Month: January 2025

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Vietnam’s Xanh SM Electric Taxi Supports Eco-Friendly Tourism in Indonesia

Vietnamese electric mobility service provider, Xanh SM, is present in Jakarta to answer the need for environmentally friendly transportation. Xanh SM offers a pollution-free travel experience in Indonesia with a fleet of sophisticated electric vehicles. Global GSM CEO, Nguyen Van Thanh stated that the growth of environmentally friendly tourism shows a significant change that can be seen in people’s mobility when traveling. According to him, tourists, including in Indonesia, are starting to look for alternative environmentally friendly transportation to travel.

“People want transportation that is in line with increasing environmental awareness. In the midst of this trend, electric taxis are the main choice with vehicles that are quiet, emission-free, and have sophisticated technology,” he said as quoted on Friday (12/27/2024).

Thanh said that for tourists, transportation is more than just a means to get to a destination. The noise of conventional vehicle engines and the smell of fuel often reduce comfort, especially in quiet tourist locations.

“On the other hand, electric taxis move with minimal noise and odor, maintaining the tranquility and beauty of the surrounding environment. He emphasized that the VinFast Limogreen fleet from Xanh SM which was recently launched in Jakarta is able to create a comfortable atmosphere that allows passengers to fully enjoy their journey and the environment around them.” he said.

Furthermore, Thanh explained that the company’s philosophy is reflected in the “5 Green Promises” which include a commitment to premium services. Among them are impressive experiences, professional drivers, high-quality vehicles, affordable prices, and a commitment to environmental sustainability.

“These principles are not just idealism, but also real features of the service. Starting from clean and odor-free trips to safety measures implemented through rigorous driver training and a sophisticated management system. Xanh SM sets a new standard for environmentally friendly urban mobility. Xanh SM’s mission is in line with Indonesia’s sustainability target, which is to achieve zero emissions by 2060. We are fully committed to leading the electrification of global transportation to support the achievement of this goal,” he explained.

According to him, Xanh SM in Jakarta is a step towards a greener and more sustainable urban mobility transformation. With a growing electric fleet network, Jakarta shows its commitment as an environmentally friendly city.

Deputy for Investment Climate Development Riyatno also appreciated Xanh SM in providing environmentally friendly vehicles. “Green services such as Xanh SM play an important role in reducing emissions, improving air quality and supporting the goal of a low-carbon sustainable economy while driving economic and environmental progress,” he said.

December 27, 2024, CNBC Indonesia

(https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20241227172725-4-599133/taksi-listrik-xanh-sm-dukung-pariwisata-ramah-lingkungan-di-ri)

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Indonesia Exports Thousands of Tons of Fish to US-Australia

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) continues to export fish during the Christmas and New Year holidays. The Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Control and Supervision Agency in Denpasar, Bali, during the period of December 20-25, 2024, successfully delivered 1,035 tons of fishery products to the global market. Head of the KKP Quality Agency Ishartini said that thousands of fishery products were sent to the United States, China, Taiwan, and Australia.

“In those five days, we have issued 167 Health Certificates (HC) so that business actors can still export during the Christmas period,” he said in an official KKP broadcast, quoted Friday (12/27/2024).

In order to ensure the acceptance of fishery products in the destination country for export, Ishartini ensured that as of January 1, 2025, the KKP Quality Agency as quality assurance will implement the format of the Fishery Product Quality and Safety Certificate or SMKHP. The certificate is in accordance with Permenkp Number 33 of 2024 concerning the Export of Fishery Products from the Territorial Area of ​​Indonesia

“As of January 1, SMKHP has been in effect and we have coordinated with various export destination countries, this is proof of the quality assurance of Indonesian products,” explained Ishartini.

For information, the Quality Inspector of the KKP Quality Agency is also alert in supervising the quality and safety of fishery products traded in the domestic market, through sampling and Organoleptic testing and formalin testing. This is to ensure that the quality of Indonesian fishery products can be accepted globally.

December 27, 2024, detikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-7705433/jelang-pergantian-tahun-ri-ekspor-ribuan-ton-ikan-ke-as-australia)

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Indonesia Officially Becomes BRICS Partner

Indonesia is one of 9 countries approved to join as a partner of the BRICS economic bloc, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This was conveyed by the Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning in a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday (24/12). Mao Ning said at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, the leaders of the BRICS countries had reached an important consensus regarding the establishment of a partner country mechanism. This is a milestone for the economic bloc in the development of BRICS after the expansion of membership last year.

“After the summit, China has been actively working with Russia, the BRICS chair country this year, to be able to implement the mechanism with other BRICS countries. The list of BRICS partner countries that were finally approved (to join) includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Uganda,” said Mao Ning as quoted from the website of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Gambia, Friday (27/12/2024).

With the addition of BRICS partner countries, Mao Ning hopes that cooperation between members can be closer and higher. Mao Ning assessed that BRICS has a larger representation. In addition, BRICS has a role to expand solidarity and cooperation between developing countries.

“China is ready to work with BRICS members and other partner countries to follow the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and mutually beneficial cooperation, expand practical cooperation in various fields. In addition, we are also ready to advance the development of better and high-quality BRICS cooperation and promote the building of a community with a shared future,” added Mao Ning.

Previously, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono said that Indonesia received support from China to join the international organization. Sugiono said that the support was discussed in a bilateral meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

BRICS is a group of developing countries consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This group was formed to strengthen economic, political and cultural cooperation between its member countries, as well as to increase their influence in the global arena. Before Indonesia, there were Malaysia and Thailand who had joined first as BRICS partners.

December 27, 2024, detikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-7705684/indonesia-disetujui-bergabung-jadi-mitra-brics)

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Indonesia Secures IDR 120 Trillion Investment Commitment from China

Minister of Investment and Downstream/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Rosan Perkasa Roeslani continued his meeting with 8 companies during his visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on 18-20 December 2024. The meeting is claimed to have succeeded in recording new investment commitments of US$ 7.46 billion or IDR 120 trillion.

“Several meetings held in Hangzhou, Quzhou and Beijing have succeeded in recording a total new investment commitment of US$ 7.46 billion or equivalent to IDR 120 trillion,” said Rosan in a written statement, Monday (12/23/2024).

Meeting with Geely Auto Group: a meeting at the Geely Auto Group production facility discussed potential investments in the development of the automotive industry in Indonesia. One of the leading global automotive manufacturers is said to have committed to collaborating on the assembly of the electric car industry with Indonesian companies.

Meeting with Zhenshi Holding Group Co Ltd: The second company visited was Zhenshi Holding Group Co Ltd which has invested in several nickel smelting projects, including in North Maluku and Morowali. Its subsidiary, Jushi Group, is one of the largest fiberglass producers in the world. Jushi Group plans to make a new investment of US$ 1 billion (first phase) in the fiberglass industry, with an estimated workforce absorption of 4,500 people.

Meeting with Wankai New Materials (Zhink Group): The third meeting with Wankai New Materials which is part of Zhink Group. The meeting was to discuss investment interest in the petrochemical derivative industry sector. The total investment plan reaches US$ 1 billion which will be carried out in three stages. Zhink Group itself is the 3rd largest PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) producer in China and the 5th largest in the world.

Meeting with Hongshi Holding Group: The fourth meeting with Hongshi Holding Group which plans to develop an industrial area that will produce silicon, polysilicon (raw material for solar panels), batteries and their components, and a 2 gigawatt Steam Power Plant (PLTU). The plan is that the construction of this new investment worth US$ 5 billion will be carried out in stages.

Meeting with Huayou Holding Group: Huayou’s investment development in Indonesia is said to be quite large with a total of 15 projects and a total of 20,000 employees. Huayou is working with several domestic partners including Antam, MIND ID, Merdeka Battery Materials and Vale Indonesia. Currently, Huayou’s project locations are spread across three main locations, namely Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park, and Indonesia Pomalaa Industry Park. In the future, it will be developed in Sorowako and Buli. Huayou’s total investment in Indonesia is said to have reached US$ 6.3 billion and has succeeded in integrating smelter mining, refining and precursors.

Meeting with CEEC, CITIC and Zhuhai Hongwan Ocean Fisheries: The first meeting with China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) discussed investment potential in the new and renewable energy (EBT) sector, especially related to the utilization of offshore wind resources in Indonesia. The meeting with CITIC discussed potential cooperation in several government programs, including supporting the construction of 3 million houses per year, food security through increasing rice and corn productivity, and energy security through revitalizing oil wells. The meeting with Zhuhai Hongwan Ocean Fisheries, which stated that it would cooperate with local partners to develop investment in the fisheries sector in eastern Indonesia with a total investment of US$ 460 million.

December 23, 2024, detikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/industri/d-7699270/ri-kantongi-komitmen-investasi-rp-120-t-dari-china-ada-pemilik-volvo)

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Indonesia Tourism Outlook 2025: Challenges Towards 8% GDP Target

Indonesia has set an ambitious economic growth target of 8% in the 2025-2029 period. In an effort to support this vision, the tourism sector is expected to become one of the main pillars. To what extent are the targets and steps currently formulated sufficient to ensure that tourism becomes a significant contributor to national economic growth?

In the draft document of the National Medium-Term Development Plan which is planned to be announced in 2025, the target contribution of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the tourism sector to national GDP will gradually increase, from 4.6% in 2025 to 5% in 2029. On the other hand, the foreign exchange target from this sector is also set at USD 32 billion in 2029. Although it seems realistic, this challenge is still much lower compared to Indonesia’s neighboring countries such as Vietnam, for example, which has set the contribution of tourism to their National GDP to be above 15%, the Philippines 8.6%, and Thailand 7.24%. The latest data shows that the number of foreign tourists in Indonesia is at 13 million per year with an average expenditure of USD 1,200 per tourist, generating foreign exchange of around USD 15.6 billion. To reach USD 32 billion in 2029, an increase in visits of up to 20 million foreign tourists per year with an average expenditure of USD 1,600 is needed.

The figure of USD 32 billion in tourism foreign exchange in 2029 shows that this sector must move much more aggressively than its current performance. However, when compared to the foreign exchange needs of the tourism sector to support economic growth of 8%, which is around IDR 3,741 trillion (or around USD 250 billion) over five years, the contribution of tourism based on the target set by the Ministry of Tourism above still seems relatively small. The Main Challenges of Indonesian Tourism are as follows:

1. Recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic: Diversification of tourism products is the key to recovery, especially in increasing global competitiveness while continuing to focus on strengthening the domestic market.

2. Unequal Distribution of Tourists: Bali dominates with 45% of international visits, while Maluku and Papua only receive less than 3% of tourists. This imbalance exacerbates the potential risk of overtourism in Bali and hinders the development of alternative destinations. The government needs to improve infrastructure and promotion in other regions of Indonesia such as Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua.

3. Improving the Quality of Tourism Human Resources

As many as 60% of tourism workers have not been trained according to international standards. Lack of foreign language skills, such as Mandarin and English, is an obstacle in serving the global market. Investment in training and certification is an urgent strategic step.

4. Digitalization of Tourist Destinations

Digitalization has only covered 40% of tourism MSMEs, while Bali has reached 75%. Business actors in the regions need to be supported with technology training to improve operational efficiency and access to international markets.

5. Lack of Inter-Regional Connectivity

Only 35% of priority tourism areas have adequate transportation access. Eastern Indonesia, such as Sulawesi, Papua and Maluku, for example, still need improved connectivity to strengthen the development of new destinations.

6. Lack of Tourism Product Diversification

As many as 70% of foreign tourists only visit Bali. Culinary, health and event-based tourism have not been optimally developed. Product innovations such as ecotourism and historical tourism, religious tourism must be strengthened to attract a wider market.

7. Tourist Safety and Comfort

Indonesia is ranked 50th in the world tourism security index. Law enforcement and training of tourism police personnel are crucial steps to provide a sense of security in tourist destinations and reduce the risk of naughty tourists disturbing order.

8. Digital Transformation of MSMEs

Only 40% of MSMEs utilize digital platforms, while 80% of international tourists rely on technology for travel decisions. Digital transformation training needs to be prioritized.

December 23, 2024, CNBC Indonesia

(https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/opini/20241223070226-14-598032/outlook-pariwisata-indonesia-2025-25-tantangan-menuju-target-pdb-8)