950. In 1961, Indonesia opened the diplomatic mission in Bucharest, with the first Ambassador Mr. Soekrisno. The last visit to Romania of a President of the Republic of Indonesia was paid by Mrs. Megawati Sukarnoputri in 2003, and Mr. Ion Iliescu, the President of Romania, paid a reply visit to Jakarta in 2004.

Indonesian New slet ter

Embassy of the Republ ic of Indones ia

Published By :

EMBASSY OF

THE REPUBLIC OF

INDONESIA

BUCHAREST

Editor in Chief :

Hadi Sufri Yunus

Collaboration :

Eddy Mulya

Pratiwi Amperawati

Fattah Hardiwinangun

Widya Airlangga

Tri Murniati

Ganis Laksono

Secretary of Editor :

Widya Airlangga

Agus Tata S.

Distribution :

Martin Supri Diauw

Ion Antonescu

Address :

Strada Orlando No.10

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CONTENTS

HEADLINES

1. The Ambassador Of The Republic Of Indonesia Presented The Letters Of

Credence

BILATERAL / MULTILATERAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1. Indonesia, Slovakia Agree To Enhance Economic And Business Cooperation

2. Indonesia, US Sign Science, Technology Cooperation Agreement

3. Indonesia, UN Launch Joint Effort To Curb Deforestation

4. Indonesia, China Agree On Steps To Strengthen Partnership

5. Indonesia Prepared To Consider Russia's, US's Interest In EAS

6. France To Intensify Economic Relations With Indonesia

7. Developing Ties With Indonesia Among Russia's Strategic Priorities

8. Indonesia Attend ASEM Interfaith Dialog In Madrid

9. President: Islam, Democracy, Modernization Can Develop Together

10. Nuclear Security Summit 2010

11. Twenty Countries Confirm Participation In ASEM Culture Meeting In Solo

ASEAN

1. ASEAN Gets Commission For Children And Women

2. ASEAN Summit Begins

3. ASEAN Asks For Participation In G-20 Summits

ECONOMY

1. Indonesia Ranks 30th As World's Biggest Exporter: WTO

2. Indonesia To Set Reference For Commodities

3. Indonesia Third Largest Coffee Exporter In Germany

4. North Sulawesi Remains World's Biggest Nutmeg Supplier

5. Indonesia Planning To Process All Seaweeds At Home

6. Sleman Batik Clothes Promoted In International Markets

7. Indonesia Tourism Sector To Grow By Six Percent

8. Indonesia Textile Exports Expected To Grow 12 Pct

9. VP : Indonesia Secure Place For Investment

10. Foreign Tourist Arrivals In Indonesia Up Two Percent

11. Indonesia's Car Exports Expected To Increase To Pre-Crisis Level

12. West Java Approves Rp30 Trillion Investment Last Year

13. Indonesia Posted Us$1.71 Billion Trade Surplus In February

14. West Kalimantan's February Exports And Imports Up

15. West Sumatra's Nonoil/Gas Exports Up 18.01 Pct

16. Jambi's Balance Of Trade Surplus Reaches 52.16 Million Dollars

17. Four Investors Ready To Enter Aceh

18. Yogyakarta's Exports To China Increasing

19. Indonesia's Economic Growth Can Be Over 5.5 Pct

20. Indonesia, China To Cooperate In Verifying Exports' Certificates Of Origin

21. Maluku To Show Economic Potentials Through 'Investment Day'

22. ASPERAM To Expand Handicraft Market In Europe

DIVERSE

1. "VISIT SOUTH SULAWESI 2012" Program Launched

2. Indonesia Launches 'One Billion Indonesian Trees For World'

3. Sail Banda 2010 To Be Indonesia's Largest Marine Event

4. Indonesia Launches Biometric Verification System For Border Control

5. Some 50 Photographers To Join Undersea Competition

6. Researchers Discover New Orchid Species

7. Many Reasons To Vote For Komodo Island

8. Italian Yacht Moors At Belawan Port

9. Yogyakarta Artist Mission To Visit Russia

10. Indonesia, USAID To Organize Education Reform CONFAB

11. Indonesia To Host 17th International Conference Of Young Scientists

12. OECD Upgrades Indonesia's CRC To Level 4

13. Indonesia To Host World Movement For Democracy Forum

14. BFC Promotes Indonesian Films In United States

15. President Expresses Condolences Over Polish Counterpart's Death

16. "SAIL INDONESIA" Raises Hope For Coastal Areas

17. Some 200 Foreign Yachts To Join Sail Banda 2010

18. Indonesia's Experience In Biosecurity Management Becomes Intl Reference



1. Indonesia, Slovakia Agree To

Enhance Economic And Business Cooperation

Jakarta - The Indonesian and Slovakian gov-ernments have agreed to enhance coopera-

tion in the fields of trade, investment and business.

Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Na-talegawa signed the agreement here on Monday.

"The bilateral relations between Indonesia and Slovakia can be concluded as very good

and positive," said Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa after the agreement signing ceremony.

Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak is on a visit to Indonesia from 29 to 30 March, 2010. During his stay in Jakarta, he is sched-

uled to hold meetings among others with In-donesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgian-toro, and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa.

In a joint press conference, both ministers expressed the need for both countries to en-

hance economy cooperation, especially to help overcome the global financial crisis.

Based on data of the Indonesian Central Bu-reau of Statistics (BPS), the Indonesian-Slovakian bilateral trade volume is not signifi-cant yet, but it has shown an increasing

trend since 2004.

The bilateral trade value reached US$73.3 million in 2009, up 16 percent from that in

the previous year.

The Indonesian and Slovakian governments

have also agreed to hold the second joint commission meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia on April 29-30, 2010.

On the occasion, both ministers also shared their views on a number of global and re-gional issues that come to mutual concerns.

Both ministers were also scheduled to offi-cially open "The Role of the UN in Multidi-mensional Peace keeping Operation and Post conflict Peace Building: Towards an ASEAN

Perspective," workshop to be held in Jakarta until Tuesday (March 30).

2.Indonesia, US Sign Science, Technology Cooperation Agreement

Jakarta - Indonesia and the United States signed on Monday a cooperation agreement

in the science and technology field, paving the way for scientists of the two countries to exchange information, ideas, knowledge and

skill.

Hopefully, all Indonesian scientists would be able to benefit from this agreement to

continue existing cooperation and embark on new cooperation with their US counterparts, Indonesian Minister of Research and Tech-nology Suharna Surapranata said after sign-

ing the agreement with US Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume.

The cooperation agreement covers 23 fields including science and technology, agri-culture and biotechnology, medical and bio-medical sciences, food security, marine re-

search, energy, information and communica-tion technology, aerospace, environment, forestry and biodiversity.

Suharna said the agreement was based on the principles of equality in that the collabo-ration was not aimed at supporting the US

interests but at supporting the national sci-ence and technology programs.

Indonesia and the US embarked on sci-

ence and technology cooperation in 1978 and extended the cooperation until 2002, he said.

It was not until 2008 the two countries realized the importance of renewing the co-operation, he said.

Ambassador Cameron Hume meanwhile said the US was looking forward to intensify-

ing its cooperation with Indonesia in all

BILATERAL, MULTILATERAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS



fields, including science, technology and re-search and making Indonesia its strong part-

ner.

3. Indonesia, UN Launch Joint Effort To Curb Deforestation

Jakarta - Indonesia`s Forestry Ministry

and the United Nations launched a UN Col-laborative Program on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD) with a kick-off workshop opened

by Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan.

"Our country is

very vulnerable, it has 80,000 kilo-meters of coast line, and more

than 17,000 is-lands, big and small. Many peo-ple depend on ag-

riculture, forestry and fisheries for livelihood and

food security. Many of these for-est dependent communities still

live in poverty," Minister Zulkifly said here Tuesday.

In his opening remarks, the minister also emphasized the danger of climate change and asked people to act immediately.

The minister also highlighted the impor-tance of local communities in REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and

forest Degradation) programs), and to make sure that the program will help them get a better life while preserving the forests and

biodiversity, he said.

Under the joint initiative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Food

and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Program, and funded by the government of Norway, the

United Nations will assist Indonesia in pre-paring the National REDD Implementation.

This requires preparation of policy, coordi-nation between different REDD initiatives and testing of methodologies on province and

district level.

Based on the UN-REDD program, the pro-

ject total budget which reached some 5.6 million US dollars where the fund is provided by the Norwegian government as the donor country and will be working with FAO (Food

and Agriculture Organization), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and the Forestry Ministry during 2009-2011.

The pro-gram will

pilot its ac-tivities in Sulawesi Island. With

other REDD initiatives being lo-

cated in islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan

and Java, this further expands REDD in

Indonesia.

The UN Resident Coordinator El-Mustofa

Benlamnih highlighted that the UN-REDD program will support the Ministry of Forestry to get ready for national REDD implementa-tion.

"The UN gives technical and policy advice and facilities coordination between REDD ini-

tiatives," he said.

REDD has become an eminent priority for Indonesia because deforestation and forest

degradation still represent a major source of green house gas emissions.



4. Indonesia, China Agree On Steps To Strengthen Partnership

Yogyakarta - Indonesia and China agreed on steps to strengthen the strategic partner-ship agreement the two countries signed in April 2005.

Indonesia's minister of trade Mari Elka Pangestu and her Chinese counterpart Chen

Deming signed "Agreed Minutes of The Meet-ing for Further Strengthening Economic and Trade Cooperation" at the 10th Indonesia-China Joint Commission Meeting here on Sat-

urday.

"The agreement contains steps the two countries will jointly take to settle problems

faced by certain sectors as a result of the implementation of the Asean-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA)," Mari said after the

signing ceremony.

Mari said the agreement was part of the efforts that had been taken to ease the wor-

ries of several industries in the country fol-lowing the implementation of the ACFTA.

On the occasion the two countries also agreed to set sustained bilateral trade growth.

"In case of a trade imbalance the party that enjoys a surplus is obliged to take steps including boosting imports and giving needed

support," she said.

In the meeting the two countries also

agreed several main agreements namely among others the Chinese government will facilitate access for several Indonesian tropi-cal agricultural products particularly fruits

such as bananas, pineapples, "rambutan" and swallow bird's nest to enter the Chinese market.

"Right now, Indonesia has already ex-ported several kinds of fruits to China such as mangosteen and Zalacca palm fruits. Sev-

eral other tropical fruits would follow soon," she said.

China has also agreed in the meeting to

allow state-owned Bank Mandiri to open a

branch in that country for strengthening di-rect banking transactions between the two

countries.

Minister Chen Deming meanwhile said sev-eral infrastructure development projects

would be carried out in Indonesia such as the steam power plant in West Kalimantan, toll roads between Medan and Kuala Namu in North Sumatra, bridge development in West

Kalimantan and a toll road in West Java and a bridge in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.

"China has already helped Indonesia in in-frastructute development projects such as the Suramadu bridge in East Java and coal-fired power plant in Labuhan Angin.

The agreement made at the 10th JCM marked the 60th anniversary of the two

countries' bilateral cooperation, he said.

5. Indonesia Prepared To Consider Russia's, US's Interest In EAS

Jakarta - Indonesia is ready to consider

positively the interest of Russia and the US to participate in the East Asia Summit (EAS), Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said here

on Monday.

"We are ready to consider it positively if Russia has an interest and if the US is inter-

ested in joining the group (EAS)," he said.

The minister said Indonesia had from the

beginning held the view that the most suit-able regional order was one that was inclu-sive.

"Our position from the beginning has al-ways been inclusive. We wish to have a re-gional order which is inclusive with many

countries participating (because) through our quality diplomats we will be able to maintain the equilibrium," he said.

To emphasize his statement Marty re-ferred to the country's proposal to include India, Australia and New Zealand to join the

EAS which originally only involved South Ko-rea, Japan and China.



"Indonesia does not want the East Asia or Pacific region to be dominated by one coun-

try. We wish to see all countries to have an ample opportunity and room," he said with-out referring to specific countries that are feared to dominate East Asia.

The minister further said efforts to realize an East Asian or Asia Pacific communities would be done through multi-channels and it

has been pioneered by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with its ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3 and EAS.

"With regard to Asian Community (EAS) itself there is indeed an opportunity for it to be made perfect and these processes will

certainly have to be taken," he said.

Earlier the EAS forum is maintained at the

format of 10 ASEAN member countries plus Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India upon consideration that with more members it would have the poten-

tial to become a "mini-UN".

Russia and the US have met the adminis-

trative requirements to develop further coop-eration with the ASEAN namely signing the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

The extension of the EAS is one of the topics to be discussed at the 18th ASEAN summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, on April 8-9.

6. France To Intensify Economic Relations With Indonesia

Jakarta - France will continue to step up its economic relations with Indonesia which

was one of its potential markets.

"France has been having economic rela-

tions with Indonesia for a long time and now we are going to intensify them," Philippe Louis Dreyfus, chairman of the France-Indonesia Businessmen`s Committee, told

newsmen at the Vice Presidential Palace here on Wednesday.

He made the statement after heading a 30-man French business delegation at a meet-

ing with Vice President Boediono.

According to Dreyfus, Indonesia was to France one of the most important countries in the Asia Pacific region and therefore ef-forts to step up economic cooperation with

Indonesia would continue to be made.

He said the visit to Indonesia by some 30

French businessmen was intended to main-tain and step up relations in the fields of in-vestment and economic development.

"Our presence here is also to reiterate French companies` profound interest in sup-porting Indonesia`s economic progress."

Dreyfus said.

He said France was known as a country that had made technological progress in in-

frastructure development, including in the electricity generation, air and sea transporta-tion.

"Therefore we want to cooperate with companies in Indonesia to step up our coop-eration in the infrastructure sector," he said,

adding that French companies wanted to build a strategic partnership with Indonesia in the future.

7. Developing Ties With Indonesia Among Russia's Strategic Priorities

Moscow - Developing relations with Indo-nesia is a long-term strategic priority of Rus-sia`s foreign policy, Deputy Foreign Minister

Alexey Borodavkin told a conference here Tuesday.

He was reeading out a message from Rus-

sian Froeign Minister Sergey Lavros at the Diplomatic Academy devoted to the 60th an-niversary of diplomatic relations between

Russia and Indonesia.

"Russia regards Indonesia as an important and reliable partner both in the Pacific region

and in the world scene, whose independent and active foreign policy on the most press-ing issues is highly respected," he said.



According to Borodavkin, "the two coun-tries take similar stances and constructively

interact in the international arena amid the dynamically developing Asia-Pacific Region and press for the creation of reliable security safeguards based on the collective approach,

international law and respect for the legal interest of all countries."

He said Moscow paid special attention to

interaction with Indonesia in the multilateral format, particularly within the framework of the UN, Group of 20 and the APEC forum.

"We hope that after the autumn summit Rus-sia-ASEAN we may agree on increasing inter-action by Russia and ASEAN both in the re-gion and the world over," the Russian diplo-

mat said.

Borodavkin hopes, "Indonesia will con-

tinue to support Russia`s

participation in the East-Asian summits, which will meet the common wish to see a

balanced and fair regional order."

Borodavkin underscored the need for the

intensification of bilateral trade and economic links and humanitarian cooperation. He said bilateral trade plunged by 30 percent (or by 974 million dollars) in 2009. He believes that

promising sectors for interaction are tourism, transport, telecommunications, agriculture, health care, energy, education and space.

The senior Russian diplomat said more than 50 events timed for the 60th anniver-sary of diplomatic relations would be held in

both countries this year. Among them will be exhibitions, presentations and conferences.

A visit by a group of Russian Pacific Fleet`s combat ships to one of the Indone-sian ports will deserve special attention.

8. Indonesia Attend ASEM Interfaith

Dialog In Madrid

Indonesia is taking part in the 6th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) interfaith dialog in Madrid, Spain, on April 7-9.

Themed "Consolidation of Religious Freedom and of Mutual Knowledge of Societies

through Interreligious and Intercultural Dia-logue", the three-day meeting brought to-gether 200 delegates from ASEM partners, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)

and Vatican, Krisnawati Desi Purnawestri, spokesperson of the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid, told an Antara correspondent in Lon-don on Friday.

The meeting was co-hosted by Spain and Pakistan and sponsored by 14 ASEM part-

ners, including Austria, The Netherlands, Bul-garia, Denmark, Finland, Britain, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand, Krisnawati said.

Indonesia is one of the initiators of ASEM interfaith dialog which was for the first time

held in the resort island of Bali in 2005.

In a plenary session of the Madrid meeting, the Indonesian delegation led by the director

general of public information and diplomacy at the Foreign Ministry, Andri Hadi, noted harmony among adherents of different faiths

was one of the keys to creating a harmoni-ous community.

Indonesia known as a pluralistic country in

terms of religion and culture could not es-cape a wide range of conflicts among and within faith and culture groups, he said.

Yet Indonesia had proven that dialog and active participation of the entire community was a key to creating harmony among peo-

ple of different faiths and cultures, he said. (The Jakarta Post)

9.President: Islam, Democracy, Modernization Can Develop Together

Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yud-hoyono said Islam, democracy, and moderni-zation can develop side by side to form a

modern and democratic nation without aban-doning religious values.

"We in Indonesia have seen that Islam,

democracy and modernization can grow to-



gether. There is no conflict between reli-gious, spiritual and political obligations as

citizens in pluralism and the capability to par-ticipate in the modern world," the President said in his opening speech at the Sixth As-sembly of the World Movement for Democ-

racy here Monday.

Islam-based political parties in Indonesia are among the strong supporters of democ-

racy, he said.

"This moderate view of openness and

tolerance in Indonesia and other communi-ties in the world, is a seed of harmonious life among civilizations in the 21st century," he said.

At present, democracy in Indonesia con-tinues to grow and the country enjoys the

third best economic growth among G-20 member states, after China and India, ac-cording to the head of state.

It showed that democracy and economic growth can happen at the same time, he said.

The three-day meeting is being partici-pated in by 625 people, including democracy

activists, practitioners, and academics from 110 countries.

The agenda will focus on ways to expand

democracy movements within all cultures, as well as on ways to develop mutually support-ing cross-cultural relationships to advance

democracy in all global regions, to advance the World Movement`s ongoing Defending Civil Society and Assessing Democracy Assis-tance projects, and to address the challenges

to democracy in such areas as anti-corruption, freedom of expression, youth en-gagement, independent media, human rights, local governance, elections, political

party development, women`s political partici-pation, and ethnic and religious inclusion.

WMD is a global network of democrats, including activists, practitioners, academics, policy makers, and funders, who have come together to cooperate in the promotion of

democracy.

The Washington, DC-based National En-

dowment for Democracy (NED) initiated the nongovernmental effort with the holding of a

global Assembly in New Delhi, India, in Feb-ruary 1999 to strengthen democracy where it was weak, to reform and envigorate democ-racy even where it is longstanding, and to

bolster pro-democracy groups in countries that have not yet entered into a process of democratic transition.

10. Nuclear Security Summit 2010

By sending Vice President Boediono to the

Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), inWashing-ton DC, running from April 12 to 13, Indo-nesia has demonstrated its commitment to denuclearization.

The NSS was first officially mentioned by US President Barack Obama during the L’Aquila

G8 meeting on July 8, 2009. By inviting 45 countries, NSS will try to obtain global lead-ers’ commitment to the highest level of nu-clear security.

Contrary to that, Iran will host a two-day conference, called ―Nuclear Energy for all,

Nuclear Arms for No-one‖ (NENAN), sched-uled on April 17-18, 2010. The Iranian top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said that NE-NAN is an international conference of 60

countries that advocate nuclear disarmament – part of the country’s efforts to ease fears that Tehran is seeking to build nuclear weap-ons (NW).

During his Prague speech in April 2009, President Obama instigated the idea of con-

vening a global nuclear security summit as another piece of the nonproliferation agenda (Mark Lippert, 2009).

On the other hand, also in Prague, a modifi-cation of the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the then Soviet Un-

ion (Russia) and the US, which expired Dec. 5, 2009, was signed by President Barack Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday, April 8, 2010.



Under the new treaty the US and Russia agree to limit the number of nuclear delivery

vehicles (NDV) to 800 and the number of warheads to 1,550 each.

The Global Zero Summit in Paris, Feb. 2-4,

2010, was attended by hundreds of military and political leaders and experts from various countries, who agreed to achieve the total and verified elimination of nuclear weapons.

Obama’s opening remark read by the US Un-der Secretary Ellen Tauscher reaffirms that a

world without nuclear weapons is a priority in US foreign policy Obama announced the readiness to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to negotiate the Fis-

sile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT).

He also mentioned that, during a meeting of

the UN Security Council, a passage of a his-toric resolution enshrining the world free from nuclear weapons gained a shared com-mitment among nations.

He also stated that a comprehensive long-term strategy of balanced and stage-by-

stage reduction of nuclear arsenals as repre-sented in the START round-of-negotiations with Russia in Geneva could be an important vehicle reaching the success of the Nuclear

Nonproliferation Treaty (NNPT) Review Con-ference next month.

Based on the US’s assessment that terrorists are determined to buy, build, or steal a NW (ACA Resources, 2010) the NSS aims to reach decisions on securing nuclear materi-

als, enhancing US ad-hoc efforts – Prolifera-

tion Security Initiative (PSI) and Global Initiative to Combat

Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT).

Global best-practices strengthen-ing the International Atomic

Energy Agency (IAEA) verification on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, establishing fissile material security frameworks,

creating a global nuclear material security roadmap, reducing highly enriched uranium (HEU)

stockpiles and the creation of regional nuclear training centers

will be discussed at the NSS.

On top of that, participants should pledge funding for regional and bilateral nuclear se-curity meetings, etc.

Indonesia’s commitment to global efforts to eliminate weapons of mass destruction (WMD) be they nuclear, chemical or biologi-

cal/radiological weapons is illustrated by the country’s active participation on the series of UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva,

established by the Security Council in 1979. Indonesia has made significant contributions to the long process of achieving a world free from WMDs.

The late Ali Alatas, then foreign minister, was the president of the 1991 Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) Amendment Conference — the

―baby‖ of the 1996 CTBT. As well as that, Ambassador Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat was elected as chairman of the 2004 Pre-

paratory Committee Meeting (Prepcom) of the NPT Review Conference in 2005.

The country’s contribution to create a world

safe from WMDs through multilateral chan-nels within the UN framework can also be noted during the establishment of the Chemi-

cal Weapons Convention (CWC) as the re-placement of the 1925 Geneva Protocol (for Chemical Weapons) and the long process of negotiation to add a verification mechanism

for Biological (and toxic) Weapon Convention 1972 (BWC).

Though only half-heartedly participating in the PSI and not yet involved in the GICNT, as a party to the NPT, Indonesia has always



been committed to seek ways stopping the vertical and horizontal development of NWs,

and at the same time supports the peaceful use of nuclear energy under the IAEA.

Together with other non-nuclear weapon

states, Indonesia never ceases to propose that nuclear-armed countries make legally binding commitments to the Negative Secu-rity Assurances (NSA).

However, facing the US policy of ambiguity, which gives unfair treatment to the develop-

ment of peaceful nuclear energy tolerating non-signatories of the NNPT that have nu-clear weapons, such as Israel, Indonesia’s presence at the NSS should be utilized by

showing her commitment to the elimination of WMD within the context of multilateral negotiation without any discrimination what-

soever.

Recent developments, such as the success of START modification, has to be utilized as the

right avenue to redress the nuclear situation in the Middle East and the Korean peninsula based on transparency and equality.

The presence of Foreign Minister Marty Na-talegawa to NENAN in Tehran will apply pres-sure that Iran will be more transparent and

willing to be verified by IAEA.

Indonesian diplomacy should be foresighted

in dealing with strategic surprises; proac-tively projected to bridge gaps between dis-puting parties to fit Indonesia’s role as peacemaker and bridge builder.

The writer is a diplomat and APCSS (Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies) alumni.

This is his personal opinion. (By: Iskandar Hadrianto/The Jakarta Post, )

11. Twenty Countries Confirm Partici-pation In ASEM Culture Meeting In Solo

Solo, C Java - Fifty-one first echelon-level officials from 20 Asian and European coun-tries have confirmed participation in an ASEM culture meeting here on April 15-17.

Secretary of the Directorate General of His-tory and Archeology at the Culture and Tour-

ism Ministry Soeroso said at the meeting themed "Heritage And The Challenges Of The Present" Europe would be represented by Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Ger-

many, Hungary, Italy, Denmark and Poland.

The Asian countries meanwhile would be represented by Brunei Darussalam, Cambo-

dia, China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thai-land, Vietnam and Indonesia, he said.

Soeroso said the meeting was particularly aimed at enhancing exchange of information and mutual understanding between commu-

nities in the two continents on preserving heritages.

To that end, the three-day meeting would discuss efforts to preserve old cities and cul-ture preserves, among others, he said.

"As a host, Indonesia will play a great role

in preserving heritages. The results of the meeting will be brought to an ministerial meeting in Poland in September 2010," he

said.

ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) was estab-lished in Bangkok in March 1996. It is made

up of 45 countries consisting of 27 European countries and 18 Asian countries.



1. ASEAN Gets Commission For Children And Women

ASEAN officials inaugurated Wednesday the Com-

mission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), to aug-ment the human rights body established last year.

The ACWC has a mandate to, among others, de-velop policies, programs and innovative strategies vis-à-vis the rights of women and children in the

region.

―As commissioners we have the task of improving the standard of implementation of the rights of

children,‖ Indonesian ACWC commissioner Ahmad Taufan Damanik said after the inauguration, held a day prior to the bloc’s summit, which kicks off Thursday in Hanoi.

Under the terms of reference of the establish-ment of the commission, the ACWC comprises

representatives from the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Each state is represented by two commissioners,

one for women’s rights and the other for chil-dren’s rights, who serve three -year terms and may be consecutively reappointed for an addi-tional term.

Child rights activist Damanik, based in North Su-matra, has been appointed the Indonesian com-missioner for child rights, while activist Rita

Serena Kalibonso, from the Mitra Perempuan women’s crisis center, has been named the coun-try’s commissioner for women’s rights.

―In the next three years, we are mandated to establish a children’s and women’s rights monitor-ing system in Southeast Asia and will deal with

sensitive issues relating to children and women,‖ Damanik said.

Among the issues are child trafficking, abuse and

labor, which he said was experienced almost uni-versally in the 10 ASEAN member states.

Some states also face the problem of child com-batants.

Damanik said tackling child trafficking could begin

by focusing in the Mekong Delta countries of

Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myan-mar, and between Indonesia, Malaysia and Singa-pore.

Indonesian human rights activist Yuyun Wahyun-ingrum, who works with ASEAN, lauded the inau-

guration of the ACWC and said the new body had an even bigger mandate than the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).

―The ACWC has a protection mandate, which the AICHR doesn’t,‖ she said in Hanoi.

She added the ACWC had the mandate to support the participation of women and children in the dialogue and consultation processes in ASEAN as

related to the promotion and protection of their rights.

―This opens up the opportunity for public partici-

pation in the processes,‖ Yuyun said.

Indonesia’s representative to the AICHR, Rafendi Djamin, was upbeat about the rights commission

and the ACWC working together and cooperating closely to prevent an of overlap of responsibility or scope of work.

Djauhari Oratmangun, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s director general of ASEAN affairs, said the establishment of the new commission boded

well for the region.

―Some five years ago it was difficult to imagine that ASEAN would have special bodies dealing

with human rights issues,‖ he said.

―Now, a year since the ASEAN Charter took ef-

fect, we have inaugurated the AICHR and the ACWC.‖ (The Jakarta Post)

2. ASEAN Summit Begins

Hanoi - The 16th ASEAN summit April 8 and 9 has been opened by Vietnamese Prime Minister

Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi Thursday afternoon.

The opening ceremony was attended by the

heads of state of all the ASEAN member coun-tries, with the exception of Thailand who had sent its deputy prime minister due to the unfavor-able situation of his country.

The summit's agenda covers implementation of the ASEAN Charter, the 2009-2015 road map to the ASEAN Community, the ASEAN Connectivity,

the climate change and other regional and inter-



national issues.

ASEAN comprises Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Camdodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

The opening ceremony was started with an address of the Vietnamese Prime Minister as ASEAN Chairman, followed by group photo and dance performances.

Earlier, before opening a meeting to discuss his visit to Hanoi to attend the ASEAN summit,

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the three pillors of the ASEAN Community, namely the ASEAN political security community, the ASEAN economic community, and the the ASEAN

social and cultural community, need to be real-ized at the same time.

"Indonesia believes that the three need to go

in axact correspondence," he said in Hanoi.

The Indonesian delegation to the ASEAN sum-mit includes Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa,

Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Coordinating Minister for Policital and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, and Minis-ter, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi.

The President said when the regional associa-tion was set up in 1967, its aims included build-

ing a stable and secure region. And in its devel-opment, he said, the economy eventually became a leading agenda.

But, he added, "the establishment of the ASEAN Community really reminded us that all three pillars must be realized in full harmony."

3. ASEAN Asks For Participation

In G-20 Summits

Hanoi - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said ASEAN leaders hoped for the participation of

the regional grouping`s chairman in the summits of G-20, and Indonesia already as a G-20 mem-ber, will try to see that it would be realized.

"In a foreign ministerial meeting, which was also raised to leadership level (in ASEAN summit), the current ASEAN chairman (Vietnam) and some

other members of the regional grouping, are try-ing to have the ASEAN chairman attend G-20 summits," the President said when briefing Indo-nesian newsmen on the outcome of the ASEAN

summit in Hanoi Friday.

The ASEAN chairmanship is assumed by turn.

ASEAN has 10 member countries.

The Head of State also said that this year G-20 will meet twice, namely in Canada in June, and in South Korea in October or November.

Indonesia, the President said, welcomed and supported efforts to have the ASEAN chairman to always take part in G-20 summits.

The President said that Indonesia both directly or otherwise, has suggested G-20 to always have the ASEAN chairman take part in its summits.

"Indonesia would even write a letter to the host of this year`s summit in Canada or South Korea, to have the ASEAN chairman take part,"

the President said.

He added that the current ASEAN summit will also be used to explain why Indonesia was the

only ASEAN member country to take part in G-20 summits.

"I will ask my colleagues not misunderstand this," he said.

The President has explained that G-20 was

formed following the Asian crisis in 1998, but merely at ministerial level.

Later in 2008 it became a forum of state lead-ers. And then developed further into G-8 plus to which the Indonesian head of state was also in-vited, so that when it developed further into G-

20, Indonesia remained a member.

At the G-20 meeting, the President said he received no mandate and therefore did not repre-

sent ASEAN.

ASEAN, he added, needs to be represented by the ASEAN chairman.



1.Indonesia Ranks 30th As

World's Biggest Exporter: WTO

Jakarta - Indonesia ranked 30th as the world's biggest exporter last year, according to a World Trade Organization (WTO) report.

According to the report obtained by ANTARA on Monday, Indonesia exported US$120 billion worth of commodities last year, accounting for

nearly 1 percent of the global trade.

Compared to other ASEAN member states, Indonesia ranked fourth after Singapore (14th), Malaysia (21st), and Thailand (25th).

Last year Singapore exported goods worth US$270 billion or 2.2 percent of the global ex-ports, Malaysia US$157 billion (1.3 percent) and Thailand US$152 billion (1.2 percent).

The report shows the global exports last year totaled US$12.461 trillion and the global imports

US$12.467 trillion.

China took the lead, exporting US$1.202 trillion worth of commodities or 9.6 percent of the global

exports last year.

Trailing behind in the second place was Ger-many with US$1.121 trillion, followed by the United States US$1.059 trillion.

The WTO has predicted the global trade this year will grow 9.5 percent after hitting a 70-year

low because of the global economic meltdown.

WTO Director General Pascal Lamy said every nation must play a role in preventing protection-ism that might threaten the global economic re-covery.

"The WTO rulings and principles will help every government maintain open trade and provide foundation for trade growth in tandem with the

global economic recovery," he said.

2. Indonesia To Set Reference

For Commodities

Indonesia is set to help establish global reference prices for mining and agricultural commodities, with the establishment of a privately owned Indo-

nesia Commodity and Derivatives Exchange

(ICDX).

The new exchange is expected to help improve the country’s underdeveloped futures market and make the country the fifth largest commodity fu-tures exchange in the world, says Commodity Fu-tures Trading Supervisory Board (Bappebti) head

Deddy Saleh.

“We have permitted the establishment of a new exchange … because we’ve seen in the last 10 years that there have been no satisfactory results since the BBJ [Jakarta Futures Exchange] was established [in 2000],” he told reporters during a conference after the official launch of the ICDX.

He said the BBJ should have served as a price reference and a place for hedging but it had failed due to “the absence of competitors and slow man-agement”.

According to Deddy, 98 percent of transactions occurring in the BBJ were alternative trading, such as foreign exchange and indexing, which were yet to be regulated.

“This [ICDX] is privately owned. A private com-pany won’t play around with their capital,” said

Deddy.

ICDX president director Megain Widjaja said trad-ing in the ICDX would be transparent as transac-tion data could be accessed online and later on

TV.

“We have cooperated with Bloomberg. But trans-actions are still closed [for time being] … We’ll later cooperate with Reuters so [transactions] can be accessed online and can be seen on TV and the internet.”

Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, who was also present, said: “The importance of a commodity futures exchange is that transactions will be more liquid, more transparent and [we can be] a price reference,” she said.

She said farmers would have more bargaining power on prices when negotiating with their buy-ers, and thus, cartel practices — control over prices of a commodity by certain parties — could

be avoided.

She also said foreign brokers and market traders were now allowed to trade in the exchange to make the country’s commodity futures exchange

perform better.

The ICDX is now trading gold and crude palm oil

(CPO) futures contracts.

The ICDX has listed 15 members, seven of whom



are CPO producers. The members are PT Wilmar Nabati Indonesia, publicly listed PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources, publicly listed PT Sampoerna Agro, PT Duta Palma Nusantara, publicly listed PT BW Plantation, PT Palm Mas Asri, PT Danpac Fu-tures, PT Valbury Asia Futures, PT Sinarmas Fu-tures, PT Universal Futures, PT Aperdi and PT Monex Investindo.

The senior economist of Standard Chartered Bank Fauzi Ichsan said with Indonesia being the world’s largest CPO producer, “it is time to have a

commodity futures exchange”.

But, he said, big investors would likely trade in Singapore as the latter’s market was more liquid. “We hope they’re not only listed [in the ICDX] but that they will also trade in Indonesia,” he told.

(Mustaqim Adamrah , The Jakarta Post)

3. Indonesia Third Largest Coffee Exporter

In Germany

London - Despite the global crisis, Indonesia was successful in exporting about 84,000 tons of coffee to Germany in 2009, the Indonesian Con-

sulate General in Hamburg said.

According to the Consulate General`s press statement made available to ANTARA here Fri-day, Indonesia has been the third largest coffee

exporter in Germany after Brazil and Vietnam.

Secretary General of the German Coffee Asso-ciation Holger Preibisch said German coffee con-sumers liked the Indonesia`s Robusta and Ara-bica coffees due to their special tastes and good quality.

Holger`s meeting with the Indonesian Consul General in Hamburg Teuku Darmawan recently was also attended by main German coffee import-

ers.

At the meeting, Teuku Darmawan hoped that Indonesia could export more coffee to Germany this year.

Therefore, the Indonesian Consulate General in the Hamburg-based Indonesian Trade Promo-tion Center would work with the German coffee association to promote Indonesian coffee.

In addition, Indonesia also planned to partici-pate in some international coffee promotion

events this year, he said.

Over the past years, German coffee consum-ers have known such Indonesian coffee as

Luwak, Toraja, Flores and Aceh-Gayo coffees.

They enjoyed these various Indonesian coffee

at cafes in Germany.

In 2009, Indonesian coffee exports reached 108 million Euros, down about 25 percent compared to that of 2008.

4. North Sulawesi Remains World's Biggest

Nutmeg Supplier

Manado - North Sulawesi province is supplying 75 percent of global nutmeg needs, confirming its position as the world`s biggest supplier of the

commodity, an official said.

The province exported 1,000 to 2,000 tons of nutmeg every month while global demand for the commodity stood at around 20,000 tons per year, Head of the North Sulawesi Provincial Industry and Trade Office Sanny Parengkuan said here on Tuesday.

"We export nutmeg every month in relatively stable quantities," he said.

North Sulawesi`s nutmeg exports went to the four continents of Asia, Europe, America and Africa, he said.

5. Indonesia Planning To Process All

Seaweeds At Home

Jakarta - Indonesia, the world's biggest pro-ducer of the Eucheuma seaweed, plans to proc-ess the commodity at home, an official said here



on Thursday.

"In the future we must process it more or, if possible, totally at home," the deputy for natural resource development technology of the Technol-ogy Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT), Prof Dr Jana Anggardiredja said.

Prof Jana who is also the chairman of the Indo-nesian Seaweed Society said almost all of the Gracilaria sp seaweed production has already been absorbed at home because there has al-ready been a gelatin plant, which is the world's

biggest, in the country.

However Indonesia still imports carrageenin, the raw material produced from the Eucheuma seaweed for use in various food products such as ice cream, sausages, milk, candies and alginate, produced from Sargassum sp, he said.

"We still import carrageenin and alginate," he said.

He said a lot of researches are still needed to raise the target of seaweed processing at home

from 20 to 50 kinds.

He said China whose sea does not produce seaweeds has a lot of seaweed processing indus-tries and therefore needs a lot of seaweed as the

raw materials from Indonesia.

He said the world's demand for carrgeenin in 2006 reached 40,000 metric tons a year worth US$335 million, while alginate 12,000 metric tons a year worth US$94 million and gelatine 10,000 metric tons a year worth US$181 million.

In 2014 he hoped absorption of domestically processed carrageenin would increase to 15 per-cent or around 4,000 tons while exports to reach

around 22,000 tons.

He also hoped absorbtion of domestically proc-essed gelatine would be 85 percent or around 4,250 tons and exports around 750 tons.

Besides increasing production he would also seek to improve the quality of Indonesian sea-

weeds so far still considered low.

The head of the Indonesian Seaweed Associa-tion, Safari Husen, said Indonesia has been nomi-nated as host for the 21st International Seaweed Symposium in Bali next month.

"It means Indonesia has been internationally recognized not only as a seaweed producer but also producer of seaweed processing products," he said.

The forum would also study how to develop seaweed industries from upstream to down-

stream, he said.

6. Sleman Batik Clothes Promoted

In International Markets

Sleman, C Java - Batik clothes produced in Sleman district, Yogyakarta special province were promoted in international markets among others in some of the former Soviet Union states, Japan, United States and in South East Asia.

"The international markets have started seek-ing Sleman batik motive with the pictures of ele-phants and nature and dominated by blue color," said Bambang Sumardiyono, owners of the 'Wisata Batik Nakula Sadewa' in Sleman, Sun-day.

Sumardiyono said, apart from the already known Batik made in Pekalongan, Yogyakarta and Solo, Bambang was currently promoting the Sleman batik which has its own characteristics, both the motive and color.

"I was only trying to promote that Sleman dis-trict is also producing batik and is not second compared with batik made by other regions," he said.

According to him, in several batik exhibitions such as in Russia, Latvia, Japan, Germany and the US, visitors showed high interest in the Sle-man batik and gave high appreciation to the

"batik tulis" with its artistic value.

Currently the demand for batik in those coun-tries is quite high, and the minimum sales turn-over in a month reaching at least Rp200 million," he disclosed.

7. Indonesia Tourism Sector To Grow

By Six Percent

Jakarta - The United Nations-World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) has predicted that the tourism sector in Indonesia this year would grow

by six percent.

"According UN-WTO Secretary General Thaleb Rifai, the Indonesian tourism sector would grow by six percent or three points above the world`s tourism development," Promotion of For-eign Affairs Ministry of Culture and Tourism, I Gde Pitana, said here on Monday.

Pitana said Thaleb Rifai tole him about the



growth of Indonesian tourism sector when they met at International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Ber-lin, Germany, from March 10-14, 2010.

He said that at the International Tourism Board in Berlin, the UN-WTO secretary general also pre-dicted the wold`s tourism sector would rise to the medium level or around three to four percent.

Therefore, Pitana said more effort should be made to have the target realized.

He expressed optimism that Indonesia would reach its target of 7 million tourist visiting the country this year, because the UN-WTO in Berlin also admired Indonesia for its capability to main-tain the growth of tourism sector amidst global crisis of which, the world experienced a decline in

tourism development to 4 percent in 2009.

"UN-WTO was of the opinion that not many countries would be able to be like Indonesia in tourism sector," Pitana said.

He said the UN-WTO appreciated Indonesia for 6.4 million foreign tourist visiting the country in 2009, although the country`s tourism sector grew in "double crisis," namely global financial crisis and the terrorist bombing.

"UN-WTO was of the opinion that other coun-tries should have learned from Indonesia about the way how to develop its tourism sector in the midst of global crisis," I Gde Pitana said

8. Indonesia Textile Exports Expected

To Grow 12 Pct

Jakarta - Indonesia expects its textile and textile product exports to rise by 12 percent to between US$10.5 billion and US$10.6 billion this year after dropping by eight percent last year.

Due to the global crisis in 2008 to 2009 the mar-ket of manufacturing products in the world has dropped including the textile and textile products that declined by 30 percent as demand was down, the chairman of the Indonesian Textiles Association (API), Ade Sudrajat, said here on

Monday.

He said the national textile and textile product market was down by around eight percent. "This year we predict it will revive again to reach US$10.5 billion to US$10.6 billion rising by

around 12 percent," he said.

In 2008 the country's total textile and textile product exports reached around US$10.2 billion and dropped to US$9.8 billion in 2009.

He said the rise in the country's exports this year followed improving economic conditions in the country's main export destinations mainly the

US, Japan and European countries.

In addition to that there are also several free trade agreements that would benefit Indonesia such as that with Japan and Australia.

"One of the factors that has helped save Indo-nesia's textile and textile products in 2009 is a rise in exports to Japan by 18 percent in 2008," he said.

He admitted the rise in the country's textile and textile product exports to Japan was not as high as that of Vietnam that reached more than 60

percent.

He said this happened because of a geographi-cal factor namely Vietnam's location which is

closer to Japan than Indonesia's.

Ade said he feared the rising trend of the world's crude price and the government's plan to increase basic power price would push production cost higher which will in turn reduce competitive-

ness.

"The impact of the crude price hike is felt by all industries in the world and the price will rise across the world including in China and India. But in terms of the domestic policy to increase the power price we have been offering options so that state power utility PLN would take a far-reaching view," he said.

Ade said so far the system of pricing set by PLN has been very discriminative and unsupportive to industrial growth. He said power prices for Indo-nesia especially Java-Bali should have been the same.

"What has happened so far is the price for my company is different from that of my neighbour. I myself still enjoy Rp490 per KWh but I will cer-tainly get Rp1,350 if I increase the power. We must have a far reaching vision because energy

is the backbone of industrialization," he said.

He said if electricity price and scarcity problems are not settled in 2010 and 2011 Indonesia will not be able to benefit maximally the momentum of

the world's economic recovery.

9. VP : Indonesia Secure Place For Investment

Jakarta - Vice President Boediono said Indone-sia was a secure place for investors to do busi-ness because of its relatively conducive political



situation.

Speaking before a hundred foreign business-men attending the Indonesia Summit's Econo-mists Conference here on Thursday, he said the country's conducive political life was supported by

a strong democracy.

"Politics strongly affect investment. Indonesia's democratic life is strong because sixty percent of its parliamentary seats are filled by pro-

government parties."

"This condition is positive for investors,"

Boediono said.

Therefore, compared to the political situation in some other countries, the situation in Indonesia was more conducive regardless of the dynamics within the government's coalescing parties, he

said.

Despite the fact that the ruling Democrat Party won 61 percent of the the vote in last year's presi-dential elections, it just had 37 percent of parlia-mentary seats.

To ensure sufficient support for the govern-ment, the ruling party coalesced with some other political parties. So far, Indonesian government continues to be supported by a solid alliance among a number of parties, Boediono said.

At the moment, the government's popularity has remained high. This condition brought posi-tive climate for the country's economic growth.

Lots of investors were doing business in Indo-nesia because they saw that the country did not only have huge natural resources but also a big market with resistance to global crisis, he said.

Despite the investors' positive assessment of Indonesia, Boediono said, the government would keep developing technology and improving the quality of the country's human resources.

At the Indonesia Summit's economist confer-ence, Boediono delivered a keynote speech out-

lining Indonesia's policy priorities and vision.

Besides Boediono, several ministers also ad-dressed the senior businessmen and government

officials at the conference.

Among the ministers addressing the forum were Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, and Industry Minister MS Hidayat.

Head of the Indonesian Investment Coordinat-ing Board Gita Wirjawan also spoke at the confer-ence attended by at least a hundred senior busi-nessmen and government officials.

The chief executive officers (CEOs) of some big companies, including HSBC Indonesia CEO Rakesh Bhatia, were among the participants.

According to Bhatia, Indonesia was one of the

HSBC's focused groups of emerging markets.

At the conference, the participants got the lat-est information on world and Indonesian eco-nomic outlook and calculated the cost of doing business in Indonesia.

10. Foreign Tourist Arrivals In Indonesia

Up Two Percent

Bandung, West Java - The number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in January 2010 went up two percent from that in January 2009.

"According to data that we have obtained from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), there is two percent increase in the number of foreign tourists in January," Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said here on Saturday after attending a graduation ceremony at Tourism Institute (STP).

Indonesia has set a target of receiving seven million tourists in 2010, according to the minister.

"Indeed, we have increased the target to seven percent in 2010 from 6.4 percent in 2009," he said.

Indonesia was one of Asian and the Pacific countries which have enjoyed positive growth in the tourism sector, he said. South Korea and Ma-laysia have also recorded positive growth in the tourism industry, he said.

He was optimistic that the target could be achieved if the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia would increase every month.

Indonesia receives foreign tourists among oth-ers from Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Taiwan, South Korea, the United States and European countries.

11. Indonesia's Car Exports Expected To

Increase To Pre-Crisis Level

Bandung, W Java - Indonesia's car exports in 2010 are expected to return to a pre-crisis level on the rebounding global economy, an Industry



Ministry official said.

Car exports in January and February 2010 rose compared to the same period last year, the minis-try's director of land transportation and aviation equipment industries, Panggah Susanto said here

on Saturday.

"I do not yet know the fundamental cause of the car export hike. But I think it was influenced by the improving global economy," he said.

Data from the Industry Ministry show com-pletely-built up (CBU) and completely knocked down (CKD) car exports in January 2010 stood at 5,404 units and 5,079 units respectively.

In 2008 CBU and CKD car exports reached 100,982 units and 103,710 units each. In the first eleven months of 2009 CBU and CKD car exports were respectively recorded at 50,008 units and

48,978 units.

Grup Indomobil President Director Gunadi Sindhuwinata meanwhile predicted car exports in 2010 would increase up to 20 percent.

"Our car exports in 2010 are expected to in-crease 70 percent from 2008's and 20 percent

from 2009's," he said.

He said a drop in car exports in the past couple of years was the result of the global economic slowdown leading to low demand.

He noted that the export market for Indonesian cars was growing at a slow pace as most of ex-port destinations of Indonesian cars were poor

countries.

12. West Java Approves Rp30 Trillion

Investment Last Year

Bandung, W Java - Domestic and foreign in-vestment in West Java province last year rose Rp610 billion to Rp30.21 trillion from a year ear-

lier.

The investment consisted of foreign investment worth Rp25.52 trillion and domestic investment worth Rp4.07 trillion, West Java Governor H Ahmad Heryawan said in his accountability report to the West Java provincial legislative assembly (DPRD) here on Monday.

The foreign investment rose Rp529 billion and the domestic investment Rp92 billion compared to

the year before, he said.

"Despite the global crisis, thank God, invest-

ment in West Java was still on the rise. It seems that West Java's conducive investment climate had broken the prediction of declining investment inflow as a result of the global economic melt-down," he said.

To attract investors the local administration had carried out a number of promotional activities in-cluding those in Johanerburg, South Africa, and

the Netherlands, he said.

He said the promotional campaigns in South Africa attracted 15 investors and in the Nether-lands 16 investors.

"Promotional activities were also carried out in Dubai Expo in which we were able to attract 22

investors," he said.

In addition, the local authorities also organized a West Java International Expo (WIJE) in West

Bandung to attract domestic investors, he said.

13. Indonesia Posted Us$1.71 Billion

Trade Surplus In February

Jakarta - Indonesia`s trade surplus in February reached US$1.71 billion, slightly up from US$1.1 billion in January, according to the Central Bureau

of Statistics (BPS) on Thursday.

"The balance of trade shows a surplus of US$1.7 billion making total surplus in the past two months to reach US$3.8 billion," BPS chief Rus-man Heriawan said.

Indonesia`s exports in February were recorded at US$11.20 billion while its imports US$9.50 bil-lion rising 0.08 percent from January`s which

were recorded at US$9.49 billion.

The country`s non-oil and gas imports in Feb-ruary reached US$7.44 billion, down US$113.9 million (1.51 percent) from January, 2010.

The oil and gas imports in February 2010 meanwhile reached US$2.06 billion, up US$121.4

million (6.27 percent) from January 2010.

Machinery/mechanic instruments contributed the biggest value of imports in February 2010 amounting to US$1.38 billion, though down 3.06 percent from January. Based on the January-February period however their value rose 18.49

percent compared to the same period last year.

In the January-February 2010 period, imports were valued at US$18.99 billion, rising 51.43 per-cent from the same period last year.



The non-oil and gas imports in the period reached US$14.99 billion, up 45.66 percent from the same period of 2009.

China remains the biggest supplier of non-oil and gas imports in the January-February period,

followed by Japan and Singapore.

Imports from China were valued at US$2.79 billion comprising 18.58 percent of the market while imports from Japan totalled US$2.16 billion (14.43 percent) and Singapore US$1.51 billion (10.09 percent).

The country`s non-oil and gas imports from the Asean countries reached 22.81 percent while

from the EU 8.66 percent.

The value of imports based upon usage during January-February 2010 period was up from the same period last year for all categories namely consumer goods 55.98 percent, raw materials/components 55.27 percent and capital goods 37.35 percent.

14. West Kalimantan's February Exports

And Imports Up

Pontianak - West Kalimantan`s exports and imports in February 2010 had been increasing, head of the West Kalimantan Central Bureau of

Statistics (BPS) Iskandar Zulkarnain said.

He said that the exports of the province in-creased by 32.82 pct compared to January`s from 44.87 million dollars to 59.60 million dollars.

Compared to the exports in last year`s same period, the exports had increased by 92.03 pct,

he said.

In the meantime, West Kalimantan`s export commodities were still dominated by rubber, crust seeds and metal ash. The three leading com-modities were the biggest contributors accounting for 89.89 pct of the province`s total exports in February.

Rubber exports increased 56.39 pct, crust ore up by 25.07 pct, and metal ash also up by 25.07 pct compared to those in January.

"The exports of wood, which in the 1980s be-came West Kalimantan`s leading export commod-

ity, dropped by 14.45 ct," Iskandar said.

West Kalimantan`s exports went to China 29.74 million dollars, Japan 11.34 million dollars, and South Korea 6.09 million dollars, accounting for 79.15 pct of the total exports of the province.

West Kalimantan`s imports in February in-creased by 17.31 pct from 7.57 million dollars in January to 8.88 million dollars.

Sugar imports were the biggest contributor ac-counting for 35.69 pct, engines 23.24 pct, and

chemicals 10.31 pct, Iskandar said.

Most of West Kalimantan`s imports came from Asia, Thailand, Malaysia and China worth 8.83 million dollars, or 97.34 pct, followed by the

United States 2.00 pct, and Mexico 0.16 pct.

West Kalimantan`s foreign trade in February increased by 35.96 pct compared to January`s. In the January-February 2010 period the balance of trade also increased by 80.90 pct compared to

the same period last year, Iskandar said.

15. West Sumatra's Nonoil/Gas

Exports Up 18.01 Pct

Padang - West Sumatra`s nonoil/gas exports reached 147,058.8 US dollars in February 2010, an increase by 18.01 pct compared to the 124,617.3 dollars worth of nonoil/gas exports in

January 2010.

"The biggest contribution of West Sumatra`s exports in February 2010 were animal/vegetable fats worth 93,190.6 dollars," head of the W Suma-tra Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Muchsin Ayub said in Padang Friday.

Muchsin Ayub said that animal and vegetable fats accounted for 52.38 pct of the total total ex-

ports in the January-February 2010 period.

The second biggest contributor was rubber and rubber goods totaling 40,662.9 US dollars, accounting for 37.46 pct of the total export.

Third biggest contributor were cacao 4,645.6 dollars, mineral fuel 2,320 dollars, waste of the food industry 2,284.5 dollars, essential oils, cos-metics and perfumes 1,044.5 dollars, chemicals 857.6 thousand dollars, seeds, crust and metal ash 758.7 thousand dollars, coffee, tea and spices 664.9 thousand dollars, oil seeds 420.3 thousand dollars, and others 209.2 thousand dol-

lars.

"Cumulatively, West Sumatra exports in the January-February 2010 period reached 271,676.2 dollars, up by 49.0 percent compared to those in

last year`s same period," he said.



16. Jambi's Balance Of Trade Surplus

Reaches 52.16 Million Dollars

Jambi - Jambi province`s balance of trade sur-plus in February 2010 reached 52.16 million dol-lars, with Singapore, Japan and the United States

as the biggest contributors.

Singapore was the biggest contributor among the three with 17.98 million dollars, followed by Japan 8.35 million dollars, and the United States 5.96 million dollars, head of the Jambi Central Bureau of Statistics Dyan Pramono Effendi said on Friday.

Besides the three countries, some other coun-

tries have also contributed their foreign exchange.

Some of the countries which were not officially listed as Jambi`s export destinations and import origins also contributing to the Jambi balance of trade with a value of 18.07 million dollars, made of exports 18.46 million dollars and imports 407 thousand dollars.

Singapore with the biggest contribution to bal-ance of trade surplus of Jambi, with exports worth 5.85 million dollars, and import 340 thousand dol-lars.

And Jambi`s balance of trade from Japan reached 8.35 million dollars, with exports worth 8.515 million dollars, but imports only 162 thou-sand dollars.

The Jambi`s balance of trade with the United States was worth 5.96 million dollars with exports worth 6.22 million dollars and imports 263 thou-sand dollars.

The Jambi balance of trade with Malaysia reached 5.51 million dollars, with exports worth 5.85 million dollars and imports 340 thousand dollars.

With Taiwan, Jambi`s balance of trade reached 515 thousand dollars with exports only

very small, and no imports.

With Australia, Jambi balance of trade reached 548 thousand dollars in exports, but no imports.

Accumulatively, from January to February 2010, the balance of trade reached 96.33 million

dollars, Dyan Pramono Effendi said.

17. Four Investors Ready To Enter Aceh

Banda Aceh - Four investors have been con-firmed to invest in Aceh in 2010, according to the head of Aceh Promotion and Investment Agency,

Anwar Muhammad, here on Saturday.

"Two of the four investors are from abroad and they will cooperate with local companies and start investing in 2010," he said.

A company from China, he said, would start investing in the field of fishery namely fishing in

the Aceh Besar and Sabang waters.

The company will also set up a processing in-dustry to make the fishery product a prime export

of the region.

Anwar said Aceh Besar in a near future will also set up a steel construction company with an in-vestment of up to around Rp50 billion.

"That will become a national steel construction industry which will cooperate with a local com-

pany," he said.

He said a Malaysian company had also commit-ted to investing in the agricultural sector in the region this year.

"The Malaysian investor will develop cacao plantations in Pidies and Pidie Jaya," he said.

A Korean investment meanwhile will invest in mined products in the province's western and southern coastal areas," he said.

Anwar said his office keep promoting the re-gion's investment potentials among national as

well as international businessmen.

"We have done all that because the potential is huge while Aceh's location is strategic with regard to international trade lanes," he said.

18. Yogyakarta's Exports To China Increasing

Yoyakarta - Yogyakarta's exports to China and other countries grouped in the free trade area agreement have been increasing from year to year, a regional trade official said.

"In the last several years, Yoyakarta's exports to countries which had joined the free trade area agreement with Indonesia continued to increase," Head of Foreign Trade Relations of the Yogya-karta Trade and Industry Office, Riyadi Ida Bagus said here over the weekend.



On the other hand, Yogyakarta's exports to other countries like the United States and Euro-pean Union which did not join the free trade area agreement adversely declined in the last several years, he said.

Yoyakarta's exports to China, which in 2008 accounted for 1.2 percent of the total exports, increased to 1.3 percent in 2009 with seven pri-mary commodities such as volatile oil, black team and green tea.

The same thing also happened to Yogya-karta's exports to Japan which increased two per-cent in 2007 to three percent in 2008 and in 2009 increased to 4.4 percent.

"Besides with China, Indonesia also has free trade area agreements with Japan, India and Australia. Exports to those countries in 2009 in-creased and it is expected in 2010 those exports

will rise further," he said.

19. Indonesia's Economic Growth

Can Be Over 5.5 Pct

Jakarta - Indonesia's economic growth in 2010 can exceed the target at 5.5 percent, economic observer of the Institute for Development of Eco-nomics and Finance (Indef) M Fadhil Hasan said.

"Indonesia will have a better chance to gener-ate its economic growth to above the normal (5.5 pct) level," Hasan said in an economic and politi-

cal dialog here on Monday.

He said that the average economic growth in developing countries in 2010 was predicted at 6.0 percent with the Asian nations will experience the

highest ones.

The economic growth projection will be sup-ported by increase in the world trade volumes which will grow at about 5.8 percent.

Hasan said that Indonesia was one of the countries which would have a high economic

growth compared with other states.

"Domestic consumption will remain the main factor of growth because it will remain to domi-nate the market and will grow higher than that of the previous year which was 4.8 percent," the Indef economic observer said.

He said that investment would also improve better than that in 2009, namely it will grow to an estimated level of 3.32 percent.

"The same is true to the international trade

where exports would improve under the support of global economic recovery, increase in com-modity prices and impact of the implementation of free trade agreement (FTA). Exports could grow over 10 percent," he said.

Economic observer Umar Juoro of CIDES concurred with Hasan, saying that the economic

growth this year would be over 5.5 percent.

He said that global economy in 2010 would undergo improvement from the previous crisis, meaning that exports and investment would also be improving.

"People's consumption will still constitute an important source of growth in 2010," he said add-ing that with this reason an economic growth tar-

get of 5.5 percent would be achieved very easily.

20. Indonesia, China To Cooperate In Verifying

Exports' Certificates Of Origin

Jakarta - Indonesia and China have agreed to cooperate in the verification of certificates of ori-gin of exports (SKA) from the two sides to mini-

mize smuggling.

"To prevent smuggling or illegal imports the two sides have agreed to cross-check the SKA of every export from Indonesia or China," Deputy Trade Minister Mahendra Siregar told newsmen here on Wednesday.

He said he had already held discussions with the Association of Indonesian Textile Industries

(API) to find the mechanism for it.

Mahendra said Indonesia and China had in-creased the cooperation between the two coun-tries` SKA-producing institutions to boost security of the two countries` markets.

"As soon as an SKA is issued the recipient will also receive it electronically and therefore could conduct monitoring making securing the market easier," he said.

The director of Export and Import Facilities of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ahmad Syafrie, meanwhile said from January to February 2010 Indonesia had produced almost 2,000 SKAs

Form E (for China) a month.

"SKAs Form E in January totalled 1,997 and in February 1,999," he said.

Indonesia’s exports using SKAs Form E and receiving a free import duty facility in January reached US$467 million and in February US$449



million.

Based on the National Bureau of Statistics data Indonesia’s non-oil and gas exports to China rose 137.6 percent from January to February 2010 to

around US$2 billion.

Indonesia’s export market share in China rose from 6.8 percent to 10.9 percent of its total non-oil and gas exports in 2010.

21. Maluku To Show Economic Potentials

Through 'Investment Day'

Jakarta - In its first-ever effort to attract invest-ment to develop its marine-resource-rich territory, Maluku's provincial administration is to stage a

"Maluku Investment Day."

The event will take place in Jakarta on April 15-16 and is expected to be attended by around 150 entrepreneurs.

Maluku Investment Day will be held as part of Maluku`s efforts to speed up economic develop-ment in the province that has nine districts and two city administrations, Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said.

The governor made the statement at a meet-ing with Antara`s editorial board members here on Monday.

Ralahalu, who was on the occasion accompa-nied by head of the Maluku provincial Investment

Coordinating Board, Rahman Soumena,

said the event was intended to introduce Maluku`s marine tourism potentials to the interna-tional community, and to convince them that the

province was really safe for tourists and investors.

The Maluku provincial administration in coop-eration with state-owned PT Bank Mandiri had made the necessary preparations for the Invest-ment Day prior to the international marine event "Sail Banda" which will take place in Ambon city,

Maluku`s provincial capital.

The Sail Banda, which will be participated in by some 200 foreign participants, will take place from July to August 2010, Governor Ralahalu said.

In addition, head of the Maluku Investment Coordinating Board (BKPMD), A Rachman Soumena said Maluku wished to raise its eco-nomic growth from the current 6.3 percent to 8.35 percent in 2013 if the province can earn about Rp1.8 trillion of income per year.

Speaking in Ambon last Feb 17, Soemena said entrepreneurs would be invited to attend an expose of Maluku`s economic potentials, espe-cially its marine biodiversity, oil/gas and mineral resources.

The province's potentials would be enumer-ated and elaborated on by the heads of Maluku's 11 districts/cities , Soumena said, add-ing that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono, several ministers, 30 Bank Mandiri customers, the chiefs of state-owned national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and Merpati and all ranking administration officials of Maluku and North Maluku were expected to at-

tend the investment expose.

In addition, the ministers of finance, maritime resources and fisheries , culture and tourism , coordinating minister for economic affairs, the ministers of state enterprises (BUMN), national development planning would also be invited,

Soumena said.

Academics from Pattimura University (Unpatti), Ambon, and Sultan Hairun University (Unhair), Ternate, North Maluku, officials of state oil and gas company PT Pertamina, representa-tives of state electricity company PT PLN, state telecommunications company PT Telkom, and airport operators (Angkasa Pura) in Maluku would

also be invited.

"If any of the investors on the occasion wishes to invest in one of the districts in Maluku or North Maluku, they can immediately sign a deal with the

district chief concerned," Soumena said.

The Investment Day would also be part of the central government`s policy to carry out Sail Banda, Maluku Vice Governor Said Assegaf dis-closed, adding that the meeting and an exhibition was aimed to improve the relations between the provincial government, district and city admini-strations to promote the regional investment po-

tentials.

In the meantime, head of Bank Mandiri`s re-gional office, Edhi Chrystanto, said his office had also organized Papua Investment Day in Jakarta some time ago, to expand its market segment in

eastern Indonesia.

He expressed hope that the Maluku Invest-ment Day can attract investors in the exploration and exploitation of natural resources particularly marine biodiversity as well as oil and minerals.

Maluku as one of the oldest provinces in Indo-nesia, is known to have socio-cultural diversity

and abundant natural resources.

The province, located in eastern Indonesia,



has 1,027 islands, thus it is popularly called the 'Thousand Islands' province with its capital, Am-

bon.

The larger islands include Seram (1,862,500 Ha), Halmahera (1,800,000 Ha), Buru (900,00 Ha), Yamdena (805,800 Ha), Obi (370,000 Ha), Wetar (362,400 Ha) and Morotai (180,000 Ha).

Apart from the natural tourist attractions, visi-tors can also come to Fort Amsterdam, located on

a beach.

In addition to the panoramic beauty of the beach, the fort was witness of the foreign occupa-tion of Maluku.

Spokesman for the Ambon branch of Bank Indonesia (Central Bank)Totok Hermianto said in Ambon that Bank Indonesia and a number of other banks such as Bank BRI, Bank Central Asia (BCA), and Bank BNI will also provide services for financial transactions in Banda to support the

event."

Totok said that he had discussed the event with the leaders of the banks operating in Ambon, and they agreed to open banking service count-ers in Banda.

"Foreign tourists visiting Banda, as well as the participants of Sail Banda 2010 will find it easy to make financial transactions following the opening of the banking service counters in Banda during

the international event," Totok said.

Totok expressed hope that the promotion of Sail Banda would be intensified in order to have a good impact on Maluku`s economic development.

Meanwhile, Transportation Director General of the Ministry Air Transportation Herry Bakti said

his office was ready to support the Sail Banda.

The most important thing is to prepare reliable telephone and Internet infrastructure, as this will facilitate communications and telecommunica-tions so that people will not all have to gather in Ambon if they want to promote Banda," he said.

Meanwhile, General Manager of state-owned airport managing company, PT Angkasa Pura I of Pattimura airport branch office, Gerits Mailesun said that several airline companies such as Lion Air, Batavia Air, Sriwijaya and Wings have ex-pressed readiness to provide excellent services to the participants of the international maritime

events.

In an effort to attract more investors to invest in the province, Soumena said the provincial gov-ernment would set up a so-called "One-Stop Ser-vice" for would-be investors. (By Bustanuddin)

22. ASPERAM To Expand Handicraft

Market In Europe

Yogyakarta - The Mataram Small Enterprises and Craftsmen Association (Asperam) in Yogya-karta planned to expand its handicraft market in

several European countries.

"We are going to open our marketing offices and exhibition pavilions in Amsterdam, the Neth-erlands, and in North Paris, France," Asperam

chairman Budi Sarwono said here on Tuesday.

He said various kinds of handicraft, souvenirs, and furniture would be displayed at the exhibition in Europe and therefore Aspram members were requested to send samples of their products they wanted to be put on display at the exhibition.

"The Asperam members can send us the sam-ples of their products, code, sizes, and prices on which we will issue a catalog and send it immedi-ately to our team in Europe to make a selection," Budi Sarwono said.

In an effort to promote various handicrafts from Yogyakarta in Europe, Sarwono said a num-ber of Aspram members would participate in a handicrafts exhibition in Mumbai, India, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates frm April 16 to 24,

2010.

The Asperam members to participate in the exhibition in the two countries are grouped in

`Cita Tenun Indonesia`.

Sarwono said their participation in the exhibi-tion was facilitated by the Investment Coordinat-ing Board (BKPM) and state gas distributor PT

Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN).

He expressed hope that the handicraft prod-ucts to be exhibited in the two countries would attract as many buyers as possible.

Besides the exhibition, Sarwono said the craftsmen and the businessmen in the two coun-tries would hold a meeting facilitated by the local

governments.

"The objective of our participation in the exhibi-tion is to promote handicraft products from Yogyakarta in addition to explore the markets in the two countries," Sarwono said.

He added that Asperam had made its first ex-

ports to Suriname and the Netherlands in 2009.



1."VISIT SOUTH SULAWESI 2012" Program Launched

Makassar - South Sulawesi`s culture and tour-

ism office here on Wednesday officially launched a "Visit South Sulawesi 2012 Best Nature Asia" program.

"Tourist resorts and their supporting facilities have been made ready to welcome domestic and foreign tourists during the Visit South Sulawesi 2012 program," South Sulawesi Culture and Tour-

ism Office chief Syuaib Mallombasi said here on Wednesday.

He said the program was officially launched

on Wednesday to promote Makassar district and city`s tourism agenda, including a Butterfly Festi-val in the Bantimurung area in Maros district, Tanjung Bira Festival in Bulukumba, "Maudu Lom-

poa" in Takalar, Takabonerate Festival in Selayar, and "Lovely December" in Tana Toraja.

Syuaib Mallombasi said the South Sulawesi Tourist Information Center in Dempasar, Bali, would be dedicated in April this year to promote the Visit South Sulawesi 2012 program.

South Sulawesi was also cooperating with three other major Indonesian cities, namely Den-pasar, Yogyakarta, and Jakarta to promote the

event.

Meanwhile, South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo said he would cooperate with various

parties to develop the tourism sector in the prov-ince.

"South Sulawesi should not be second to other provinces in Indonesia. I want to cooperate with various parties with a joint commitment to

developing this province," the governor said, ex-pressing hope that the Visit South Sulawesi 2012 program would be a success.

South Sulawesi is one of the provinces in In-donesia which has a beautiful landscape, inhab-ited by three main ethnic groups with their own

specific cultures which hopefully will be presented as a spectacular and unforgettable experience.

There are three big ethnic groups in South

Sulawesi, namely Makassar, Bugis, and Toraja and each of them are well know for their friendli-ness and hospitality.

If the Makassar and Bugis tribes are known as excellent seafarers and mainly live in the prov-ince’s south , the Toraja people are famed for their unique culture and mainly live in the prov-

ince’s hinterland.

A number of traditional rituals, houses, and

also ornaments which can still be seen in Tana Toraja - "the land of heavenly kings" - will make the district an important tourist destination.

2. Indonesia Launches 'One Billion

Indonesian Trees For World'

Jakarta - The Indonesian government has launched a more massive tree planting program called "One Billion Indonesian Trees for the

World", according to the forestry ministry.

The new program was kicked off following successes in previous programs such as

Ìndonesian Contemporaneously Planting Action` (2007 and 2008), `Women’s Movement of Tree Planting and Caring` (2007), Ìndonesian Tree Planting Day launching` and `the National Plant-

ing Month (2008)`, and Òne Man One Tree`, the forestry ministry said in a statement received by ANTARA here on Monday.

The government has allocated a DIPA BA budget for procurement of 36 million seedlings this year and hopes to get 300 million more from the private sector, state companies, NGOs, re-

gional governments and other donors.

Additional 320 million seedlings are expected

to be received from Community and Rural Forest program, 300 million from Forest and River Basin Rehabilitation program, and 50 million from Peo-



ple`s Forest Partnership program.

The "One Billion Indonesian Trees for the World" program is also aimed at improving the welfare of the people especially those living near forest areas, according to the forestry ministry.

The ministry urged the Indonesian people to participate in the program.

"In the next five to 10 years, the Indonesian people will enjoy the beauty of a green Indonesia with prosperous and disaster-free people," the

statement said.

3. Sail Banda 2010 To Be Indonesia's Largest Marine Event

Jakarta - Managed jointly by Sail Indonesia, the Indonesian Navy, Indonesian Marine Founda-

tion Yayasan Cinta Bahari, and the Indonesian Sailing Federation, Sail Banda is to be Indone-sia`s largest marine event this year.

This year, the Maluku provincial government gets the honor to host the international marine event that will be concentrated on the islands of

Ambon, Banda, and Southwest Maluku (MBD) district town of Wonreli in Kisar Yotowawa.

Sail Banda local committee spokesman Cak

Saimima has said at least 200 boats and yachts would join the event.

"Our target is that at least 200 boats and yachts will participate in the event, and some 62 of them have already registered. We still have three months left to meet our target," Cak Saimima said on Tuesday.

He said the event was intended to introduce Maluku’s marine tourism potentials to the interna-

tional community, and to convince them that the province was really safe for tourists after the year-long sectarian conflict.

Sail Banda 2010 will kick off on Saturday, July 24, 2010 with a yacht rally from Darwin, Austra-lia, to Banda islands and on to Ambon.

During the following three months, the partici-pants of Sail Indonesia will have a special right and gain advantages to participate in a series of a

series of Cultural Festivals at the different stop-overs across Indonesia on the islands of Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flo-res, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Borneo, Belitung and

finally on to Batam or Bintan just south of Singa-pore

"Therefore we are making every effort to be a good host and organizer of Sail Indonesia 2010," Saimima said, adding that President Susilo Bam-

bang Yudhoyono on December 14, 2009 ap-pointed Banda, Ambon, and Southwest Maluku (MBD) district town of Wonreli in Kisar Yotowawa island to be the location of the international

event.

The participants will visit historical and mega-lithic sites and villages in Kisar island, and in

Banda they will visit interesting and amazing places such as marine parks, Belgica Fort, House of Bung Hatta, House of Iwa Kusuma Sumantri, and agro tourist sites,

and then proceed to Natsepa Beach, Hunimua Beach, Pintu Kota Beach, Manuala Beach, Na-malatu Beach, Pasir Putih Beach, Amsterdam

Fort, Old Mosque (Kaitetu), Old Hila Church, and Siwalima Museum in Ambon.

Other events that have been prepared by the Maluku provincial government are a Welcome Party, Kora-kora (traditional boats) attraction, Archeology Exhibition, City Tour, Marine and Agro

Tourism, Cultural and Art Night at Belgica Fort in Banda; Welcome Party, Traditional Ships Parade, City Tour and Marine Tourism, `Ambon Tempo Doloe,` `Jujaro Mongare` Election, `Layang-

Layang (Kite) Festival, Cultural Carnival and Fare-well Party in Ambon; Welcome Party, City Tour, and Celebration of The Anniversary of Republic of Indonesia’s Independence in Kisar island.

The event will also include international and national conferences, an international symposium and other activities.

As part of the upcoming international marine event of Sail Bada 2010, Maluku Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office chief Poli Kayhattu said the

7th National Conference on marine, small islands, and coastal resources management would be held in Ambon on August 3-7 this year.

Kayhattu said at least two international experts on coastal resources management have con-firmed to be keynote speakers at the conference.

"Two small islands and coastal management experts, respectively from China and Maldives have confirmed to be keynote speakers at the 7th

National Conference on marine, small islands, and coastal resources management in Ambon," Kay-hattu said.



He said that besides the international experts from China and Maldives, Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa and Maritime Affairs

and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad would also address the conference.

The coastal resources management confer-ence is part of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Min-istry`s biennial activity, and the one this year in Ambon is themed, "To Knit the Integration of Ma-

rine, Small Islands, and Coastal Resources Man-agement for Food Resilience and People’s Wel-fare."

According to Kayhattu, the objective of the national conference in Ambon was to increase communication and information exchange in rela-tion to marine, small islands, and coastal re-

sources management for people`s welfare and food security.

"The conference will be attended by around

500 people who are expected to optimally formu-late a new coastal resources management strat-egy to improve the local people’s welfare," Kay-hattu said.

He expressed optimism that the 7th National Congress which had been conducted since 1998

would run well and successfully because various preparations were currently being made for the event.

The point of the programs and activities to make Sail Banda a success is to make Banda, Ambon, and Kisar tourist destination to material-ize the government’s Seven Charm Program of

"Sapta Pesona" in Maluku.

He said the government of Maluku Province also tried to develop the quality of tourism ser-

vices including the guides.

The program will be held in Ambon, Banda and

Kisar by the Cultural and Tourism Office of Moluc-cas Province. (By Otniel Tamindael )

4. Indonesia Launches Biometric Verifica-tion System For Border Control

Jakarta - The Directorate General of Im-migration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry on Thurday announced the rollout by SITA of a border control system that includes biometrics

capture at 27 of the nation's air and sea ports.

The system, SITA iBorders, could signifi-

cantly improve Indonesia's control of its borders through additional checking of watch lists, verifi-cation of passports, visas and permits, and inte-

gration of visa issue, an emailed release from SITA made available to Antara here said on Thursday.

Most importantly, the capture of biometrics from travellers, specifically facial images and fin-gerprints, will now give the added security that

the person at the border is the one who has been checked against all the databases.

Erwin Azis, the Director of Immigration In-

formation Systems, said: "This new primary line clearance system from SITA significantly raises the level of security at Indonesia's international borders. The use of biometrics adds an extra ele-

ment to the identification and verification of arri-vals. We can now be confident that people match passports."

SITA is specialists in air transport commu-nications and IT solutions.

"The unrivaled experience SITA has in both border management and the air transport indus-try, has ensured that we now have border control that is fast and convenient for passengers and

most importantly is highly secure," Erwin further said.

The first airport, Adisucipto International

Airport serving Yogyakarta in Java, has just gone live with the system and the remaining ports will be up and running by June. When the roll out is complete more than 300 workstations across 27

air and sea ports will be live and will process the vast majority of Indonesia’s approximately 20 million passenger movements across its interna-tional borders.

"Our relationship with Immigration contin-ues to strengthen since 2007 when we first intro-duced a system to manage watch lists and carry

out name searches. We have now extended this with our biometric solution which will help the Indonesian authorities verify that the person who is before them, and who was checked against the

watch lists and various document databases, truly is who they say they are," Dan Ebbinghaus, SITA Vice President, Government and Security Solu-tions, said.

The Imigrasi solution uses components of the new iBorders BioThenticate product suite, which was launched on Thursday at the Passen-

ger Terminal EXPO in Brussels. This new platform is designed specifically for the airport environ-ment.



It seamlessly integrates biometric identity management into all aspects of passenger proc-essing at airports, including secure self-service

check-in, bag drop and boarding. It also inte-grates with airport security, terminal access con-trol, immigration and other border management functions.

The result is that a passenger using a sin-gle biometric credential, such as a smartcard or

ePassport, can check-in, pass through security, pass through immigration, and board the aircraft, verifying their identity at each step of the jour-ney.

In addition, governments can use iBorders BioThenticate to combine real-time capture of biometric identity with intelligent analysis of air-

line passenger data. This presentation of mean-ingful data from multiple sources to immigration officers enables rapid and accurate decision mak-ing at the border.

Indonesia is one of a growing number of countries that use SITA's advanced border man-agement systems including Australia, Bahrain,

Canada, Kuwait, Mongolia, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain and the United States of America.

5. Some 50 Photographers To Join Undersea Competition

Ambon - Some 50 domestic and foreign pho-tographers have registered to participate in an undersea photo-taking competition in Banda is-lands from April 23-30, 2010.

Sail Banda local committee chairman Cak Saimima confirmed here on Wednesday that around 50 domestic and foreign photographers

had registered to participate in the event to im-mortalize undersea panoramas featuring many coral reefs and ornamental fish in Banda islands.

Saimima said the photographers from Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Bali, and from other coun-tries would come to Ambon and go to Banda by

MV Siwalima at their own expense.

He said the undersea photo-taking competi-tion in Banda would be funded by former Pat-

timura Military Commander Maj Gen M Noer Muis who is currently Bukit Barisan military com-mander.

"The funds to pay the costs of the competition including the trophies, bonuses, certificates, cam-

eras, and other necessities are to be borne by Maj Gen Noer Muis," Saimima said.

He added the photos taken in the competition would be used to promote the undersea pano-ramic beauty in Maluku, especially Banda islands,

in foreign countries to arouse interest in visiting Malauku.

Meanwhile, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Ministry will also organize another undersea photo-taking competition next June as part of the upcoming international marine event of Sail Banda 2010.

Saimima said many more activities would be conducted in Ambon and Banda after the Sail

Bada is launched in Ambon on April 17, 2010.

Managed jointly by Sail Indonesia, the Indo-nesian Navy, Indonesian Marine Foundation

Yayasan Cinta Bahari, and the Indonesian Sailing Federation, Sail Banda is to be Indonesia`s larg-est marine event this year.

This year, the Maluku provincial government will have the honor to host the international ma-rine event that will be concentrated on the islands of Ambon, Banda, and Southwest Maluku (MBD)

district town of Wonreli in Kisar Yotowawa.

Saimina said at least 200 boats and yachts

would join the event.

"Our target is that at least 200 boats and yachts will participate in the event, and some 62

of them have already registered. We still have three months left to meet our target," Cak Saimima said recently.

He said the event was intended to introduce Maluku`s marine tourism potentials to the inter-national community, and to convince them that the province was really safe for tourists after the

long sectarian conflict a few years ago.

6.Researchers Discover New Orchid Species

Bandung - New orchid species had been found by Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)

researchers.

The new orchid species was named

"Dendrobium Kelamense" because it was a mem-ber of the Dendobrium genus, Calcarifera orchid species, one of the researchers, Destario Me-tusala, said here Sunday.



Destario said that the "Dendrobium Kela-mense" spread in the western part of Indonesia in Sumatra Island.

He said that the joint research with senior orchid experts from Singapore and an English

senior researcher from the Kew herbarium will not reveal the new species discovery site for con-servation purposes.

"Because large scale exploitation of the spe-cies in their habitat usually occurs each time new species had been revealed," he said.

The new species has also been published in an international journal, "Malesian Orchid Journal in March 2010.

Dendrobium Kelamense grows in an epiphytes (a plant that grows on another plant, but does not feed on its host) cluster with adult 60-110 cm

stem.

This orchid inflorescence appears to hang at the near end of the stem, with a length of 5 to

8.5 cm with five to 12 flowers.

Each flower that blooms has a width of about

two centimeters and a length of 3-3.5cm, with bright yellow petals and a maroon parallel elon-gated patches.

According to Destario, the Dendrobium Kela-mense orchid has a great potential for develop-ment.

7.Many Reasons To Vote For Komodo Island

Jakarta - As many people around the globe know, there is only one place on earth where one can still see live specimens of a prehistoric rep-tile, the Komodo dragon (Varanus Komodoensis).

The place is a Komodo Island in eastern Indone-sia.

Waran Ridwan, a former chief of the Komodo

Island National Park, said at a round-table discus-sion in Jakarta last week, many biologists are convinced the Komodo dragon is the only ancient reptile alive in the world at present.

The Komodo which is the largest prehistoric lizard that has survived the centuries can grow up

to a length of 2 to 3 m, and weigh up to around 120 kg. They are also unique because they sur-vived in a relatively small habitat, said Wawan who headed the National Park in 1987-1993.

"Their habitat consists only of Komodo island and a few smaller islands known as Rinca Island, Padar Island and a few others in Western Flores,"

Wawan said.

Komodo is the name not only of the carnivo-

rous reptile but also of the island where most of the dragons live and breed.

Komodo is also the name of a hamlet on Ko-

modo Island whose residents believe that the giant carnivore is their `sister' and therefore they must live side by side with the animal without harming it.

"During my service years, I knew of four or five cases in which a komodo had killed a human

but the locals never hunted or killed the dragons because they believed the animals were their 'sister'", Wawan said.

People at Komodo hamlet also speak the Ko-modo language which is different from the tongues used by people on the neighboring is-lands of Rinca or Labuhan Bajo.

"So, the word Komodo not only refers to the carnivorous giant reptile but also to the island, the hamlet residents and the local language," he

said.

Wawan also said, in his opinion, Komodo Is-

land with its komodo dragon, the unique charac-teristics of its people, its scenic beauty and other things really deserved to be recognized as one of the new seven wonders of the earth.

Komodo Island's discoverer

Although the giant reptile and the island had been existence for ages, they were discovered for the world by a Dutch Army officer, Lieutenant Steyn van Hensbroek, who was stationed on the neighboring island of Flores while serving in the

colonial administration of the Dutch East Indies (the former name of Indonesia when it was a Dutch colonial possession). He also was the first westerner to see and kill a Komodo dragon in

1910.

According to Wawan, the Dutchman actually

landed on the island accidentally. In interaction with the natives he heard tales about giant land 'crocodiles' in remote areas of Flores and the much smaller and more remote island of Komodo.

He eventually decided to set out on a search for the creature.

He was successful in finding and killing a

seven-and-a-half- foot Komodo dragon. Upon his return to his post in Flores, he sent the skin from



the slain Komodo, along with a photograph of the creature, to Peter A. Ouwens, director of the Zoo-logical Museum in Buitenzorg (now Bogor) in

West Java.

Vote Komodo Island as one Seven Wonders

The marketing director general of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Sapta Nirwanda, said the naming of Komodo National Park as one of the 28

finalists in the new Seven Wonders of the World voting would have a positive impact on local tour-ism.

According to him, some investors had ex-pressed interest in building international stan-dard or star-rated hotels like the Sheraton and

Mercure in the Komodo Island region.

If elected as one of the seven new world wonders, the Komodo National Park would no

doubt be visited by many more tourists than now, he said.

Nationally, Komodo National Park would then

also be a source of national pride and eventually help to improve the local people's welfare through tourism.

Niwanda also asked the Indonesian people to give maximum support to the "vote for Komodo Island" promotion campaign ahead of the pres-

tigious international vote that will end on Novem-ber 11, 2011.

Komodo Island is now ranked in the 17th po-

sition in the vote after the committee had short-listed 28 sites in the world from a field of 77 con-testants.

To support Komodo Island as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, people can directly vote online at www.new7wonders.com and follow the simple instruction, voters are also allowed to

give multiple votes. (By: Ageng Wibowo)

8. Italian Yacht Moors At Belawan Port

Medan, N Sumatra - The Italian luxurious cruise ship "Costa Allegra" cast its anchors at Be-

lawan port in Medan, Tuesday to allow its pas-sengers to enjoy the well-known tourist destina-tions and objects in the area.

The fancy yacht brought 600 passengers on board from several countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Australia, and some

European countries.

Of the 600 passengers, 277 tourists planned to disembark and go to many tourist objects and destinations in Medan and environments.

This historical objects in the area which the tourists planned to visit include the Maimun Pal-ace, the North Sumatra Museum, the Grand Mosque, and the traditional market place in

Medan city where they can buy special souvenirs.

They also planned to visit the tourist object in

Berastagi, Karo regency, some 65 Km east of Medan city, North Sumatra province. They will visit the windmill, kangaroo country, and other 'countries' known as Berastagi fruit city with its

fresh and cool climate, just like in Puncak, Bogor.

"Costa Allegra" skippered by Salvatore Do-nato, cast its anchors at Belawan port only for

one day, and will proceed to Langkawi, Malaysia, and Phuket in Thailand before returning to Europe.

9. Yogyakarta Artist Mission To Visit Russia

Yogyakarta - The Yogyakarta provincial gov-ernment will send an artist mission to Russia next May 20 to support Indonesia's soft diplomacy, a

local government official said.

The provincial government's spokesman, Bi-

wara Yuswantana, said here Tuesday the artist mission would perform traditional dances which were connected to "wayang" (puppet show) and "batik".

"Among the dances to be presented are Wayang Kabar and Gebyar Batik," he said, adding that wayang and batik as parts of the Indonesian

cultural heritages were expected to attract Rus-sian people's attention.

"People in Europe like our Purwa leather pup-

pet show especially after UNESCO awarded it the title of 'Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heri-tage of Humanity," he said.

Keris or Javanese traditional dagger, and batik clothes had also been recognized internationally as masterpieces of the Indonesian cultural heri-

tages, Yuswantana said.

Russia was a potential market for Indonesia's quality products and tourism industry, including

Yogyakarta, amid stable bilateral relationship, he said.



10. Indonesia, USAID To Organize Educa-tion Reform CONFAB

Jakarta - The Indonesian government and the

United States Agency for International Develop-ment (USAID) will organize an educational reform conference expected to yield recommendations on the future development of the education sec-

tor.

"The conference is designed to disseminate

information on the implementation of cooperation program as well as to produce recommendations on the future development of the education sec-tor," Secretary of the Coordinating Minister for

People’s Welfare Indroyono Susilo said at a na-tional education conference here on Wednesday.

The conference to be themed "A Lifetime of

Learning and Achievement" was aimed at deter-mining further steps to improve the educational sector in the country, he said.

Indroyono who represented Coordinating Min-ister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono at the meeting said the conference would focus on co-operation between the Indonesian government

and USAID in developing the best approaches and practices and the impact of USAID-funded projects on the improvement of basic education in Indonesia.

US charge d`affaires Ted Osius said USAID fully supported the development of the Indone-

sian educational sector, ranging from pre-school education, elementary education to high educa-tion.

Under the mandate of the US President’s US$157 million initiative the decentralized basic education program launched by USAID had given technical assistance to more than 51,880 teachers

and administrative staffers and 362,600 students from 1,800 schools in the country, he said.

USAID for the first time launched a basic edu-

cation management program in Indonesia in 2003. In 2004 the program evolved into a decen-tralized basic education project.

The program put emphasis on the manage-ment of education and training for elementary and junior high school teachers.

11. Indonesia To Host 17th International Conference Of Young Scientists

Jakarta - Indonesia has been named host of

the 17th International Conference of Young Sci-entists making it the first Asian country to organ-ize the world class scientific competition event.

"The election of Indonesia as the host of the event is inseparable from the country’s success in achieving the overall champion title in the 16th

ICYS in Pszcyna, Poland, in 2009," the director general of elementary and secondary education management, Suyanto, said when receiving the Indonesian delegation to the 17th ICYS here on

Wednesday.

The 17th ICYS will take place in Bali on April 12-17, 2010, and will be attended by participants

from 19 countries from Europe, America and Asia namely Belarus, Brazil, Croatia, Germany, Geor-gia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Rumania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Indonesia.

Iran, Britain, Thailand, Laos, Nigeria and Cam-bodia will send observers.

"The prestigious scientific competition is aimed at developing the potential of young researchers who are expected to play a role in scientific de-

velopment and inventions in the future," he said.

So far the competition has been held in Europe with participants from Europe, America and Asia.

Germany has so far been Indonesia`s rival in ICYS.

The country`s success in becoming overall winner in the 16th competition last year provides hope for the country`s team to retain the title in the upcoming competition.

"All preparations to meet the competition have been made. The activity is part of the efforts to revive and cultivate research among secondary

school students in Indonesia," the director of senior high school development, Sungkowo, said.

The holding of the event in the country is ex-

pected to popularize Indonesia as one of the countries that have strong potentials in the fields of science and mathematics, he said.

The Indonesian delegation to the event will consist of 12 students from state Senior High School (SMAN) I of Sungailiat, Bangka Belitung,

SMA Theresiana I, Semarang, Central Java, SMA Santa Laurensia, Serpong, Banten, SMAN 6 Yogyakarta, SMAN 1 of Sidoarjo, SMA Lab School,



SMA Mutiara Bunda, SMAN 3 of Bandung and SMAN 5 of Bandung and SMAN 1 of Bogor, West Java.

The research titles of the Indonesian team in-clude "Sweitenia Oil" by Muhammad Kautsar of

SMA 6 of Yogyakarta, "Utilizing Coconut Fiber as Aggregate in Concrete Making" by Rizal Pandji Islami from SMAN 3 of Bandung and "Mathematical Explanation on the Death of Mi-

chael Jackson" by Oki Novendra of SMAN 1 of Bogor.

12.OECD Upgrades Indonesia's CRC To Level 4

Jakarta - The Organization for Economic Coop-

eration and Development (OECD) has upgraded Indonesia's country risk classification (CRC) to level 4 from level 5 since April 2.

The level 4 suggested that Indonesia was now on par with Egypt, Uruguay and the Philippines, Deputy Bank Indonesia Governor Hartadi A. Sar-

wono said in a press statement on Thursday.

He said Indonesia's favorable macro economic indicators were the main factor upgrading the

CRC.

Indonesia was one of the countries which

managed to weather the global economic crisis and was among the few countries which recorded positive growth last year, he said.

The improving macro economic performance and economic stability resulted from the combina-tion of forward-looking economic policy, ongoing structural reforms and good debt management,

he said.

"Indeed, it is time for Indonesia's CRC to in-crease. The upgraded CRC Indonesia has sought

since the past few years will have an impact on the declining cost of fund for export credits re-ceived by the government, particularly a signifi-cant decline in insurance premium," he said.

The government's export credits accounted for 10.5 percent of its total foreign debts as per De-

cember 2009, he said.

Among the 161 OECD member states, only Indonesia had its CRC upgraded at the OECD

meeting held in early April, he said.

The upgraded CRC would also help improve

Indonesia's bargaining position in negotiations with donor countries on foreign loans, he said.

13. Indonesia To Host World Movement

For Democracy Forum

Jakarta - Indonesia will host the 6th World Movement for Democracy (WMD) Forum which is to be attended by hundreds of democracy activ-

ists from around the world on April 11-14, 2010.

WMD Director Art Kaufman said the forum

would be attended by at least 625 democracy activists, practitioners, academics, and other par-ticipants from more than 110 countries.

The 6th WMD forum in Indonesia will focus on the world movement to defend civil society, a review of democratic assistance programs, and a continuing discussion of ways to ensure democ-

racy’s success.

"At the forum, the participants will discuss various ways to develop democracy around the

world," Art Kaufman said at a press conference also attended by Indonesia WMD steering com-mittee member Bambang Harymurti and Civil So-ciety Alliance for Democracy (Yappika) manager

Abdi Suryaningati.

Yappika is a civil society network committed to

people`s empowerment, legislation monitoring and lobbying, and political education.

It is also a founding member of the Humani-

tarian Emergency Commission (KDK) which pro-vided emergency relief and reconstruction assis-tance for Aceh and North Sumatra.

Meanwhile, Yappika manager Abdi Suryanin-gati said the participants of the forum would also exchange views and experiences about democ-racy in their respective countries, and solidarity

building in the democracy movement.

"The World Movement for Democracy will also

function as a study forum for Indonesia because the country has not yet reached an optimum level of democracy," Abdi Suryaningati said.

WMD is a global network of democrats, includ-ing activists, practitioners, academics, policy mak-ers, and funders, who have come together to co-operate in the promotion of democracy.

The Washington, DC-based National Endow-ment for Democracy (NED) initiated the nongov-



ernmental effort with holding of a global Assem-bly in New Delhi, India, in February 1999 to strengthen democracy where it is weak, to reform

and invigorate democracy even where it is long-standing, and to bolster pro-democracy groups in countries that have not yet entered into a process of democratic transition.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is sched-uled to open the three-day forum in Jakarta next

Monday, April 12, 2010.

14. BFC Promotes Indonesian Films In United States

Denpasar - The Bali Film Center (BFC) will hold an exhibition in Los Angeles and California,

promoting a number of Indonesian tourist desti-nations and objects which could serve as back-grounds for movie making.

Manager of BCF Ineke disclosed in Denpasar Saturday that the exhibition on the location of a film making with the support of the Industry Min-

istry will be held from April 15 to 17, 2010.

"BFC will present the film making locations throughout Indonesia including those which

UNESCO has also used, namely Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko temples," she said.

She also said that encouraging and supporting film making in tourist locations and resorts are the quickest ways of promoting and introducing Indonesian tourist spots and destinations to the

world.

She said BFC has arranged meetings with sev-eral film industries, studios and companies to

identify and offer film and television for develop-ment and promotion in a number of locations in Indonesia.

The Indonesian government, she added, has made a strategy to secure film projects in the country, the success of which was proven by the recent presence of Columbia Pictures in the pro-

duction of "Eat, Pray, and Love" in Bali starring Academy Award winner Julia Roberts.

In Los Angeles, she added, BFC will show a film "Merah Putih" (Red and White) which had earned an appreciation from the American Film Directors Association. Produced by Margate

House, the war film against a background of the situation in 1947, described a fight for freedom in the life of three young cadets.

BFC, she added, is a private organization with a commitment to promote Indonesia as a location for film making and film production center, both domestic and international projects. Set up in

2002, this organization provided the first access to contacts for foreign producers, film companies and film studios with an interest in film making in Indonesia.

15. President Expresses Condolences

Over Polish Counterpart's Death

Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has conveyed deep condolences to the people and government of Poland on Saturday over the

death of President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash during a trip to Russia.

Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said when contacted by ANTARA said , "the Presi-dent has expressed deep condolences over the death of the Polish president and asked Foreign

Minister Marty Natalegawa and the Indonesian representative office in Warsaw to convey them."

Julian said the President wished to convey di-

rectly the condolences to the people and govern-ment of Poland but until now the government had not yet been able to contact the Polish govern-



ment in view of the mourning situation in that country following the tragedy.

He however said the government would con-tinue seeking official contact with the Polish gov-ernment to express its sympathy.

President Lech Kaczynski's death in plane crash in Russia on Saturday was officially con-firmed.

Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported at least 86 people on board the plane including

President Lech Kaczynski were killed in the acci-dent.

16. "SAIL INDONESIA" Raises Hope For Coastal Areas

Jakarta - "Sail Indonesia" has been listed as an annual yacht event since 2003 but it is more than just an exclusive chance for skippers from various

parts of the world to enjoy the beauty of the In-donesian archipelago.

The Sail Indonesia, which offers these rich and

adventurous sailors truly Indonesian experience, is also viewed as a rare chance for lots of ordi-nary Indonesians living in coastal towns and vil-lages to have direct contacts with foreigners and

promote their homelands to the outside world.

The presence of hundreds of international sail-

ors on board of more than a hundred yachts in the eastern and western coastal areas of Indone-sia yearly has brought a golden opportunity to the governments and people of those respective

regions due to the great economic benefits that come along with them.

According to Raymond T.Lesmana of the Indo-

nesian Love Maritime Foundation (YCBI), the worth of economic benefits that could potentially be enjoyed by the local governments and people, whose areas were visited by the participating

yachts, was about three billion rupiah.

His calculation was based on the outcome of a survey that the YCBI had ever conducted. Les-

mana said every crew member of the Sail Indone-sia's participating yachts spent about US$1,000 for a month.

If there were a hundred yachts with at least three crew members on board joining this event, the economic benefit that could potentially be

gained could be about 300,000 US dollars or al-most three billion rupiah, he said.

The real economic benefit that local people and business communities can enjoy through such business products as services, handicrafts,

food and beverages that they offer to the yacht crews is just one side of a coin.

Through the sailors, local governments can also get free promotion for their respective areas' tourism and investment potentials.

The economic opportunities that this Sail In-donesia offered had, for instance, been taken seriously by Head of Belitung regency, Darman-syah Husein, when his district was visited by the

participating sailors three years ago.

In a phone interview from Darwin, Husein told

ANTARA that he and his people regarded the presence of skippers and crew members of 127 yachts in the 2007 Sail Indonesia in Belitung re-gency, Bangka Belitung Province, as a "rare op-portunity".

"I see this yacht event is different from others. The sailors have direct contacts with local people.

Due to the fact that Belitung is relatively new to them, their visit is a free promotion for us to the world," he said.

As part of the promotion strategies and ways to welcome the sailors, local governments do not only organize communal festivities and cultural events but also provide their guests with tourism

and investment booklets.

Through this annual yacht event, Indonesia is

expected to remain in the route map of interna-tional sailors as one of the secure marine tourism destinations.

Over the past years, the Sail Indonesia's par-ticipating international yachts start sailing to the Indonesian waters from Darwin, the capital of Australian state of Northern Territory.

Banda: first destination

As explained in the Sail Indonesia committee's official website, this year, the first destination is Banda Islands. From the island, which is 500 miles away from north of Darwin, the sailors will

be entertained by a series of events, centered in Maluku and its capital city Ambon.

Putting Banda in the Sail Indonesia's focused

destination is the continuation of last year's pro-gram. At that time, the Indonesian government attempted to focus on Bunaken so that the Sail Indonesia chose Sail Bunaken as its official part-

ner. This year, its official partner is called "Sail Banda".



With regard to this focused program, the sail-ors are scheduled to leave Darwin on July 24 at 11 am for Banda Sail to enjoy the peak event on

August 3.

At the different stopovers across the Indone-

sian islands of Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Borneo, Belitung and finally Batam or Bintan, they will also be welcomed with a series of cultural

festivals.

After visiting all targeted Indonesian islands, they will continue their voyage to Singapore and

Malaysia.

About the total budget of this year's Sail Indo-

nesia featuring the beauty of Banda Islands, Director General of Marine Resources and Fishery Surveillance Aji Sularso recently said that it would reach at least Rp40 billions.

The funds came from the Maluku provincial government, the marine and fishery ministry and coordinating ministry for social welfare. The fund

totaling Rp12 billions (US$1=Rp9,420) that Maluku government had pledged would be used to provide needed facilities.

The marine and fishery ministry and the coor-dinating ministry for social welfare had respec-tively allocated Rp9.5 billion and more than Rp20 billion.

The funds would be used for supporting vari-ous events and financing social activities involving

local people, and fueling the Indonesian navy's hospital ship, KRI Dr.Suharso, Aji Sularso said.

As of April 9, the Sail Indonesia committee

have registered at least 80 yachts coming from various industrialized countries in the list of con-firmed entries.

Among them are from the United States of America, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia, Cayman Islands, France, Germany, It-aly, and Switzerland.

Through the mouths of these international skippers and crew members, the beauty, cultural

uniqueness, and economic potentials of Banda and other Indonesian islands are expected to be promoted to the world.

But whether or not this expectation can be realized depends on the way the central and local governments and people from the destination areas run this event and treat their guests. (By

Rahmad Nasution)

17. Some 200 Foreign Yachts To Join Sail Banda 2010

Jakarta - Around 200 yachts from abroad are

expected to join the upcoming international ma-rine event of Sail Banda 2010 from July to Au-gust, and they have been registered for the event, the Maluku governor said.

"The yachts are scheduled to depart from Darwin, Australia on July 27 and arrive in Banda

waters in Maluku province on July 29 this year," Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said at a meeting with Antara`s editorial board members here on Monday.

In addition, the heads of state of eight coun-tries were also expected to attend Sail Banda, the governor said, without naming the countries.

Ralahalu, accompanied by the head of the Maluku provincial Investment Coordinating Board, Rahman Soumena, made a visit to Antara News

Agency as part of a campaign to promote the international marine event of Sail Banda.

Ralahalu said the event was intended to intro-duce Maluku`s marine tourism potentials to the international community, and to convince them that the province was really safe for tourists and

investors.

Apart from that, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad was also scheduled to

launch Sail Banda on April 15 in Maluku`s provin-cial capital of Ambon.

According to the governor, in a bid to give broad picture about Maluku`s investment poten-tials to investors and promote investment oppor-tunities, the local administration in cooperation with state-owned PT Bank Mandiri would conduct

a "Maluku Investment Day" in Jakarta on April 14.



Maluku Investment Day would be held as part of Maluku`s efforts to speed up economic devel-opment in the province that has nine district and

two city administrations.

Maluku wished to raise its economic growth

from the current 6.3 percent to 8.35 percent in 2013 if the province can earn about Rp1.8 trillion of income per year, Rahman Soumena said, add-ing that Maluku needed a lot of investors.

A series of cultural festivals at different stop-overs across Indonesia on the islands of Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flo-

res, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Borneo, Belitung and finally on to Batam or Bintan will enliven Sail Banda 2010, Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu added.

18. Indonesia's Experience In Biosecurity Management Becomes Intl Reference

London - Indonesia's experience in managing biosecurity has become a reference of the com-

munity of international experts, First Secretary of the Indonesian Permanent Representative in Ge-neva Yasmi Adriansyah to ANTARA's London cor-respondent Tuesday.

Indonesia's molecular biologist from the Eik-jman Institute Dr. Herawati Sudoyo was penalist in an international workshop themed "The Global

Challenge of Biological Controls" at the United National Headquarters in Geneva recently, Yasmi said.

Yasmi said that Herawati, along with the United States, the UK, Germany and Argentina, gave her presentation entitled "Indonesia and the Global Challenge of Biological Controls".

Indonesia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, WTO and other organizations in

Geneva Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani con-veyed his highest appreciation for the contribu-tion of Dr. Herawati to the international work-

shop.

He said it was also a recognition of the inter-

national community for the skills of Indonesian experts in biosecurity, and also served as a means of dissemination of Indonesia's efforts and achievements in the field.

In her presentation, Dr. Herawati said that Indonesia as the biggest archipelagic country is facing complex biosecurity challenges, one of

which is the management of tropical diseases, especially those influenced by genetic background of the migration of the population in the region.

Herawati also said that the management of tropical diseases in Indonesia is far from simple, and needs tight supervision and fundamental study.

In this case, science and technology are play-ing a very important role, especially in readiness

to face pandemy. Indonesia is constantly devel-oping bioscience amidst challenges from the spread of various infectious diseases, she said.

With the increasing birdflu cases and the building of a number of biosecurity laboratories in Indonesia, caused an increase in the awareness of the public and scientific communities of the

biological risk of pathogen.

Dr. Herawati said the management of biose-

curity in Indonesia is carried out in many ways.

Among other by the issuance of regulations on many relevant issues, Indonesia by way of the

Indonesian Sciences Association (AIPI) is building a national Code of Conduct on biosecurity

The Code of Conduct covers a number of pro-

grams like increasing understanding, research, supervision, and other relevant policies.

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