Indonesia Highlights: Indonesia Targets Non-Oil and Gas Export at $180 Billion Next Year | Former Jakarta Governor Djarot Potential to Occupy Ministerial Position | Indonesia to Build Floating Solar Power Plant Worth $129 Millio

KOMPAS.com – Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Indonesia has set an optimistic target for its non-oil and gas export in 2021. The Ministry of Trade targets the non-oil and gas export to grow more than 38 percent next year.

Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto said that the target was based on some economic activities that began to improve. The minister also said that as Covid-19 vaccines have arrived early this month, the economic activity could gradually recover.

Besides, the government has signed various free trade agreements that are expected to boost exports next year.

Meanwhile, two ministerial posts – maritime affairs and fisheries and social affairs – need replacement after both ministers who were allegedly involved in different corruption cases were detained by the country’s anti-graft body.

A politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggles (PDI-P), Ahmad Basarah, said that his party has five qualified cadres to replace the former Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara who was allegedly involved in Covid-19 graft aid. Juliari is also one of the PDI-P members.

Two of the five qualified cadres include Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini and former Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, said Basarah.

Previously, Mayor Risma was offered a cabinet position by President Joko Widodo but she refused the offer. She said at that time she still loves Surabaya.

Below are excerpts from the stories in Indonesia, curated by Kompas.com editors:

1. Indonesia Targets Non-Oil and Gas Export at $180 Billion Next Year

(Dok. Biro Humas Kementerian Perdagangan) Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade has set a $180 billion target for non-oil and gas exports next year, or up 38.4 percent from $130 billion in 2020.

Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto said the optimistic target was based on the projection of economic improvement next year, as Covid-19 vaccines have arrived in Indonesia.

As the government is scheduled to begin a mass inoculation program next year, the economic activity could gradually recover after being hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The target of non-oil and gas export next year is to achieve $180 billion. And we are optimistic that we can get through the pandemic so that [the economy] can return to normal,” Agus said in a virtual press conference on Friday, December 18.

Besides, Indonesia has signed various free trade agreements that are expected to boost exports next year.

The latest one includes the Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK-CEPA), which can increase the bilateral trade between both nations.

This year, Indonesia has also signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), one of the largest trade deals that covers a third of the global economy and population.
Indonesia also signed other agreements on Indonesia–Australia CEPA, ASEAN–Hong Kong, China Free Trade, and China Investment.

Agus hoped that these various trade agreements and the support of economic recovery following the vaccination program can increase the target of non-oil and gas export in 2021.

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2020/12/18/201608326/kemendag-targetkan-ekspor-non-migas-capai-180-miliar-dollar-as-di-2021.

2. Former Jakarta Governor Djarot Potential to Occupy Ministerial Position

KOMPAS.com/KRISTIAN ERDIANTO Former Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat is among the five qualified cadres from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggles (PDI-P) who could replace the former Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggles (PDI-P) has five qualified cadres to replace the former Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara who was allegedly involved in Covid-19 graft aid.
This was said by Ahmad Basarah, one of the party’s central executive board heads, in his statement on Saturday, December 19.

Basarah said that two of the five qualified cadres include Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini and former Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat.

“I think the party’s cadres such as Tri Rismaharini, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, Eriko Sotarduga Sitorus, Sukur Nababan, and Komarudin Watubun, are among the potential figures who could be appointed as the minister of social affairs,” he said.

However, Basarah added, based on the rules of association (AD/ART), PDI-P Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri has the prerogative to propose names within the party for prospective ministers.

“Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo has the prerogative to appoint and replace Cabinet ministers,” he said.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/12/19/12030931/ketua-dpp-pdi-p-sebut-risma-hingga-djarot-potensial-jadi-mensos-gantikan.

3. Indonesia to Build Floating Solar Power Plant Worth $129 Million Next Year

Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden President Joko Widodo (left) holds a bilateral meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (right), crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces in Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi on January 12, 2020.

Indonesia will begin to build the Cirata floating solar power plant worth about $129 million in 2021 as it was formally announced in a ceremony held at the Cirata Reservoir in West Java on Thursday, December 17.

“Alhamdulillah [Praise be to God] the launch ceremony of the development for the 145 megawatts Cirata Floating Photovoltaic (PV) Power Plant in Cirata Reservoir, Cipeundeuy, in West Bandung regency has been done,” said West Java secretary Setiawan Wangsaatmaja as quoted by State News Antara on Saturday, December 19.

The power plant is developed by PT PJBI, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s state electricity company PT PLN (Persero) in a joint venture with Masdar, a United Arab Emirates-based renewable energy company. Under a consortium called PT Pembangkitan Jawa-Bali Masdar Solar Energi, PJBI owns 51 percent of the company shares, while Masdar owns a 49 percent share.

The total investment of the project in Cirata reaches about $129 million and it is under the National Strategic Project (PSN), which will be prioritized by the Indonesian government due to its economic and social benefits to the country.

“This is one of Southeast Asia’s largest solar panel projects which has a capacity of 145 megawatts. This is a truly environmentally friendly power plant,” said Setiawan.

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2020/12/19/095600726/terbesar-di-asean-plts-di-waduk-cirata-dibangun-mulai-tahun-depan?page=all#page4.