GENERAL NEWS AND HEADLINES

Jokowi receives credentials from 7 ambassadors of neighboring countries
Kompas (https://tinyurl.com/y9yazl5x); Tempo (https://tinyurl.com/y9peawt9); Liputan6 (https://tinyurl.com/y8lsdq2u)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has received the credentials from the ambassadors of seven countries neighboring Indonesia. The credentials were given to President Jokowi at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta earlier this morning.

According to a live broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel, the ambassadors were summoned one by one to hand over ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary (LBBP) credentials for Indonesia to Jokowi.

The ceremony was carried out while still implementing the required COVID-19 health protocol. Jokowi was accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, State Secretary Pratikno and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

The ceremony also marked the start of the official reassignment of ambassadors to Indonesia.

 

Walhi turns down House invitation on jobs bill
Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/ycyo6vyl); Tempo, (https://tinyurl.com/ya2twrm6); Republika, (https://tinyurl.com/ydd5ne3p)

The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) refused to attend a public hearing with the House Legislative Body (Baleg) to discuss the omnibus bill on job creation today.

Walhi national executive director Nur Hidayati said in an open letter that her forum had received the invitation for the hearing on Tuesday and confirmed the forum’s refusal to attend.

Nur explained that Walhi refused the invitation on the grounds that the draft had no urgency to protect environmental interests. It also was not intended to protect the interests of the people, which would only eliminate Indonesian citizens’ participation space and minimize the protection of their basic rights.

 

PSBB to be relaxed based mutual agreement with regional govts
Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/yabr6sth)

Presidential chief of staff Moeldoko stated that the government would not one-sidedly relax large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) across several areas of Indonesia.

Moeldoko said in a written statement that any easing of the PSBB would be based on mutual agreement between regional leaders and the central government, which would grant local administrations permission to conduct PSBB easing simulations beforehand.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS NEWS AND HEADLINES

Energy Ministry optimistic about yearend coal production target
Kontan, (https://tinyurl.com/y7looya9); Republika, (https://tinyurl.com/yadmlpy4) 

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has recorded 228 million tons in coal production, 42 percent of the ministry’s yearend production target, as of May. Ministry spokesman Agung Pribadi said production was still on track to reach this year’s 550 million ton target. Meanwhile, coal exports totalled 175.15 million tons, equivalent to US$7.77 billion. Nevertheless, global coal demand might be lower than initially projected, Agung added. To anticipate lower global demand, the government will look for new export markets, specifically in developing economies like Bangladesh, Vietnam and Pakistan.

 

Erick overhauls PTBA directors, commissioners
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y8juhmxw); Detik, (https://tinyurl.com/ydbwl3sk); Tempo, (https://tinyurl.com/ya8m34qn) 

State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir has appointed Hadis Surya Palapa as new operational director for state-owned coal miner PT Bukit Asam (PTBA), replacing Suryo Eko Hadianto. Besides appointing a new operational director, Erick also overhauled the PTBA board of commissioners by replacing Robert Heri, Taufik Madjid, Soenggoel Pardamean Sitorus and Heru Setyobudi Suprayogo with E. Piterdono HZ, Carlo Brix Tewu, Irwandy Arif and Andi Pahril Pawi. The overhaul was done through a general shareholders meeting.

 

Govt to start land acquisition for new capital city’s hydropower plant
CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/ycodl3e9); Antara News, (https://tinyurl.com/ybbhxtgc) 

The government expects to start the land acquisition process for the new capital city’s hydropower plant project in North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan, this month. The new hydropower plant will cover an area of 378 hectares. Tenging Baru village head Ahmad Mauladin said the village administration had received a notification letter regarding the commencement of the hydropower plant project from the National Land Agency (BPN). A work agreement with contractors will be signed after the government finishes the acquisition process for 640 plots of land.

 

Online transactions soar in May
CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/yajo5wsa)

Retailers reported soaring online transactions in May, as consumers limited their shopping trips. Retailer PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya, the operator of Alfamart Group, recorded a triple digit increase in online sales. “The company has invested millions of US dollars into developing its online shopping system since last year, but online transactions never increased by triple digits like in May,” Alfamart marketing director Ryan Alfons Kaloh said. Agriculture Ministry-backed Toko Tani Indonesia Center also recorded a significant increase in sales last month. The center’s manager, Inti Pertiwi Nashwari, said daily sales almost tripled from Rp 300 million (US$21,309) per day to Rp 886 million per day.

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