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I N D O N E S I A NEWSLETTER

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BUCHAREST

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AMBASADA REPUBLICII

INDONEZIA

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Email: [email protected]

Website :

www.indonezia.ro

Publicat de: Ambasada Republicii Indonezia

Director/Redactor sef: Ishlah R. Abdullah

Coordonator:

Ishlah R. Abdullah

Colaboratori: Eddy Mulya ;

Pratiwi Amperawati ; Harry R.Iwawan ;

Fattah Hardiwinangun Tri Murniati;

Purno Wirawan

Colectivul de redactie: Agus Tata S ;

Dedin MN : Chandra L.

Secretar de redactie: Agus Tata Suprapta

Sectia difuzare:

Agus Tata Suprapta Supri Martin Diauw

Rice Fields in Bali Island

I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/ octombrie 2008

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CONTENTS BILATERAL – REGIONAL 1. RI, China To Sign Cooperation On Fisheries Advertising 2. Former Indonesian Envoy Chairs Interfaith Confab In Geneva 3. New Zealand Lauds RI's Role In Creating AANZFTA 4. President Hopes DPR To Ratify ASEAN Charter Before December 5. UN Says Indonesia Successful In Consolidating Peace ECONOMY 1. RI's On-Year Inflation Reaches 11.85 Pct In August 2. RI Sees Another Trade Deficit Of $270 Million In July 3. RI's 2008 Inflation To Reach 12.2 Pct: Economist 4. Indonesia Lacking In Oil Experts 5. Two Middle Eastern Banks Intending To Open Shariah Units In RI 6. Central Kalimantan's Earnings From CPO Exports Up 100 Pct Plus 7. North Sulawesi Fishery Exports Reach Us$45.23 Million 8. Sumatra Has Potentials To Become World Woven Cloth Tourist Destination 9. PT Pal Receives Orders To Build 21 Ships Worth Rp3.8 Trillion 10. RI's Textile, Textile Product Exports Up 6.16 Pct 11. Trade Minister : RI Should Increase Exports To Asian Countries 12. Aceh's Coffee Exports Jump 55 Pct 13. N. Sumatra Coffee Exports Reach Us$128.32 Million DIVERSE 1. First Lady : RI Women's Participation In Politics Still Limited 2. Official: Indonesia Is Known As a Mega-Biodiversity Country 3. RI Naval Patrol Arrests 459 Foreign Vessels In This Year's First Semester 4. RI Calls For Protection Of Traditional Knowledge 5. Solo To Conserve 30 Ancient Batik Houses 6. Three Sukhoi Jet Fighters To Be Assembled In Makassar 7. Papua's Cultural Art Handi-Crafts On Bring Of Extinction 8. President Inaugurates Makassar's Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport 9. Indonesia's Corruption Perception Index Improves TOURISM 1. More Than 3.47 Million Tourists Visit RI Until July 2. NTB Travel Operators Establish Lombok Travel Club 3. Journalists From 14 Countries Visiting North Sulawesi 4. VP Optimistic RI Tourism Industry To Fare Better 5. Minister Jero Wacik Calls On Japan To Invest In Indonesia's Tourism Sector 6. VP To Help Accelerate Construction Of Lombok Int'l Airport 7. RI's Stand Gets Tourism Fair Award In Poland


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1. RI, CHINA TO SIGN COOPERATION ON

FISHERIES ADVERTISING

Beijing - The Indonesian and Chinese governments will

sign a document on advertising cooperation, especially

for fishery products, in order to increase the trade vol-

ume between the two countries, an embassy official

said here, Monday.

“The text of the cooperation on advertising has already

been discussed, and now we are awaiting the two sides

to sign the documents" vice head of Indonesia's repre-

sentative mission in Beijing, Mohamad Oemar said.

Oemar said he himself has also did not know yet as to

who will represent Indonesia in the signing ceremony,

whether is it going to be an official of the Ministry of

Marine Affairs and Fisheries or not.

Meanwhile, China will be represented by it's Inspection

and Quarantine Agency (AQSIQ).

Despite the uncertainty, Oemar said this cooperation,

for certain, will play a significant role for both Indonesia

and China.

The biggest advantage is to prevent mutual rejection of

fishery produce, as has been done in the

past.Indonesia's fishery products were rejected by

AQSIQ due to insufficiency of health standards.

The bilateral cooperation will also put Indonesia in a

position as a well-developed country in international

health standards implementation, not only to China but

to other importers as well. (Antara, 09-09-08)

2. FORMER INDONESIAN ENVOY CHAIRS INTERFAITH CONFAB IN GENEVA

London - Former Indonesian ambassador/ permanent

representative to the UN in Geneva, Makarim Wibisono,

chaired the just-ended conference on interfaith coop-

eration and the protection of human rights and dignity at

the UN Headquarters in Geneva on Sept 1-2.

The conference was aimed at creating peace and build-

ing solidarity among adherents of different faiths as well

as at improving the protection of human rights and dig-

nity, First Secretary of the Indonesian Permanent Rep-

resentative in Geneva, Kamapradipta Ismono said in a

press statement on Wednesday.

Makarim chaired the meeting in his capacity as presi-

dent and co-founder of the Geneva Interfaith Intercul-

tural Alliance (GIIA) and his role in the alliance would

hopefully contribute to the UN Human Rights Council in

the form of peace and solidarity messages, Ismono

said.

The two-day conference which featured 12 young fig-

ures representing different religious groups brought

together 180 participants including diplomats, academi-

cians, churchmen, churchwomen, and theologists. The

conference adopted an Interfaith Declaration on Peace

and Human Rights calling for close cooperation be-

tween world leaders and religious figures to create

peace and tolerance among adherents of different

faiths.

The declaration also called on governments all over the

world to introduce curricula on the need to apply inter-

faith relations based on peace and tolerance.

The declaration will be delivered to the UN Security

Council, the UN Human Rights Council and other UN

bodies for approval. (Antara, 04.09.08)

3. NEW ZEALAND LAUDS RI'S ROLE IN CREATING AANZFTA

Jakarta - New Zealand has lauded Indonesia's role in

negotiations to create an ASEAN-Australia-New Zea-

land Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), the Indonesian For-

eign Ministry said.

New Zealand Trade Minister/Defense Minister Phil Goff

voiced the appreciation at a diplomatic reception to

mark the 63rd anniversary of Indonesia's independence

at the Indonesian embassy in Wellington this week, the

ministry said in a statement on Friday.

In the event which brought together at least 600 invit-

ees, Warren Searell of the New Zealand Foreign Minis-

try congratulated the Indonesian government and peo-

ple on independence day and reiterated Indonesia's

BILATERAL—REGIONAL


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strategic position for his country.Indonesia which is the

world's third largest democratic country and largest

Muslim nation played a significant role both in the re-

gion and the world, he said.

Former New Zealand ambassador to Indonesia Tim

Grosser meanwhile praised Indonesia for its success in

building a strong democratic nation.Grosser expressed

hope that the New Zealand government would soon be

aware of Indonesia's potentials and significance both for

the country and the region.

In his address, Indonesian Ambassador to New Zea-

land Amris Hassan spoke of developments in the Indo-

nesia-New Zealand relations which had been in exis-

tance since 50 years ago.

He said both countries had so far established coopera-

tion in various forums such as the Asia-Pacific Eco-

nomic Cooperation (APEC), ASEAN Regional Forum

(ARF), and East Asia Summit, not to mention coopera-

tion in international issues such as interfaith dialogue

and alliance of civilizations and global inter-media dia-

logue. (Antara, 13.09.08)

4. PRESIDENT HOPES DPR TO RATIFY ASEAN CHARTER BEFORE DECEMBER

Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has

expressed hope that the House of Representatives

(DPR) will ratify the ASEAN Charter before the ASEAN

Summit is held in Bangkok next December.

As the co-founder of the Association of Southeast

Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia should also lead

other ASEAN member states in ratifying the charter, the

president said before participants of the 41st regular

education course of the National Resilience Institute

(Lemhanas) at the State Palace here on Monday.

"As the head of state, I hope that (DPR) will ratify the

ASEAN Charter before the ASEAN Summit is held in

Bangkok next December," he said.

In one of their recommendations, the participants of the

course proposed that Indonesia ratify the charter soon

as part of efforts to strengthen the integrity of the Uni-

tary Republic of Indonesia.

In response, Yudhoyono said the proposal should also

be conveyed to the House.

Early last week, the Thai Senata agreed to ratify the

charter, making Indonesia and the Philippines the last

two ASEAN member states that have yet to ratify the

charter signed by the 10 ASEAN heads of state/

government at the ASEAN Summit in Singapore in

November 2007.

ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said at the

weekend he was optimistic Indonesia and the Philip-

pines would soon ratify the charter before the regional

grouping convened its 14th summit in Bangkok in De-

cember.

So far, eight of 10 ASEAN member states --Singapore,

Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar

and Thailand--have submitted their ratificaton instru-

ments on the ASEAN Charter to the ASEAN secretary

general.

Meanwhile, the charter is still being deliberated by both

Indonesian and Philippine parliaments.

The ASEAN charter establishes the group as a legal

entity, creating permanent representation for members

at its secretariat in Jakarta and committing heads of

state to meetings twice a year. (Antara, 23.09.08)

5. UN SAYS INDONESIA SUCCESSFUL IN CONSOLIDATING PEACE

Jakarta - The United Nations said here Indonesia has

successfully consolidated peace and prevented con-

flicts in the past test.

The judgment was submitted by the UN representative

for Indonesia El Mustafa Benlamlih on behalf of the UN

Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon during the Peace Day

jubilee in Jakarta, Tuesday (Sept 23).

"The people and government of Indone-sia must be

proud of what had been done in the past ten years and

its contribution to global peace," Benlamlih read the

massage to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and

the cabinet. "Indonesia had successfully gone through a

transition to democracy," he added.


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Indonesia also had established decentralization of the

local governments, solved conflicts in several areas and

used local potentials effectively.

The UN Secretary general in the commemoration of

World Peace Day on September 21 had sent his mas-

sage to all the leaders in the world to unite and fight

against conflicts and hunger, and fight for human

rights. (Antara, 25.09.08)

1. RI'S ON-YEAR INFLATION REACHES 11.85 PCT IN AUGUST

Jakarta - Indonesia's monthly inflation rate in August

2008 reached 0.51 percent, bringing the calendar infla-

tion rate to 9.4 percent and the on-year inflation rate to

11.85 percent, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS)

said.

The August 2008 inflation was mainly the result of a

0.94 percent rise in the prices of foodstuffs and a 1.36

percent increase in the prices of services in the educa-

tion, recreation and sports sectors, BPS Chief Rusman

Heriawan said here on Monday.

"The BPS did not record any increase in transport fares

in August," he said.

The agency noted a rise in the prices of a number of

commodities including fresh fish, chicken meat, eggs,

and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as an in-

crease in senior high school tuition fees contributed a

lot to the August 2008 inflation.

"Although the rise in the prices of LPG was postponed it

had contributed to the August 2008 inflation rate. The

rise in senior high school tuition fees followed an in-

crease in elementary and junior high school tuition fees

a month earlier," he said.

The BPS chief said the prices of a number of ecom-

modities including gold, onion, chili, Pertamax gasoline

and cooking oil fell in August. (Antara, 02.09.08)

2. RI SEES ANOTHER TRADE DEFICIT OF

$270 MILLION IN JULY

Jakarta - Indonesia saw another trade deficit of around

US$270 million in July due in part to a rise in raw mate-

rial and capital goods imports and a drop in foreign ex-

change earnings from crude palm oil exports.

Indonesia's exports in July 2008 grew 25.03 percent to

US$12.55 billion from July 2007 while its monthly im-

ports reached US$12.82 billion, Chief of the Central

Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Rusman Heriawan said here

on Monday.

"Indeed there was an extraordinary rise in imports par-

ticularly to meet demands from bonded zones," he said.

After all, Indonesia in the first seven months of 2008

still enjoyed a surplus of US$5.15 billion from its foreign

trade, he said.

Indonesia's exports in the January-July 2008 period

reached US$83.03 billion while its imports stood at

US$77.88 billion, he said. "But the trend in the surplus

is getting smaller. So if it continues to experience a

downward trend, our balance of trade will in the long run

suffer a deficit," he said.

Earlier in April 2008, Indonesia also saw a trade deficit

of US$520 million.

The BPS chief said the import of raw materials and

capital goods rose in July, giving positive prospects to

industries relying on imported raw materials in the three

months' time.

"The import of raw materials and capital goods showed

a spectacular growth of 78.69 percent and 14.72 per-

cent respectively. Meanwhile, consumer goods only

grew 6.69 percent," he said.

He said Indonesia also recorded another deficit of

US$698 million from its oil and gas trade in July 2008,

bringing to US$1.366 billion the country's deficit from oil

and gas in the seven months of this year.


E C O N O M Y

7

Indonesia's oil and gas exports in July 2008 stood at

US$2.874 billion while its oil and gas imports reached

US$3.572 billion.

"Fat and animal oil exports in July plunged US$1.48

billion to US$581 million from US$2.062 billion a month

earlier. The drop was mainly the result of a drop in CPO

exports," he said. (Antara, 02.09.08)

3. RI'S 2008 INFLATION TO REACH 12.2 PCT: ECONOMIST

Jakarta - Indonesia's full-year inflation rate in 2008 is

expected to reach 12.2 percent as the on-month infla-

tion rate in August stood at 0.51 percent, an economist

said.

"The governmment will find it very hard to achieve its

inflation rate target of 11.4 percent set for this year. I

predict the inflation rate would reach 12.2 percent in

view of the current favorable economic developments,"

Ichsanuddin Noorsy of the Indonesia Awakening Team

said here on Monday.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said earlier in

the day Indonesia's monthly inflation rate in August

2008 reached 0.51 percent, bringing the calendar infla-

tion rate to 9.4 percent and the on-year inflation rate to

11.85 percent.

The August 2008 inflation was mainly the result of a

0.94 percent rise in the prices of foodstuffs and a 1.36

percent increase in the prices of services in the educa-

tion, recreation and sports sectors, BPS Chief Rusman

Heriawan said.

"The BPS did not record any increase in transport fares

in August," he said.

The agency noted a rise in the prices of a number of

commodities including fresh fish, chicken meat, eggs,

and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as an in-

crease in senior high school tuition fees contributed a

lot to the August 2008 inflation.

"Although the rise in the prices of LPG was postponed it

had contributed to the August 2008 inflation rate. The

rise in senior high school tuition fees followed an in-

crease in elementary and junior high school tuition fees

a month earlier," he said.

The BPS chief said the prices of a number of commodi-

ties including gold, onion, chili, Pertamax gasoline and

cooking oil fell in August.

Ichsanuddin said the inflation remained a "disease" be-

cause of uncertainty in the global economy.

"The uncertainty is expected to continue until the first

semester of 2009 and the prices of commodities will

remain volatile," he said.

The other indication was the persistent steep rise in the

prices of materials for infrastructure projects at home,

he said.

"Meanwhile at the same time the prices of food com-

modities have shown no sign of stability," he added.

The newly-announced rise in the prices of liquefied

petroleum gas would drive up the prices of other goods,

putting a further strain on the inflation rate, he said.

"The multiplier effect of the rise in the prices of LPG will

continue," he said. (Antara, 02.09.08)

4. INDONESIA LACKING IN OIL EXPERTS

Pangkalpinang, - Indonesia is facing a lack of experts in

oil following the limited capacity of higher learning insti-

tutions in the country to produce skilled engineers em-

ployed in foreign oil mining companies.

Prof Dr Sudarto Notosewiyo, Dean of the Mining and Oil

Faculty of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB),

said here on Friday, adding that three higher learning

institutions like ITB, UPN Veteran and Trisakti,

produced only 280 to 300 oil engineers annually.

Ideally, Indonesia needs at least 500 oil engineers each

year to meet the need for foreign oil experts in other

countries.

Many of Indonesian oil experts preferred to work in

other countries because of the much higher wages.

Indonesian oil graduates especially from ITB worked in

many foreign mining companies because their skills are

highly rewarded. "To persuade them to return to Indo-


8

nesia, the government needs to offer them an incentive

namely that their salary in Indonesia will be 70 to 80

percent of what they receiced in their overseas emploly-

ment," he said.

A lack of oil experts in Indonesia will cause the high oil

potential in Indonesia to be not optimally tapped.

(Antara, 30.09.08)

5. TWO MIDDLE EASTERN BANKS INTEND ING TO OPEN SHARIAH UNITS IN RI

Jakarta - Two Middle Eastern banks are considering to

open shariah branches in Indonesia and have in this

context already met with Bank Indonesia (BI or central

bank officials , a BI spokesman said.

BI's director for shariah bank affairs Ramzi A Zuhdi said

here Tuesday he met with representatives of Qatar

National Bank (QNB) last August about the latter's in-

tention to set up a shariah bank in Indonesia.

"We only met in August and they are still exploring.

They seemed to be quite enthusiastic but we still don't

know when they will realize their intention," Zuhdi said.

A Kuwaiti bank whose name he did not remember was

also keen on engaging in shariah banking in Indonesa.

"I forgot the name but we also met with representatives

of a Kuwaiti bank," he said.

Zuhdi said BI was hoping many Midddle Eastern inves-

tors would be prepared to open shariah banks in Indo-

nesia. "We hope they will participate in development of

shariah banking here because they have the fianncial

means and wide networks in the Middle East," he said.

With many foreign investors running shariah banks in

Indonesia, it was hoped the specific business would

grow fast "so that our 5-percent growth target for this

sector can be attained." Zudhi said.

Earlier, the president's special envoy for the Middle

East, Alwi Shihab, had said a number of Middle Eastern

investors were interested in operating in the banking

sector in Indonesia. They included QNB and the Ku-

wait Finance House.

Another Kuwaiti bank, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB),

through its subsidiary Asian Finance, has already

opened a branch in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, according to BI data, as per June 1,2008,

shariah banks in Indonesia, had assets totaling

Rp42.981 triliun or 2.11 percent of the overall assets of

conventional banks. (Antara, 03.09.08)

6. CENTRAL KALIMANTAN'S EARNINGS FROM CPO EXPORTS UP 100 PCT PLUS

Palangka Raya - A continuous increase in crude palm

oil (CPO) production in Central Kalimantan this year

resulted in a doubling of the province's income from the

commodity's export, a local statistics official said here

Friday.

Central Kalimantan's CPO exports in the period Janu-

ary-July 2008 reached a total value of 200.52 million

US dollars or 108.61 percent up from the figure in the

same period last year, Dantes Simbolon, head of the

provincial Bureau of Statistics, said.

"The largest contributor to Central Kalimantan's foreign

exchange earnings among its animal and vegetable oils

was CPO while export of wood and wooden things con-

tributed 59.36 million US dollars," Simbolon said.

He said an increase in CPO exports also happened last

July when they brought in 12.35 million US dollars even

though during the month exports were dominated by

wood and wooden items.

Shipment of Central Kalimantan's export goods was

mostly done through Pangkalan Bun in Kotawaringin

Barat district. In July, 10.67 million US dollars worth of

goods or 88 percent of the province's total exports were

sent overseas via Pangkalan Bun.

"Most of the exports in July went to the United Arab

Emirates (UAE) worth 3.36 million US dollars and to

Qatar worth 2.27 million US dollars," he said.

Dantes earlier said wood exports from Central Kalim-

mantan were tending to decline every year but the op-

posite was the case with CPO exports.


9

Central Kalimantan's exports had for a long time been

dominated by wood and wooden items but this condition

had changed since forest exploitation activity declined.

Dantes added several companies prefered to export

their commodities through ports outside Central Kaliman-

tan because local ports had minimum facilities. (Antara,

06.09.08)

7. NORTH SULAWESI FISHERY EXPORTS REACH US$45.23 MILLION

Manado, N Sulawesi - North Sulawesi's exports of fish

and fish products reached a value of US$45.23 million in

the first semester of this year, a local trade official said.

"The income came from exports totaling 20,735.18 tons

of various fish and fish products to various countries in

the world," the head of the local foreign trade service,

Hanny Wajong, said here on Saturday. "The exports

included fingerlings," she said.

Although the value reached US$45.23 the fish and fish

product exports accounted for only around 10 percent of

the value of the province's overall exports, she said.

"Coconut and coconut products still dominate the prov-

ince's exports securing between 60 to 70 percent of the

total export market," she said.

Wajong said fishery exports this year were expected to

be higher than last year in value as well as volume.

"In 2007, the province's fishery exports were recorded at

US$62.27 million so exports so far have reached around

73 percent of it. Therefore we are optimistic this year's

exports will be higher," he said. (Antara, 07.09.08)

8. SUMATRA HAS POTENTIALS TO BECOME WORLD WOVEN CLOTH TOURIST DESTINA-TION

Padang, W Sumatra - Sumatra Island has great poten-

tials to become world tourist destination and woven cloth

research area due to its great number of traditional

woven cloth production centers, a spokesman said.

Such impression was disclosed by 15 world woven cloth

collectors originating from United States and Canada

after visiting several traditional woven cloth centers in

West Sumatra and North Sumatra recently, the "Sumatra

and Beyond" travel bureau director Ridwan Tulus told

Antara here on Saturday.

The 15 world woven cloth collectors were participating in

a tourist visit package called "10 days from west to north

textile tour Sumatra" which was conducted by the

"Sumatra and Beyond" from August 27 to September 5,

2008, he said.

The collectors showed high interest to buy the traditional

woven cloth and even expressed their wish to make the

woven cloth display in textile museums in their countries,

Ridwan said.

They expressed a feeling of amazement particularly on

the Sumatra's traditional woven cloth production mecha-

nism, but yielding high quality products, he said, adding

that the foreign collectors promised to return to Sumatra

in a larger group.

The traditional woven cloth production centers are avail-

able among others in Sawahan Padang, Canduang,

Agam regency, Pandai Sikek and Tanah Datar regencies

in West Sumatra.

In addition, in North Sumatra including the Batak's tradi-

tional Ulos. (Antara, 07.09.08)

9. PT PAL RECEIVES ORDERS TO BUILD 21 SHIPS WORTH RP3.8 TRILLION

Jakarta - State-owned shipbuilding company PT PAL

has received orders to build 21 ships worth Rp3.8 trillion

up to 2009, the company's chief said.

"The projects are already in hand. The next thing we

need to do is meeting the orders," PT PAT president

director Hasusanto said in reply to a reporter's question

here on Monday.

He said orders for ship construction in the world were

now on the rise.

"We have to capitalize on this situation. We should not

reject any order as long as the deadline for construction

is set at after 2012," he said.


10

He said China, for example, needed five years to finish a

ship building order.

"So, an order placed now can be completed only after

2012," the PT PAL chief said.

He said PT PAL's shipbuilding construction orders

among others came from Turkey, Germany and Italy.

PT PAL would need at least US$40 million to finance the

cost for the construction of ships in the coming three

years (2010), he added.

The state-owned company is a strategic industry with

technological competitive edge, and is able to build ships

of up to 50,000 dead weight tons (DWT). (Antara,

15.09.08)

10. RI'S TEXTILE, TEXTILE PRODUCT EXPORTS UP 6.16 PCT

Pacitan, E Java - Indonesia's textile and textile product

exports in the first seven months of 2008 rose 6.17 per-

cent to US$6.06 billion from US$5.71 billion in the same

period last year, an Industry Ministry official said.

Textile and textile product exports contributed 22.38 per-

cent of the country's non-oil/non-gas exports and 14.45

percent of industrial product exports over the period, the

ministry's director of industrial and mining product ex-

ports, Hartojo Agus Tjahjono said here on Friday.

In the past five years, textile and textile product exports

contributed 12.45 percent of the non-oil/non-gas exports

and 14.81 percent of the industrial product exports annu-

ally, he said.

He said improving productivity, efficiency and competi-

tiveness was a key to penetrating the increasingly com-

petitive global market for textiles and textile products.

Hartojo Agus was here to present 75 sewing and embroi-

dering machines worth Rp250 million from the ministry to

small and medium enterpreneurs at Gayuhan village.

"This assistance is aimed at supporting SMEs to pro-

duce textile products of high quality," he said.

The aid was symbolically handed over to Pacitan district

head H Sujono.

"Making an efficient and optimum use of sewing and

embroidering machines will help improve the quality of

SMEs' products, increase their capacity and production

which will eventually boost the nearby people's econ-

omy," he said. (Antara, 20.09.08)

11. TRADE MINISTER : RI SHOULD IN CREASE EXPORTS TO ASIAN COUN TRIES

Jakarta - Indonesia should consider increasing the vol-

umes of its exports to other Asian countries such as Ma-

laysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China and India in its strategy

of dealing with the US financial crisis, Trade Minister

Mari Elka Pangestu said here Monday.

"Only 10-12 percent of Indonesia's exports depends on

the US market so we are not affected directly by the

crisis there," the minister said.

Indonesia's position was also supported by the fact that

its exposure to the US market was smaller than those of

other countries.

However, Indonesia should watch the indirect impact of

the US crisis since the other destination countries of its

exports did experience the consequences directly and

had therefore undergone a decline in demand for im-

ported goods, she said.


11

The minister suggested that Indonesia widen its over-

seas markets and diversify its exports besides promot-

ing its products and investment opportunities.

"We should maintain the people's purchasing power,"

she said, adding that Indonesia should improve its infra-

structure and maintain its capability to compete with

foreign products.

"In this way, when global conditions get better, we will

be ready to compete," she said. (Antara, 23.09.08)

12. ACEH'S COFFEE EXPORTS JUMP 55 PCT

Banda Aceh - Aceh's Arabica coffee exports in the first

half of this year jumped 55 percent to US$15.22 million

from US$9.81 million in the same period last year, a

spokesman said.

The rise in coffee exports was encouraging as it had

raised local coffee growers' income, Head of the Nang-

groe Aceh Darussalam Provincial Industry, Trade, Coop-

eratives and Small Businesses Office Cipta Hunai said

here on Friday.

Since security conditions in the province became condu-

cive after decades of bloody conflict, local coffee grow-

ers had been encouraged to cultivate coffee on a large

scale, he said.

Arabica coffee used to be Aceh's key non-oil/non-gas

export commodity. But its export volume and value

dropped drastically after the conflict engulfed Indone-

sia's westernmost province.

Aceh's Arabica coffee had recovered since security con-

ditions in Aceh returned to normal following the signing in

Helsinki on August 15, 2005 of a peace deal to put an

end to the conflict, he said.

The coffee exports in the first half of 2008 went to 12

countries. The United States was listed as the biggest

importer of Aceh's Arabica coffee over the period, buying

2.94 million tons worth US$10.5 million. This was fol-

lowed by Canada with 234,300 tons worth US$ 966,450 ,

Meksiko with 216,000 kg worth US$861,940, and Ger-

many with 291,900 worth US$16,770.

(Antara, 26.09.08)

13. N. SUMATRA COFFEE EXPORTS REACH US$128.32 MILLION

Jakarta - North Sumatra earned US$ 128.32 million by

exporting 38,233 tons of coffee seeds and instant coffee

until August 2008, an official said here Friday.

"Arabica coffee still contributed the most or f US$

116.227 million from the export of f 33,542 tons," head of

the Association Of Indonesian Coffee Exporters (AEKI),

North Sumatra chapter, Suyanto Husein said.

Robusta coffee contributed the second largest amount of

foreign exchange while the volume of instant coffee ex-

ported rises every year.

He said the volume of coffee exports tended to decrease

in September to December when the year-end holiday

comes and factories stop production as stocks are high.

"Demand usually rockets at the beginning of the year.

North Sumatra coffee exports, for example, reached

12,000 tons worth US$ 39.3 million in January and Feb-

ruary 2008," he said.

North Sumatra exports its coffee to the US, China, the

N e t h e r l a n d s , S i n g a p o r e a n d M a l a y s i a .

(Antara, 27.09.08)

1. FIRST LADY : RI WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS STILL LIMITED

Jakarta, Aug. - First Lady Ani Yudhoyono said In-

donesian women's participation in politics was still

very limited despite the existence of a law requiring

30 percent of seats in political representation

bodies to be given to women.

Mrs Ani Yudhoyono made the statement at the

Monas (National Monument) here on Saturday

when officially kicking off a two-day exhibition to

mark one decade of Indonesian women's awaken-

ing in conjunction with the centennial of National

Awakening.


D I V E R S E

12

"We must admit that the role of women in the politi-

cal field must still be intensified," she said.

She hoped that in the future the number of female

legislators in the country would surpass the quota.

Meanwhile, State Minister of Women's Empower-

ment Meutia Hatta called on political party leaders

to give more opportunities to women so that the 30-

percent quota could be met.

The minister, daughter of Indonesia's former vice

president Mohamad Hatta, also urged women to

improve the quality of their capabilities so that they

would be able to equal their male partners in the

political field.

Meutia, who is also chairperson of the Indonesian

Unity and Justice Party (PKPI), said 45 percent of

her party's legislative nominees were women. If

women were not empowered properly, national

development would be imbalanced because

women were an asset, not a burden nor an

obstacle, to development. (Antara, 31.08.08)

1. OFFICIAL: INDONESIA IS KNOWN AS A MEGA-BIODIVERSITY COUNTRY

Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara - The Directorate

General of Forest and Nature Conservation

(PHKA) of the Forestry Ministry Darori said here

Wednesday that Indonesia was one of the coun-

tries with the highest biodiversity in the world, and

earned the name Megabiodiversification country.

"However, Indonesia is also known as a country

with the highest damage on its biodiversity and

along with some other regions identified as hot

spots for inclusion in conservation programs," he

said.

In the National Dialogue of Gunung Rinjani

(Lombok) Geopark, he stated that the national

park had an important role to play in reducing the

loss of biodiversity. Therefore, we need to manage

and protect these areas.

"In relation to the proposal to UNESCO for making

Gunung Rinjani as the first Geopark in Indonesia,

principally we support it," he said.

Moreover, Darori said that a geopark would provide

a platform for active cooperation between experts

and geologists. Through the continuity of imple-

menting tourism programs, the geoparks would

give local people benefits.

In a geopark framework, knowledge about geology

is shared with the public. Furthermore, a geopark is

not only about its geological condition, but also re-

lated to its natural and cultural surroundings.

According to Darori, the framework is relevant to a

national park's management as an ecotourism

area. In this case, a national geopark and people

around it constitute a unity which needed to be

managed together for the sake of local culture and

economic development. (Antara, 18.09.08)

3. RI NAVAL PATROL ARRESTS 459 FOR EIGN VESSELS IN THIS YEAR'S FIRST SEMESTER

Batam - During the first semester of 2008, the Indo-

nesian Western Fleet intercepted and stopped 459

foreign vessels in Indonesian waters for alleged

offences. "20-25 of the 459 vessels are still under

intensive investigation," chief of the special naval

unit, Commodore Sugeng Darmawan said here

Tuesday. He said not all of the vessels are still un-

der investigation, because their captains had the

necessary legal documents, and their offences

were minor.

Sugeng said the 20-25 fishing vessels had been

caught red-handed operating in the Natuna waters.

"Mostly are Vietnamese," he said.

(Antara,24.09.08)

I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R 010/octombrie 2008

13

4. RI CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF TRADI-TIONAL KNOWLEDGE

Jakarta - Indonesia has urged the world commu-

nity to immediately form a regime to protect ge-

netic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore

(GRTKF).

Law and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalata

made the appeal at an international meeting of the

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

General Assembly in Geneva early this week, the

Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Before the WIPO General Assembly, the world

body's highest law-making forum, Andi praised the

international community for what they had done to

get the regime formed.

Special appreciation also went to the Intergovern-

mental Committee at the WIPO which had 12

times convened meetings to bring the expectation

into reality, the statement said.

After all, the minister said, developments towards

the creation of one or several international protec-

tion instruments had been running very slowly.

Therefore, Indonesia urged the international com-

munity to immediately create the instruments by

the end of this decade at the latest.

On the Development Agenda which has now be-

come the main part of WIPO, the minister hoped

that the Committee on Development and Intellec-

tual Property (CDIP), a committee tasked with im-

plemen-ting the recommendations of the Develop-

ment Agenda, could accelerate the process of

deliberating and implementing a number of recom-

mendations already agreed upon.

(Antara, 24.09.08)

5. SOLO TO CONSERVE 30 ANCIENT BATIK HOUSES

Solo, Central Java - The Solo local administration

has planned to conserve some 30 ancient batik

houses located at Laweyan Solo batik neighbor-

hood, to support the batik tourism development in

the city.

The state ministry of public housing would provide

funds amounting to around Rp600 million for the

conservation program of the 30 ancient batik

houses, Head of the Laweyan Solo Batik Tourism

Neighborhood Association Alpha Febela said here

on Sunday. "Each ancient batik house having his-

torical value in batik development at Laweyan

area will get financial assistance worth Rp20 mil-

lion," Febela said.

The conservation program at Laweyan area is

crucial for developing the area into a tourist desti-

nation and a batik trade center, according to him.

The Laweyan batik area would be renovated by

maintaining its historical values and its original

batik concept, he said.

Inhabitants of Laweyan area have enjoyed signifi-

cant economic benefits since the area has been

designated as a batik center and a tourist attrac-

tion a century ago.

According to Febela, at least 2,500 people living at

Laweyan area earn their living from batik home

industry.

In Javanese, batik means 'to dot.' It is a traditional

textile working process involving the use of wax to

cover fabric in patterns. The multi-colored and

hand-made textiles are used to make traditional

clothing including shirts and dresses, artwork and

drapery. (Antara, 28.09.08)


14

6. THREE SUKHOI JET FIGHTERS TO BE ASSEMBLED IN MAKASSAR

Jakarta - Indonesian airforce chief of staff Marshal

Subandrio said here on Thursday that three new

Sukhoi jet fighters scheduled to arrive in CKD con-

dition in Indonesia in October 2008 would be as-

sembled at Sultan Hasanuddin airbase in

Makassar.

During a visit to Squadron 11 of the air base, he

said actually the planes would be assembled at

Iswahyudi airbase in Madiun, East Java, like the

previous four others, but it was later decided that

they would be assembled at Sultan Hasanuddin

airbase in Makassar.

"In the beginning, they would be assembled in

Madiun considering that if it was done in the Sul-

tan Hasanuddin airbase it could disturb civilian

flights at the Sultan Hasanuddin airport which is

located near the base," he said.

However it was later decided to do it at the Sultan

Hasanuddin airbase because of the airbase's readi-

ness as a Sukhoi fighter squadron base.

In response to the decision, the chief of the air-

force's Operation Command II, air commodore Yu-

shan Sayuti, said the airbase had been prepared to

become the home base of Sukhois including their

landing strip that would also be capable of accom-

modating an Antonov transport plane that would fly

the planes from Russia.

"Eighty percent of its new hangar has also been

completed leaving only electrical instalations and

some of its front yard costing around Rp4.5

billion," Marshal Subandrio said.

The Russian Sukhoi maker on August 21 2007 an-

nounced it would sell six Sukhoi jet fighters to Indo-

nesia worth US$300 million.

The six Sukhois include three SU-30 MK2 and

three SU-27 SKM to add to the four Sukhois that

had been acquired by the airforce since September

2003.

The memorandum of understanding for the pro-

curement of the six Sukhois was signed at the

Moscow Airshow on August 21 2007.

Based on the MOU, the price of the six aircraft

reached US$355 million.

Three of them complete with their arms are ex-

pected to arrive this year while the other three in

2009.

The planes would replace the A-4 Skyhawks based

at Squadron 11 in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The purchase of the six Sulhois is not included in

the credit scheme provided by the Russian govern-

ment worth US$1 billion for modernizing the coun-

try's weaponry in 2007-2010.

The three Indonesian Sukhoi pilots that have just

concluded training in Russia are already back.

They are Major Ikoputro, Major Dedy Ilham

Suryanto and Major David Yohan Tamboto.

Besides preparing the infrastructure, the airforce

has also prepared eight other Sukhoi pilots known

as "Flankers." (Antara, 26.09.08)

7. PAPUA'S CULTURAL ART HANDI- CRAFTS ON BRING OF EXTINCTION

Biak - A variety of Papua cultural art handicraft arti-

cles are now on the brink of extiction unless pro-

tected by special regional regulations, and provin-

cial regulations which have yet to be issued.

Papua Art and Culture Supervisor Fhilip Ramandey

said here on Thursday that the provincial admini-

stration together with Papua Legislative Assembly

are expected soon to ratificate the regulations to


15

protect the original Papua artists.

"When the Netherlands ruled Biak, there was a pro-

tection and recognition of the original culture," Ra-

mandey said.

He added that the protection through the regulations

is an effort to preserve the Papua genuine culture.

Some changes have taken place in Genyem,

Jayapura Municipality as the locals changed the pat-

tern of eating 'papeda' (sago porridge) with tofu

when originally consumed with gabus fish (kind of

freshwater fish).

Ramandey mentioned another example of the sculp-

tures which were usually made by people in Sentani,

Jayapura Municipality, are now made by sculptors

from Makassar.

Tifa, Biak traditional percussion instruments, origi-

nally had two drums instead one.

He was concerned that the members of the young

generation would not recognize their own culture in

the next few years.

Related to an art festival in Biak Numfor Municipality,

Ramandey said that the event needed a publication.

"It is a celebration of the people but many local

Papuans do not attend the festival," he said. (Antara,

26.09.08)

8. PRESIDENT INAUGURATES MAKAS-SAR'S SULTAN HASANUDDIN INTERNA-TIONAL AIRPORT

Makassar - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

inaugurated Makassar's newly-built Sultan Hasa-

nuddin International Airport here on Friday. The

president signed a plaque and uncovered the air-

port's sign board to mark the airport's official open-

ing.

On the occasion, the head of state was accompa-

nied by Transportation Minister Djusman Syafiee

Djamal, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto and

State Enterprise Minister Sofyan Djalil.

The president also toured the airport which was built

according to futuristic concepts at a total cost of

more than Rp600 billion provided entirely by PT

Angkasa Pura airport management company.

The international airport terminal began to be

contructed in 2005 and had already been fully op-

erational since August 4, 2008. The airport mostly

has glass walls and is decorated with traditional

South Sulawesi ornaments.

The international airport is located around 22 km

from Makassar City and five times larger than its

original size. The 52,000-m2 airport can accommo-

date up to eight million passengers per year.

Hasanuddin airport has been developed into an in-

ternational airport since October 30, 1994 based on

Transportation Minister's Decree No. KM 61/1994.

On March 28, 1995, the airport began to serve inter-

national flights with an initial route to Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia.

The renovated airport now has an apron measuring

78,000 m2 with 33 parking lots for various types of

planes, such as Cassas, Boeing 737s, Airbus 330s

and Boeing 747 Jumbo Jets.

Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport is consid-

ered the gate to eastern Indonesian cities, with an

average passenger growth of 15-30 percent annu-

ally. President Yudhoyono and his entourage

landed at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport on Friday morn-

ing from Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. He is sched-

uled to return to Jakarta on Friday afternoon.

(Antara, 26.09.08)

9. INDONESIA'S CORRUPTION PERCEP TION INDEX IMPROVES

Jakarta - Indonesia's Corruption Perception Index

(IPK) in 2008 has improved by about 0.3 points to


16

2.6 compared with the figure in 2007, a finance

ministry spokesman said.

Head of Human Relations Bureau of the Finance

Ministry Samsuar Said here on Friday said that the

increase in Indonesia's IPK was on a report by the

International Transparency.

According to Samsuar, the bureaucratic reforms

carried out in the directorates general of Taxation,

Customs and Excise had contributed to the im-

provement in the country's corruption perception

index.

"The improvement in the country's IPK indicated

the people's perception that the taxation and cus-

toms and excise directorate generals already had

better performance. The bureaucratic reforms also

indicated that corruption had been dealt with seri-

ously," Samsuar said.

He said that one of the indicators in the achieve-

ments of the directorate general's bureaucratic re-

forms was the implementation of its policy to

shorten the length of time used to finish the settle-

ment of goods in the main service category.

The settlement of an application for tax-payer's

number (NPWP), for example, could now be short-

ened to 1.5 hours only from the previous length

standard of one day. The issuance of tax surplus

repayment order (SPMKP) could also be finished in

8.73 days from the previous one month standard.

Applications for tax objection with previous 12

months service standard could now be lowered to

2.29 months.

Based on the result of a performance measuring in

Tanjung priok port in March 2008, it was noted that

100 percent import administration services for the

lane of priority goods could be shortcut to about 20

minutes only.

Besides, about 99.45 percent of import services

through the green lane could be finished within 30

minutes.

About 86.96 percent of import administration

through the red lane were finished in 12 hours and

30 minutes. (Antara, 26.09.08)

1. MORE THAN 3.47 MILLION TOURISTS VISIT RI UNTIL JULY

Jakarta - More than 3.47 million foreign tourists

visited Indonesia in the first seven months of this

year, up 11.43 percent from the same period last

year, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said.

In July 2008 alone, about 567,400 foreign tourists

visited the country, an increase of 7.24 percent

from July 2007, BPS Chief Rusman Heriawan said

here on Monday.

"The number of foreign tourists visiting Bali in July

2008 rose 11.05 percent from July 2007. Com-

pared to June 2008, the number of foreign tourists

visiting the resort island increased 6.96 percent to

more than 190,700," he said.

He said the room occupancy rate of star-rated ho-

tels in the country's 14 tourist destination areas in

June 2008 reached 52.37 percent, up 1.54 percent

from a month earlier.

The room occupancy rate of star-rated hotels in

Bali meanwhile rose 5.94 percent to 67.90 percent

in June 2008 from 61.96 percent in May 2008, he

said.

"On average the foreign tourists stayed at star-

rated hotels in the country's 14 tourist destinations

in June 2008 was 2.06 days, up 0.03 day from the

previous month," he said.


T O U R I S M

17

Indonesia has set itself a target of enticing 7 million

tourists this year. (Antara, 02.09.08)

2. NTB TRAVEL OPERATORS ESTABLISH LOMBOK TRAVEL CLUB

Mataram - A number of travel operators in West

Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province have established

Lombok Travel Club (LTC) with its website:

www.lomboktravelclub.com, director of PT Pasatama

Travel and Service, H Saifuddin Zuhri, said here on

Thursday.

As LTC chairman, Saifuddin Zuhri said the establish-

ment of travel club was to help the government pro-

mote the tourist industry in the province.

"One of our objective to form Lombok Travel Club is

to help the government develop and promote the

tourist industry in West Nusa Tenggara at home and

abroad," Saifuddin said.

He said the presence of LTC was expected to be

able to overcome frequent unhealthy competition

among the travel operators.

Saifuddin admitted that the travel operators fre-

quently complained about the problems related to

permit which was issued by the District and Municipal

Tourist Service. (Antara, 04.09.08)

3. JOURNALISTS FROM 14 COUNTRIES VISITING NORTH SULAWESI

Manado, N Sulawesi - Some journalists from 14 dif-

ferent countries will visit Manado, North Sulawesi

province, from October 25 to 27 for a closer look at

the city which will be hosting the first World Ocean

Conference (WOC) in May 11 to 15, 2009

"The journalists will be fully-facilitated by the Ministry

of Foreign Affairs. They are scheduled to visit Ja-

karta, Bali, and Yogyakarta," WOC secretary of the

local organizers Noldy Tuerah said here on Thurs-

day.

During the trip the journalists will be collecting infor-

mation relating to efforts and programs carried out by

the local administrations to hold international events

such as WOC Tuerah said.

He explained that the visit will be a great opportunity

to promote North Sulawesi province to the world so

that maritime nations will become interested in at-

tending the WOC after reading reports from the jour-

nalists.

The visit is expected to be a golden opportunity in

sharing the knowledge to local media people.

Tuerah said the North Sulawesi government will

continue promoting the WOC 2009 through website; www.WOC09.org.

Up until now, the website has been used by some 13,000

people, and most of them are in overseas. (Antara,

05.09.08)


18

4. VP OPTIMISTIC RI TOURISM INDUSTRY TO FARE BETTER

Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has expressed opti-

mism that the tourism industry in Indonesia will fare much

better following the recent decrease in world oil prices.

"Because world oil prices are going down, the tourism

industry in the country will certainly get better," the vice

president said at the opening of an Indonesia Tourism &

Travel mart here on Thursday.

He said the tourism industry in Indonesia would continue

to improve only if people from all walks of life and tour-

ism operators remained cohesive in making every effort to

increase the number of tourists visiting the country.

"For the first time in 30 years, our country with its abun-

dance of natural beauty, is now safe for tourists. There-

fore, our capital is already strong and although there are

shortcomings , they can be overcome through cohesive-

ness," Kalla said.

Therefore, he called on all parties engaged in the tourism

industry to remain cohesive and cooperative in promoting

the country's tourism sector at whatever cost.

Earlier, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik reported

that of seven million tourists targeted to visit Indonesia

this year, 3.5 million as of July had arrived in the country.

"We still have five more months and I am optimistic that

the target of 7 million tourists can be reached," Jero

Wacik said.

To reach the target, the culture and tourism minister said,

Garuda flight frequency from Sydney to Indonesia had

been increased.

In addition, the possibility of additional flights from Tokyo,

Beijing, Tehran, and South Kora to Indonesia was being

explored.

He said since July, Air Asia had started flying from Kuala

Lumpur, Malaysia to Makassar, South Sulawesi, and later

from Kuala Lumpur to Manadao in North Sulawesi and to

Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara.

"With the additional flight frequency, we are optimistic that

the target of 7 million tourists visit Indonesia this year can

be met," Jero Wacik said. (Antara, 11.09.08)

5. MINISTER JERO WACIK CALLS ON JAPAN TO INVEST IN INDONESIA'S TOURISM SEC-TOR

Tokyo - Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said that

there are still so few Japanese businessmen interested in

investment in Indonesia's tourism sector although the

climate has much improved.

"It's too small if compared to Japanese investment in

other sectors like energy and infrastructure," the minister

said in Tokyo on Friday after attending the opening of the

JATA Travel Fair.

He said the tourism sector was quite prospective, espe-

cially in the present global era. The activities between

people of different countries had much increasing, open-

ing up more opportunities.

The minister took as an example of the building of a golf

course mostly in Japan could also be done in some tourist

objects in Indonesia.

Jero Wacik was in Japan to promote the Visit Indonesia

Year (VIY) 2008 which because Japanese tourism busi-

ness players did not have information on Indonesian tour-

ism.

Wacik's visit to that country received great welcome from

the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) consider-

ing that Japan itself was intensifying their "Visit World

Campaign" set to target around 20 million Japanese na-

tionals (till 2010) to go out of Japan on a picnic.

In the meantime, the total value of Japanese investment

in Indonesia according to Japanese Ambassador to Indo-

nesia Kojiro Shiojiri till May 2008 had reached US$830

million. This fact was disclosed during the All Japan Co-

operation Meeting. (Antara, 20.09.08)

6. VP TO HELP ACCELERATE CONSTRUC TION OF LOMBOK INT'L AIRPORT

Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province - Vice

President Jusuf Kalla has said that he would help acceler-

ate the construction of Lombok International Airport (BIL)

to be located at Tanak Awu, Pujut sub district, Central

Lombok district.

010/ Octombrie 2008 I N D O N E S I A N E W S L E T T E R

19

"Hopefully, the Lombok International Airport could be com-

pleted by 2009 and in operation by 2010," Ibu Salim, a

spokesman of the NTB administration said here on Sun-

day.

He said that NTB Governor Zainul Majdi had met Vice

President M Jusuf Kalla to discuss about the planned con-

struction of 500-ha international airport in Central Lombok.

According to Salim, Kalla, who had visited Central Lom-

bok in July 2008, promised to discuss again about the

airport construction in November 2008 and help provide

funds amounting to Rp65 billion from the State Budget for

the international airport development.

"In our agreement with the Angkasa Pura I airport man-

agement company earlier, NTB has pledged to provide

Rp125 billion in funds which will be disbursed in stages,

and it has been approved by the NTB provincial legislative

council (DPRD)," Salim said.

The international airport could help boost foreign tourists'

visits and serve departure of NTB Hajj pilgrims to Saudi

Arabia, as well as other would-be hajj pilgrims, among

others from Bali and East Nusa Tenggara Provinces, he

said. ( Antara, 29.09.08)

7. RI'S STAND GETS TOURISM FAIR AWARD IN POLAND

Jakarta - Indonesia's stand won an award for being the

Most Original and Professional Fair Stand at an interna-

tional travel show called Warsaw Tour and Travel (TT

Warsaw), which was held from September 25 to 27, 2008.

Indonesia's stand at the largest tourism fair in East

Europe, was coordinated by the Indonesian culture and

tourism ministry in cooperation with the Indonesian em-

bassy in Warsaw, Indonesian Ambassador to Poland

Hazairin Pohan said in a press statement received by

ANTARA on Monday.

The jury at the tourism fair consisted of several Polish

journalists from the print and electronic media, the ambas-

sador said.

The award was presented to Ambassador Pohan at a gala

dinner on Friday evening (Sept. 26), which was attended

among others by Polish Deputy Minster of Sports and

Tourism Katarzyna Sobierajska. Indonesia, which is

launching the Visit Indonesia Year 2008, was a partner

country at the Warsaw Tour and Travel fair.

With the status of a partner country, Ambassador Pohan

was given an honor to deliver a speech at the opening

ceremony and held a special press conference and pres-

entation on Indonesian tourism under a theme of

"Indonesia: the Emeral of the East." Last year, Indonesia

won three awards, respectively for the Best and Most Ex-

otic Stand category at the International Silesian Tour held

at Katowice in April, the Best Presentation on Tourism and

Cultural Values at a tourism international expo held in

Opole in May, and the Most Original and Professional Fair

Stand at the 15th International Tourism Fair of TT Warsaw

Tour and Travel 2007.

"The victory of Indonesia's stand this time is significant

because we came out as the only country winning the

highest award at the largest international tourism exhibi-

tion in East Europe, despite the presence of main players

in Europe, such as Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Russia,

Grace, and Turkey, which all have performed all-out," the

ambassador said.

Indonesia's stand in the TT Warsaw 2008 was a favorite

of visitors as it presented various Indonesian traditional

food, dances and traditional music performances.

( Antara, 30.09.08)

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