Indonesia Highlights: Jokowi Inaugurates Tukul Dam in Indonesia’s East Java | Indonesia Provides Stimulus Programs for SMEs This Year | Indonesia Increases its Railway Transportation Subsidy to $243 M

KOMPAS.com – Pacitan regency in Indonesia’s East Java records a poverty rate of a little over 14 percent, one of the poor areas in the country.

However, with the newly-built dam that has a capacity of 8.7 million cubic meters, the villagers could benefit from it. The reservoir aims to improve the irrigation system, water supply and control the flood.

Meanwhile, the government through its Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry will be transforming its SMEs from the informal to the formal sector.

Below are the editors’ picks stories published on Kompas.com:

Jokowi Inaugurates Tukul Dam in Indonesia’s East Java

Dok. Biro Komunikasi Publik Kementerian PUPR An aerial view of the Tukul Dam in Pacitan regency, East Java.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Sunday inaugurated the Tukul Dam in Pacitan regency, East Java, aiming at improving irrigation, water supply, and controlling the flood.

“With a capacity of 8.7 million cubic meters, the flow rate will reach 300 liters per second and will be used for the benefit of the people in Pacitan regency,” Jokowi said.

Besides, the reservoir could also provide an irrigation system for 600 hectares of rice fields.

The president expressed hope that the dam, which started to be developed in 2015, could become an important infrastructure in strengthening food and water security.

He called on the local governments to make the best use of the reservoir.

“So that it could provide added value, benefits for the people, increase agricultural production, and facilitate the supply of clean water,” he said.

Six other dams in East Java are still underway.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/02/14/12355601/resmikan-bendungan-tukul-di-pacitan-jokowi-bisa-untuk-keuntungan-masyarakat?page=all.

Indonesia Provides Stimulus Programs for SMEs This Year

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO An illustration of small-medium enterprises products.

Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry have provided several stimulus programs to revive the country’s economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have made some preparations and adjustments to the current development in the micro small medium enterprises, including our organizational structure,” said the ministry’s secretary Arif Rahman Hakim in a statement on Saturday, February 13.

This can be done by transforming SME players from informal to formal sector and promoting the local SMEs to contribute to the national export activities. The ministry has increased its export target from 14 percent to 15.12 percent.

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/02/13/185755126/kemenkop-ukm-siapkan-sejumlah-stimulus-untuk-umkm-pada-2021.

Indonesia Increases its Railway Transportation Subsidy to $243 Million

Kompas.com/Wisang Seto Pangaribowo A file photo of Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi distributes masks to train passengers in Yogyakarta.

Transportation Ministry increases this year’s railway subsidy for economy class of 3.4 trillion rupiahs ($243 million), or up 30.7 percent from 2.6 trillion rupiahs ($185.8 million) in the previous year.

This was marked by the signing of a contract for the Implementation of Public Service Obligation (PSO) for Train Passengers in the Economy Class between the Transportation Ministry and the state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI on Sunday, February 14.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi expressed hoped that the subsidies provided by the government can be utilized by KAI properly so that it will bring benefits to the public.
As many people use trains, the government called for KAI to provide their best services, including the implementation of the health protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/02/14/180800326/anggaran-subsidi-angkutan-kereta-api-naik-jadi-rp-3-4-triliun-di-2021.