GRINTING, Indonesia, April 14 Two months ago, Indonesian farmer Tama harvested several tonnes of shallots from a small plot of land he had rented in the village of Grinting in central Java.
GRINTING, Indonesia Two months ago, Indonesian farmer Tama harvested several tonnes of shallots from a small plot of land he had rented in the village of Grinting in central Java.
By Gayatri Suroyo April 9 Indonesian President Joko Widodo is running for re-election against former military general Prabowo Subianto on April 17. Most opinion polls give the incumbent a double-digit lead over his rival. For details on the election click on https://tmsnrt.rs/2V4DCqq, and a scorecard on Widodo's first term is available here https://tmsnrt.rs/2CRgHYC Below are some of the key promises made during the six-month campaign: Theme Joko Widodo Prabowo Subianto Economic growth To focus on developing human capital and skills To boost economy by slashing tax rates by up to training in second term. Has not given a target 8 percentage points, and focus infrastructure for economic growth. spending on the most important projects. Has not given a target for economic growth. Resource nationalism No change in nationalistic resource policy. Accuses the government of allowing a "leakage During his term, Indonesia took control of in our natural resources" and says more raw Freeport McMoRan's local unit operating the materials should be processed onshore, which is giant Grasberg copper mine, and handed expiring already done with nickel, copper and other energy contracts held by foreign companies to minerals. His manifesto also calls on state oil firm Pertamina. companies to repatriate export earnings. Legislation and law To set up a new government agency to ensure all To establish a new government agency to enforcement national and local laws are aligned and synchronize laws at the national and local streamlined. level. Subsidies Provide new smart cards for the poor to get To cut gasoline and electricity prices for basic needs, funding for higher education and consumers, though unclear if that means job training, including a right to unemployment reintroducing fuel subsidies or spending more benefits for up to a year. on power subsidies. Industrial policy Implement "Industry 4.0" roadmap for tech Build up strategic industries and promote upgrades in manufacturing. Prioritise other efforts to industrialise the economy, from growth sectors such as automobiles and food and high-tech products to agriculture. beverages. Energy policy Increase the use of biofuel made from palm oil Develop palm- and ethanol-based fuels to reduce to lift energy self-sufficiency. energy imports. Labour policy No plans to open up a highly protected labour To raise minimum wages, stop outsourcing and market, which companies say has hurt efforts to require foreign workers to speak Indonesian. boost manufacturing. His running mate promised to reduce unemployment rolls by 2 million people, but did not say how. Education To invest more in vocational education and To boost support for vocational education and follow Germany's twin-track system which raise teachers' salaries. includes on-the-job learning. Healthcare Basic infrastructure improvements to underpin To fix deficit at government health insurer public health, and extend healthcare coverage to during first 200 days in office, and encourage all Indonesians. About 95 percent have some Indonesians to exercise 22 minutes a day to coverage now. prevent illness. Poverty alleviation To increase fiscal transfers to communities To transfer 1 billion rupiah ($70,600) to every under the Village Funds programme. Widodo says village in Indonesia. Prabowo accuses Widodo of it has helped reduce rural poverty, but hundreds using the Village Funds to win votes, a charge of village officials have been arrested for the president denies. corruption. Women in workplace To make daycare more accessible and enable more Has promised a programme to support working women to enter the workforce. mothers, but provided no details. Childhood stunting To develop an action plan to eliminate child To distribute milk or milk tablets, and stunting, or impaired development, through mungbean soup in schools to improve nutrient better nutrition, sanitation and parenting. intake and avoid stunting. ($1 = 14,165.0000 rupiah) (Reporting by Gayatri Suroyo Editing by Ed Davies and Darren Schuettler)
JAKARTA Indonesia's President Joko Widodo faces former military general Prabowo Subianto in a general election on April 17, with most polls giving the incumbent a double-digit lead over his rival.
JAKARTA Indonesia's nickel-related industries such as the production of stainless steel and battery materials are set to surpass the value of its second-biggest export earner, palm oil, in the next 10 to 15 years, its investment board chief said on Wednesday.
JAKARTA Indonesia's central bank, welcoming the Federal Reserve's forecast of no U.S. rate hikes this year, on Thursday kept its benchmark on hold to maintain financial stability while tweaking some rules to try to encourage more lending.
JAKARTA Rival campaigners in Indonesia's elections next month are sparring over ways to fix the education system in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, which is widely blamed for failing to equip students with the skills to find jobs.
JAKARTA, Feb 21 Indonesia's central bank kept interest rates on hold on Thursday and said it was looking at ways to boost loan growth, but indicated it was in no hurry to start rolling back last year's six benchmark hikes.
JAKARTA Indonesia will push back by as much as seven years an October deadline for halal labels on food, drugs and cosmetics, after industry voiced fears the move could bring chaos and threaten supplies of life-saving vaccines and other products.
JAKARTA, Jan 31 Indonesia intends to challenge an EU directive on renewable energy at the World Trade Organization, arguing the plan to curb the use of crops that cause deforestation will unfairly target palm oil, a senior Indonesian official told Reuters.
More than 200 people were killed and at least 450 injured in bomb blasts that ripped through churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, the first major attack on the Indian Ocean island since the end of a civil war 10 years ago.