PT Pindad Ready to Produce Advanced Bombs for French Fighter Jets

State-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad will produce sophisticated bombs for the Rafale fighter aircraft. Pindad plans to cooperate with the French company Safran Electronics and Defense. The cooperation was carried out for the production of the MK-82 bomb which supports the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) Smart Bomb. This sophisticated bomb will later be used in Rafale fighter aircraft. Pindad plays a role in producing the bodies and contents of explosives for bombs.

“PT Pindad has the ability to develop products and also produce the MK-82 used in the Rafale, which is one of the factors that we collaborate with Safran, a manufacturer that has a high reputation in the defense sector with its smart guided bomb,” said the Director of Technology and Development of Pindad, Sigit Santosa in his statement, Thursday (14/4/2022).

Indonesia and France have established strong defense cooperation. On February 10, 2022, Indonesia officially purchased 42 units of French Rafale fighter aircraft. The signing of the acquisition contract for 42 new generation Rafale aircraft was carried out in the presence of the French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly and the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto.

April 14, 2022, detikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/industri/d-6033604/top-banget-pindad-siap-produksi-bom-canggih-buat-jet-tempur-prancis)

Indonesia Stock Exchange: GoTo Becomes the First Decacorn Listed on the Asian Exchange

PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) today. GoTo became the first decacorn to be listed on the Asian exchange. IDX Director of Corporate Valuation, I Gede Nyoman Yetna said GoTo was also the 15th company listed on the IDX this year, and the 781st overall.

“GoTo will become the 15th listed company in 2022 and 781 on the stock exchange at this time. The listing of GoTo shares is highly anticipated, becoming an important milestone for both the company and the capital market industry. Indonesia’s largest digital market and able to raise IDR 13.7 trillion and market capitalization IDR 400 trillion. This makes GoTo a technology company with a decacorn valuation level and is the first decacorn to be successfully listed on Asian exchanges.” said Nyoman at a press conference, Monday (11/4/2022).

IDX hopes that GoTo can maintain transparency and accountability after becoming a public company. “The exchange hopes that GoTo will soon realize its strategy, always innovate and maintain transparency and accountability to the public,” he said.

April 11, 2022, detikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/bursa-dan-valas/d-6026532/bei-goto-jadi-decacorn-pertama-tercatat-di-bursa-asia)

The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train has been Produced in China, This is the Sophistication

The entire series of Electric Multiple Units (EMU) or trains for the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail (KCJB) project, totaling 11 units, have been completed in production at CRRC Sifang, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China in early April. Not only EMU, previously one unit of the Comprehensive Inspection Train (CIT) or inspection train has also been completed. The completion of the production process for the CR400AF type EMU series adds to the achievement of the KCJB (Kereta Cepat Jakarta-Bandung) throughout 2022.

The EMU and CIT series are targeted to arrive in Indonesia in the second semester of 2022. EMU is a series of high-speed trains with advanced specifications and is able to monitor hazards such as earthquakes, floods, to foreign object attacks, and is fire resistant.

The security system installed in the KCJB EMU series will be supported by various security instruments such as the Dispatching Monitoring Center, threat detection sensors along the KCJB route, and the Disaster Monitoring Terminal in Tegalluar as the center for disaster data management. In addition, there are also direct observation instruments in the field with CCTV connected to the KCJB command center to send visual information.

            KCJB’s operations are supported by CTSC 3/GSM-R network technology and fiber optics that have been proven globally in terms of rail safety, especially high-speed trains. Then, there are also Internal and External Lighting Protection Systems in KCJB construction.

“The KCJB security system is not only installed in the EMU circuit. Starting from Tegalluar, and along the KCJB route, we have prepared various high-level security systems so that KCJB can run well and optimally,” said the President Director of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi.

April 8, 2022, detikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/infrastruktur/d-6023019/kereta-cepat-jakarta-bandung-selesai-diproduksi-di-china-ini-kecanggihannya)

The Rare Indonesian Rhino That Gave Birth is Highlighted by Foreign Media

The rare Sumatran rhino is in the spotlight of foreign media. Most recently, the species gave birth in Way Kambas National Park. One of the highlights was CNN. He said, Wednesday (30/3/2022), that moment was an ‘important opportunity for the survival of the Sumatran rhino species. The extremely rare Sumatran rhino has been born in captivity in a nature reserve in Indonesia, according to the government. It’s a celebration of conservation efforts to save endangered animals from extinction. The female rhino was born in the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park in Lampung province on March 24, according to Indonesia’s Ministry of the Environment.

“The birth of the Sumatran rhino is good news amid the efforts of the Indonesian government and partners to increase the Sumatran rhino population,” said the Director-General of Environmental Conservation at the Ministry of Environment, Wiratno.

The Sumatran rhinoceros, the world’s smallest rhino species, once bred throughout Southeast Asia but is now found only in small pockets on the northern islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. Fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos remain, according to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF).

The captive program at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, assisted by IRF, is the only place where the Sumatran rhino breeds naturally with the support of technology and collaboration of expertise. The program aims to maintain the survival of the Sumatran rhino by increasing the number of rhinos. So that one day this rhino can be released back into the wild. Without intervention, the IRF says the Sumatran rhino will be extinct in a matter of decades. International rhino experts and the Indonesian government have decided relocating rhinos to a captive breeding program is the only way to save the species.

March 30, 2022, detikTravel

(https://travel.detik.com/travel-news/d-6008566/badak-indonesia-langka-yang-melahirkan-disoroti-media-asing)

Luhut Says Xi Jinping Will Inaugurate Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train (KCJB) project would later be inaugurated by President Jokowi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

            “We want it because later, hopefully, President Xi Jinping and President Jokowi will also be in Bali. We will also try to inaugurate some of our big projects with China using Zoom,” said Luhut during a visit to tunnel 6 area in Purwakarta, West Bandung Regency, Wednesday (30/3/2022).

            For now, Luhut said the KCJB Project is targeted for trials this year, November to be exact. Previously, the KCJB construction project in tunnel 6 had experienced delays. The project was delayed due to landslides, due to the geographical location which had to pass through clay shale conditions. Thus, it makes the development process take more time.

“Due to yesterday’s landslide problem, we have been delayed for about 5-6 months. We will try to get rid of it immediately, if possible, 10 months from now, it will be a trial,” said Luhut.

March 30, 2022, detikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/infrastruktur/d-6008339/luhut-sebut-xi-jinping-bakal-resmikan-kereta-cepat-jakarta-bandung)

Wow! Fintech Investment in Indonesia Reaches Rp12 Trillion

Investment in the national financial technology (fintech) industry during 2021 will reach US$ 904 million or equivalent to Rp12.94 trillion (exchange rate of Rp14,316). This value is equivalent to 23% of the accumulated investment in the fintech industry in Southeast Asia.

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Indonesian Fintech Association (Aftech) Rudiantara said the fintech industry in Indonesia has grown quite rapidly. It is also what makes it successful in attracting the interest of many investors.

“Accumulatively, the amount of investment in the fintech industry in Indonesia reached US$ 904 million or 23% of the total accumulated investment in the fintech industry in Southeast Asia in 2021,” said Rudiantara in a written statement, Tuesday (29/3/2022).

            In addition to showing the significance of the fintech industry in the investment world, statistical data shows the increasingly significant role of fintech as a source of economic growth for Indonesia. He also hopes that the 23% portion can continue to be increased considering that Indonesia represents 40% of the population in Southeast Asia. The increase is also expected to develop both from the aspect of the number of companies to the resulting impact.

            Rudiantara said that there were several records on the development of fintech throughout 2021. These records include the value of electronic money transactions which increased by almost 60% year on year (YoY) to Rp 35 trillion at the end of 2021. The adoption of QRIS has also exceeded the target of 12 million merchants before the end of the year. 2021, as a joint effort to support MSMEs.

Indonesia stands firm on the G20 economic agenda

Group of 20 (G20) chair Indonesia will adhere to the economic theme of G20 meetings this year, even though a growing rift between members over the Ukraine crisis threatens to derail talks at the international forum. G20 sherpa track chair and Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said Indonesia would uphold the group’s traditional role as an economic forum. The government will not realign the agenda to accommodate geopolitical issues, “which are clearly political and security issues”.

“There are many forums for geopolitical and security issues, such as the United Nations general meeting and UN Security Council. These are the channels to resolve geopolitical issues in Ukraine,” Airlangga told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

As the leader of the G20 forum this year, Indonesia has been adamant not to accommodate pressures to address the political impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The international forum, which includes Russia, has been on track despite the US and its western allies questioning whether Russia should remain within the G20 following the invasion.

March 25, 2022, The Jakarta Post

(https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2022/03/24/indonesia-balks-at-pressures-to-add-ukraine-war-to-g20-agenda.html)

UAE reaffirms investment in the new capital city through INA

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaffirmed on Thursday that it would invest in Indonesia’s new capital city project through an existing US$10 billion funding commitment to the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA). UAE Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulla Salem Obaid Al Dhaheri said that a portion of the funds would be directed toward the new capital project, while the remainder would go to other projects in strategic sectors such as infrastructure, food security, logistics, E-learning, digital infrastructure, and vaccines.

“The UAE is committed to investing in developing a new capital city in Kalimantan, also encouraging other parties to also invest in this project, which is planned as a city built using green and environmentally friendly technology,” Al Dhaheri told The Jakarta Post.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan claimed on March 15 that the UAE was willing to invest at least $20 billion through the INA. The UAE Embassy neither confirmed nor denied Luhut’s claim. Al Dhaheri added that the UAE was willing to advise and assist in the planning of the new capital and in building key components such as data centers. “The government and private investors from the UAE will be keen to evaluate potential investments in the new capital in energy and infrastructure in collaboration with INA and the new capital authority,” he said.

March 25, 2022, The Jakarta Post

(https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2022/03/25/uae-reaffirms-investment-in-new-capital-city-through-ina.html)

IDX Composite Closed Today at the Level of 7,000, the Highest in History!

IDX Composite closed today with a record high in history. JCI trading closed at 7,000 for the first time. Based on research by Artha Sekuritas, the JCI closed higher at an all-time high after investors responded to the development of the Russia-Ukraine war indicating that there would be negotiations for peace. In addition, the increase in crude oil prices also pushed up stocks in the energy sector.

Technically, the current movement is still in the bullish trend, which is quite strong after being closed at the all-time high level accompanied by the stochastic indicator forming a golden cross. Investors will still be watching developments from the Russia-Ukraine war as well as the Fed’s speech regarding future economic policies.

Meanwhile, fighting rages on in Ukraine as efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict appear to be making little progress. Crude prices continue to soar as the European Union considers joining the United States in banning Russian oil.

March 22, 2022, detikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/bursa-dan-valas/d-5995483/ihsg-hari-ini-ditutup-di-level-7000-tertinggi-sepanjang-sejarah)

‘Hopefully, MotoGP Mandalika Becomes Momentum for Indonesia’s Awakening’

MotoGP Mandalika 2022 has been completed. Although accompanied by several notes, this event is expected to be a revival of Indonesia in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. MotoGP has finally returned to Indonesia after 25 years of absence. Held at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Sunday (20/3/2022), the race was delayed by an hour due to heavy rain.

Indonesia’s great success at the inaugural Mandalika MotoGP event invited a lot of praise. Moreover, the organizers of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) were criticized for having circuit problems in the pre-season test session last February. Although it is recognized that the name of the inaugural event can not be separated from several shortcomings outside the race, such as the supporting facilities around the circuit are not fully 100 percent.

However, Indonesia still has a year to improve before the 2023 race. What is certain is that with the Mandalika MotoGP, the Indonesian economy, especially Lombok, has faltered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, the Mandalika MotoGP was also questioned because, at the beginning of the pandemic, there were restrictions on activities in the country and also in many countries. However, amid Indonesia’s efforts towards endemic status, the primary class motorcycle race was able to be held.

            “The Mandalika MotoGP is momentum for Indonesia’s economic revival, especially tourism. Therefore, it is hoped that next year, MotoGP can be even better,” said Angkasa Pura Logistik President Director Danny P Thaharsyah.

March 21, 2022, detikSport

(https://sport.detik.com/moto-gp/d-5992745/semoga-motogp-mandalika-jadi-momentum-kebangkitan-indonesia)