Indonesia Highlights: Jakarta’s DPRD Wants Rp 888B in 2021 Budget | December Holiday Dates Expected for Monday | Sidoarjo Could Become a Halal Industry Zone

Jokowi explained that the preference is to avoid an overly long holiday that could contribute to the high-levels of new Covid-19 infections in the country.

Earlier this year, the government made the decision to replace the Eid ul-Fitr holidays on May 26-29 for Dec. 28-31, 2020.

Spokesperson for the National Covid-19 Taskforce, Wiku Adisasmito concurred that a long holiday will contribute to more Covid-19 confirmed cases national as evidenced by the holidays in August.

The recent debate over Indonesia’s public holidays for December 2020 and the Indonesian President’s concerns come as the country experience another spike in Covid-19 cases from the long holiday break in October.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/11/27/17280701/senin-presiden-akan-putuskan-soal-libur-akhir-tahun?page=all#page2 

3. Sidoarjo Becomes a Potential Site of Indonesia’s Halal Industry Zone

Around 148 hectares of land is being prepped by the East Java Provincial Government to develop the Sidoarjo Regency as Indonesia’s Halal Industry Zone.

East Java Governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa explained that the region’s Halal culinary potential is abundant thus it would be a waste to not optimize it.

She further stated that Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world in which East Java is home to numerous Islamic boarding schools.

Indonesia’s Halal Industry Zone aims to cover various sectors such as food and beverages and cosmetics.

Khofifah shared that plans to develop the zone have been passed on to the Chairman of the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board, Bahlil Lahadalia.

East Java joins Batang and Subang which are also being considered as Indonesia’s Halal Industry Zone.

Source: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/11/27/21284301/lahan-148-hektare-di-sidoarjo-disiapkan-untuk-kawasan-industri-halal