Month: January 2024

Good news was conveyed by UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) that global tourism was in a recovery condition of almost 90% as before Pandemi in the end of this 2023. According to the latest data from UNWTO, it is estimated that 975 million tourists are on an international trip between January and September 2023. The figure increased 38% when compared to the same month in 2022.
The latest data from UNWTO shows that international tourism almost fully recovered from the Covid-19 crisis that has never happened before, with many destinations that reach, or even beyond, the number of arrivals and revenues before Pandemic.
Citing the comments of the Secretary General of UNWTO Zurab Pololikashvili who said: “UNWTO’s latest data shows that international tourism is almost fully recovered. This is important for destinations, businesses, and communities where this sector is the main path of life,” said Zurab Pololikashvili.
The challenge of Indonesia’s tourism 2024, Indonesia as one of the countries that places the tourism sector as a priority sector is inseparable from the various challenges it faces. One of them is Indonesian tourist visits abroad that are still relatively high. This is based on Traveloka data which recorded an increase in foreign flight search for almost three times compared to the same period last year, so that Indonesian tourist visits will be expected to increase during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some of the causes of the high Indonesian tourists abroad are cheaper tiek aircraft prices, more attractive tour package promotional programs, and gensi or want to find a new atmosphere.
According to Taufan Rahmadi, Indonesian Tourism Strategy Expert, Indonesia faces other challenges are: 1) Increasing foreign tourist visits to Indonesia; 2) resolving the problem of the high transportation of air transportation to tourist destinations in Indonesia; 3) partiality of the local government towards tourism and the creative economy; 4) Improving the quality of tourist destination services; 5) Increasing the development of tourism infrastructure and creative economy; 6) Improving the quality of Tourism HR and Creative Economy; 7) Improvement of Big Data of Indonesian Tourism.
The challenge points described above require serious efforts from all parties, especially the Ministry of Tourism and the Creative Economy in working on the relevant parties, both ministries and other institutions to ensure work targets in the tourism sector as expected by President Joko Widodo can be achieved.

December 31, 2023, detikTravel
(https://travel.detik.com/travel-news/d-7116988/kondisi-pariwisata-global-di-2023-dan-tantangan-pariwisata-indonesia-di-2024)

Harita Nickel through its business unit PT Halmahera Persada Lygend (PT HPL) which is a business affiliate company from PT Trimegah Bangun Persada Tbk. (NCKL) has inaugurated the operation of the first nickel sulfate production in Indonesia and the largest in the world.
Nickel sulfate is the main ingredient constituent of an electric vehicle battery cathode precursor. The inauguration of the Nickel Sulfate production operation with a capacity of 240,000 tons per year was carried out in the Harita Nickel operational area on Obi Island, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province, Wednesday (5/31).
Director of PT. Halmahera Persada Lygend, Tonny H. Gultom said, Harita Nickel through PT HPL in collaboration with Lygend Resources Technology Co., Ltd, produced Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) as a raw material for electric vehicle batteries. The nickel sulfate factory, which was established on Obi Island, is claimed to be the first factory in Indonesia to produce it as well as being the largest in the world in terms of production capacity. The first export of nickel sulfate is planned to be carried out in June 2024.
“In the case of NISO4 production capacity, the Company will continue to improve and increase its capacity to reach 240,000 metric tons/year with a metal nickel content of 54,000 tons/year and is targeted to be achieved in mid-Q2 in 2024,” Tonny said in a written statement on Thursday (1/6).
Tonny revealed, on this mineral-rich Obi Island, his party would build an integrated mining industry from upstream to downstream. Starting from mining in 2010 through PT Trimegah Bangun Persada Tbk, Harita Nickel has done what is the mandate of the government about the spirit of downstreaming.
Since 2015, Harita Nickel has downstreaming through high levels of nickel processing through PT Megah Surya Pertiwi with 4 ferronickel production lines. “In 2018 we began to build downstreaming the processing of low-level nickel limonite which had been treated as over-burden (residual rocks) mixed hydroide precipitate,” said Tonny.
The downstream industry officially operated in June 2021 through the affiliation of PT Halmahera Persada Lygend. Furthermore, another Harita Nickel subsidiary, PT Halmahera Jaya Feronikel (PT HJF) in the first semester of 2023, has completed the construction of ferronickel smelters with 8 production lines. “The spirit of downstreaming is integrated in the form of a business road map, which to this day is proud and gratitude, holding hands with our partners from Lygend Resources Technology Co., Ltd., has succeeded Tonny.
Meanwhile Zhang Bao Dong, Director of PT Halmahera Persada Lygend who is also a representative of Lygend Resources Technology Co., Ltd. said, Lygend was very proud to work with Harita Group and produced a HPAL factory to its derivatives, Nickel Sulfat.
“We hope that in the future Harita and Lygend will jointly build the downstreaming industry in order to have a sustainable economic impact,” Zhang said.

December 28, 2023, CNBC Indonesia
(https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/market/20231228153217-17-500990/ri-resmi-punya-pabrik-nikel-sulfat-pertama-terbesar-di-dunia)

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail operator PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) has recorded over a million passengers after more than two months of operation. KCIC president director Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi said the number of passengers reflected the public’s desire for efficient public transportation.
“Reaching 1 million passengers in just two months is evidence of the high demand for modern and dependable public transportation in Indonesia,” Dwiyana said in a statement on Tuesday as quoted by Antara News.
Dwiyana said there had been a positive response toward Whoosh, citing that the average occupancy rate of passengers had consistently reached 90 percent of the total available seats for each train. The highest number of passengers served in a single day on Whoosh was 21,500 passengers, including during the current year-end holiday. On Nov. 12, the number of passengers was 21,312 passengers.
“The KCIC will continue to deliver a top-notch service to ensure that Whoosh remains the preferred choice for individuals traveling between Jakarta and Bandung,” he said.
According to Dwiyana, passenger surveys indicated that 48 percent of Whoosh users were private car users. Dwiyana suggested that the introduction of Whoosh had supported the government’s initiative to transition people from private transportation to a safer and more environmentally friendly public transportation system.
Dwiyana also highlighted the smooth operation of the Whoosh, highlighting that there had been zero accidents since it first operated. “the KCIC is thankful to all Whoosh passengers, and this serves as motivation for us to continue providing the best service to the community,” he said.
Furthermore, Dwiyana disclosed that the KCIC is currently expanding the number of trips from 40 to up to 48 trips per day to accommodate the expected increase in demand during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
“These additional trains are to meet the needs of passengers in anticipation of a surge during the Christmas-New Year period. The KCIC is prepared for the growing number of passengers wanting to go on vacation,” he added.

December 26, 2023, The Jakarta Post
(https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2023/12/26/whoosh-records-1-million-passengers.html)

The Ministry of Industry revealed that Indonesia is in the top 10 contributors to world manufacturing products. Indonesia is the only ASEAN country on the list issued by safeguardglobal.com. Based on this publication, Indonesia contributes 1.4% to global manufactured products. This achievement is a significant increase because four years ago Indonesia was still in 16th position.
“This is an increase in level because this year we are in the top 10 category. Indonesia is the largest manufacturing powerhouse in ASEAN,” said Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in a written statement, Thursday (21/12/2023).
Agus explained that the increase in ranking indicated that the manufacturing sector had a multiplier effect on other sectors. As an illustration, with increasing industrial output, the transportation sector will also increase, as will the energy, agricultural, plantation and maritime sectors which are sources of raw materials and production input factors for the manufacturing sector.
Indonesia’s position in the ranks of world manufacturing is strengthened by the value of industrial output which continues to increase in the period 2020 to September 2023. In 2020 the value of industrial output was claimed to be recorded at US$ 210.4 billion, increasing to US$ 228.32 billion in 2021 and increasing again to US $ 241.87 billion in 2022. Until September 2023, the value of industrial output will reach around US $ 192.54 billion. The increasing competitiveness of the industrial sector in Indonesia is also supported by investment realization, both from Domestic Investment and Foreign Investment. Investment in the manufacturing industry sector is claimed to continue to show an increase from IDR 213.4 trillion in 2020, to IDR 307.6 trillion in 2021, then reaching IDR 457.6 trillion in 2022.
“In January to September 2023, investment in the manufacturing sector has been recorded at IDR 413 trillion,” explained Agus.
Manufacturing industrial products have been proven to penetrate the export market, as shown by the dominance of the manufacturing industrial sector in total Indonesian exports. Manufacturing industry exports, which in 2020 were recorded at US$ 131.09 billion, increased to US$ 177.2 billion in 2021. In 2022, the manufacturing industry export figure reached US$ 206.06 billion or an increase of 16.29% from the previous year’s achievement. . Meanwhile, in January-November 2023, the figure will reach US$ 171.23 billion.
The productivity of the manufacturing sector is also claimed to have succeeded in opening up more job opportunities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of workers was 17.49 million, then gradually increased to 18.19 million in 2021 and 18.90 million in 2022. Most recently, data from Sakernas for August 2023 showed that the number of workers in the non-oil and gas processing industry sector was 19 .29 million workers.
Then the Indonesian Manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index, which for 27 consecutive months continues to be at the expansion level. This shows that the performance of the Indonesian manufacturing sector is stable, even though the global economy has not yet stabilized, it can maintain the perception of industry players regarding their business conditions.
“This shows the stable condition of Indonesia’s manufacturing sector. Until now there are only two countries in the world, namely India and Indonesia, which are in this position,” explained Agus.

December 21, 2023, detikFinance
(https://finance.detik.com/industri/d-7102602/top-ri-masuk-10-besar-penyumbang-produk-manufaktur-dunia)

Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (Pertamina NRE) and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Incorporated (TEPCO HD) This signing took place on Friday (12/15) in Tokyo, Japan by Dannif Danusaputro Chief Executive Officer Pertamina NRE and Chikara Kojima, Executive Vice President of TEPCO HD. The signing also coincided with the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) activities.
This agreement clarifies the structure and schedule of collaboration activities that will be carried out further and stipulates that Pertamina NRE and TEPCO HD will work together for the first phase of projects, which are scheduled to start rolling in 2024. Pertamina NRE and TEPCO HD are preparing for the construction of hydrogen production facilities that are located In the Lahendong Geothermal Power Plant owned by PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk, a subsidiary of Pertamina NRE, located in North Sulawesi.
Previously on October 18, 2022, Pertamina NRE and TEPCO HD signed a joint study agreement for the development of hydrogen and green ammonia in the geothermal area of Lahendong, North Sulawesi. The joint study conducted by the two entities received support from Nedo, the Japanese National Research and Development Institute that encouraged the development of technology in order to build a sustainable community life.
“Clean hydrogen is one of Pertamina’s future businesses. We are very enthusiastic in collaborating with TEPCO as a global reputable partner for the development of green hydrogen and Green Ammonia. We are sure this collaboration will create significant values, especially in the efforts of energy transition and decarbonization,” said Dannif Danusaputro.
Chikara Kojima, Executive Vice President of TEPCO HD, said, “TEPCO HD has been producing hydrogen in Yamanashi’s prefecture since 2016 with a very up-to-date technological experience. We are very happy that our technology can be useful for decarbonization initiatives in Indonesia. Moreover, we work together with Pertamina NRE, a leading green energy company in Southeast Asia.
Hydrogen in this case is produced from the electrolysis process. Included in clean hydrogen include green renewable energy hydrogen such as geothermal. Clean hydrogen has a strategic role in energy transitions which can be a solution to fossil fuel for industries that are difficult to decarbonize products or production processes (hard-to-abate industry), such as oil refineries, steel industries, other heavy industries, and transportation heavy.
Pretamina NRE and TEPCO HD aim to contribute to the neutral carbon society by utilizing Indonesia’s abundant geothermal resources for hydrogen and ammonia production that is cost-effective and profitable.
Clean hydrogen development is one of the Pertamina NRE portfolios which is included in the future business pillars. The development of clean hydrogen will help Pertamina in monetizing its energy portfolio. Pertamina NRE also consistently shows the real commitment and action in supporting the decarbonization. Decarbonization efforts are part of the Net Zero Emission road map as well as a form of Pertamina’s commitment to implement ESG, which is running a responsible and sustainable business.
Pertamina as a leader company in the field of energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuing to encourage programs that have a direct impact on the achievements of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). All of these efforts are in line with the application of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) throughout Pertamina’s business line and operations.

December 17, 2023, detikFinance
(https://finance.detik.com/energi/d-7094069/pertamina-gandeng-jepang-buat-kembangkan-hidrogen-dan-amonia-rendah-karbon)

Indonesia has recorded twenty special economic areas. The twenty Special Economic Zone that operated successfully recorded success and contributed to the cumulative investment achievement until the IV quarter of 2023 of IDR 167.2 trillion and was able to open a new job of 113,038 people in a cumulative manner.
This was revealed by the Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs as Plt. Secretary General of the Special Economic Zone National Council Susiwijono Moegiarso in the National Economic Zone National Working Meeting at Sheraton Belitung Resort located in the Special Economic Zone Tanjung Kelayang, Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, Tuesday (12/12/2023).
Susiwijono revealed that the Special Economic Zone is still able to sustain the Indonesian economy, indicated by various positive economic zone achievements ranging from the application of downstreaming, investment realization, to the addition of a significant number of business actors and employment.
“With the strengthening of the policies that apply in the Special Economic Zone that presents certainty, clarity, and ease of policy implementation, it is expected to improve the quality of the investment climate in the Special Economic Zone and encourage the increasing number of investors to enter the Special Economic Zone Indonesia, especially foreign investment,” said Susiwijono.
In the future, the central government, regional governments, and business actors will evaluate and formulate strategies to improve the performance of special economic zones to support national economic growth.
The implementation of the Special Economic Zone 2023 National Working Meeting at the Tanjung Kelayang Special Economic Zone became a forum for a Special Economic Zone stakeholder from all corners of Indonesia, including representatives.

December 13, 2023, CNBC Indonesia
(https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20231213143932-4-496943/jreng-total-investasi-20-kek-di-ri-capai-rp-167-t)

President Joko Widodo had made a national statement at the 2030 World Climate Action Summit (WCAS) which became a series of COP 28 UNFCCC agenda. On that occasion, Jokowi had delivered Indonesia’s achievements related to climate and the environment.
In the event, Jokowi had said that Indonesia had and continued to work hard to reach Net Zero Emission in 2060 or earlier as well as enjoying high economic growth, poverty, and inequality continued to be significantly reduced, as well as employment that continued to be created. Jokowi also emphasized that with all the limitations, Indonesia continued to reduce carbon emissions.
Jokowi said, in the midst of existing limitations, Indonesia has now also succeeded in reducing 42 percent emissions during 2020-2022. This has become one of the achievements that cannot be achieved by many countries in the world.
Other achievements in reducing carbon emissions, Indonesia also succeeded in optimizing the management of Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) management. In addition, Indonesia continues to move to accelerate the transition of energy towards Renewable New Energy.
“In the case of Folu, Indonesia continues to maintain and expand mangrove forests and rehabilitate forests and land. Deforestation has also been successfully reduced at the lowest point in the last 20 years. The COP28 Climate Summit was held not as a place for ambition performances, but rather strengthened the implementation of each country,” Jokowi said Quoted from 20 seconds, Friday (12/8/2023).
Submitting the national statement made by Jokowi also reaped praise. He received appreciation from other countries. Jokowi also received appreciation in several forums related to the achievement of decreased emissions, particularly related to mangrove restoration and deforestation. For the first time, the delivery of COP UNFCCC National Statement was carried out in two separate rooms, with an audience divided into two. In addition, various side events and bilateral meetings were attended by delegates at the same time.
Then, in the delivery of National Statement in the Al Ghafat Plenary Room, Dubai City Expo, Dubai, Arab Emirates Association (PEA), last Friday (1/12), only the Head of State can enter together with two companions. The Indonesian delegation was only attended by Jokowi accompanied by the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, and Deputy Foreign Minister, Pahala Mansury.
Related to information that says there is another delegation that does walk-out is not true at all. Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, explained that he and the Deputy Minister were present on all Jokowi’s agenda.
“International recognition to Indonesia is very positive. Likewise at bilateral meetings, which, Secretary General of the United Nations and Norway Prime Minister also appreciated the Progress of the Republic of Indonesia in the active initiative and the progress of climate action reduces emissions, especially in mangrove restoration as well as a reduction Last year until now, “said Siti.

December 7, 2023, detikNews
(https://news.detik.com/berita/d-7078518/jokowi-cop28-harus-jadi-ajang-perkuat-implementasi-bukan-ambisi)
(https://news.detik.com/berita/d-7076356/jokowi-dipuji-dunia-di-cop28-unfcc-terkait-capaian-ri)

PT PLN (Persero) and Subholding, PLN Nusantara Power (PLN NP) strengthened cooperation with Masdar, an energy company from the United Arab Emirates for the development of new and renewable energy in Indonesia. After successfully building Cirata Floating Solar Power Plant, PLN Nusantara Power together with Masdar agreed to study the potential to increase the capacity of the environmentally friendly power plant. In addition, PLN and Masdar also signed an MoU to explore the development of the energy business for the international market.
The agreement between PLN-Masdar and PLN NP-Masdar was signed on the sidelines of the Climate Change Conference of the National Unity of the Nation or COP28 in Dubai, UAE Saturday (2/12) with the Ambassador of the UAE for Indonesia Abdulla Salem Aldhahari and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the Law, Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei. Abdulla Salem Aldhaheri said that the MoU between PLN and Masdar was a continuation of bilateral cooperation between UAE and Indonesia. Especially for important sectors such as the development of new and renewable energy in Indonesia and exploration of energy business development for the international market.
“As we all know, this is a continuation of the good relations between the United Arab and Indonesia Emirates. The signing of this MoU is evidence of the importance of the EBT sector for us,” Aldhahahi said.
Meanwhile PLN Managing Director Darmawan Prasodjo explained, this collaboration would strengthen bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the UAE. Furthermore, PLN together with Masdar hopes to continue his collaboration to increase new and renewable energy at the local and global levels. Darmawan also said that through the cooperation carried out between PLN NP and Masdar, it would review the exploration of the addition of installed capacity for Cirata Floating Solar Power Plant. This opportunity is very open considering that currently only 4% of the maximum 20% surface area of the lake is utilized.
“We will design a stable electrical system. We also build smart grids with Flexible Generation, Smart Control Center and Smart Distribution so that all can be handled, and this project can run well,” added Darmawan.
For information, Cirata Floating Solar Power Plant is the largest floating solar power plant in Southeast Asia, President Joko Widodo was inaugurated last November. As the largest floating solar power plant in Southeast Asia, Cirata Floating Solar Power Plant has a number of advantages.
First, cooperating with local experts, companies in the field of Electrification and Automation ABB succeeded in installing, testing, and operating Switchgear Primary Air Improvement of Medium Voltage (MV) In the first stage of the project which has a capacity of 192 Megawatt Peak (MWP) or nearly 30 times the capacity of the largest ‘floating fields’ in Europe is Alqueva Reservoir, Portugal.
Second, the anchor and mooring used in the Cirata Dam which reaches a depth of 100 meters is the deepest in the world. The existence of Cirata Floating Solar Power Plant is expected to avoid 214,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.
Third, Cirata Floating Solar Power Plant employs more than 1,400 local residents during the construction process, and records more than 2 million working hours without accidents.

December 4, 2023, detikFinance
(https://finance.detik.com/energi/d-7072302/di-cop28-dubai-pln-dan-masdar-jajaki-ekspansi-plts-terapung-cirata)
(https://finance.detik.com/energi/d-7082022/ri-punya-plts-terapung-terbesar-di-asia-tenggara-ini-keunggulannya)