President Inaugurates First Toll Road in S Sumatra

Palembang, S Sumatra, (Antara Sumbar) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the 7.75-kilometer section I of Palembang-Indralaya toll road in South Sumatra province on Thursday (Oct 12).

"I am very delighted that this toll road is the first of its kind in South Sumatra," he said at the Palembang-Pemulutan toll gate.

The 21-kilometer Pelembang-Indralaya toll road comprises a 7.75-kilometer section I connecting Palembang to Pemulutan, a 4.9 kilometer section II connecting Pemulutan to Kota Terpadu Mandiri, and a 8.5-kilometer section III connecting Kota Terpadu Mandiri to Simpang Indralaya.

"When I was in the car Mr, Governor told me, 'Mr. President, we have dreamed of this toll road since the Dutch colonial ruler. I don't believe how can we dream of it since the Dutch colonial ruler. But when I came here I was really shocked," he said.

The president said he had four times checked the construction of the section of the toll road.

"Why have I visited here four times? I see that the location for Palembang-Indralaya toll road is very difficult. It comprises swamps so the toll road needs special construction," he said.

The president said his visit this time is also aimed at motivating the contractor of the toll road.

"Two to three months ago I heard that land clearance has not been resolved. But I asked Mrs. Minister of State Enterprises and she told me that it has been resolved. What does it mean? If we frequently come to (the land owners), the land clearance will be faster," he said.

During the visit, the president was accompanied by Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono and president director of state construction firm Hutama Karya, I Gusti Ngurah Putra as the contractor of the project. (*)

Editor: Vicha Faradika

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Indonesian President Receives Lao Prime Minister

Joko Susilo

Jakarta, () - Indonesian President Joko Widodo, accompanied by First Lady Iriana, received Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith and spouse Naly at the Presidential Palace of Bogor, West Java Province, on Thursday (Oct 12).

A ceremony was held in the front yard of the palace to welcome Sisoulith and Naly.

The Lao prime minister's motorcade arrived at the Bogor Palace at 10:10 p.m. local time. On entering the palace, the convoy was greeted by band drum troopers of the Presidential Security Detail playing the national song of Maju Tak Gentar and followed by horsemen wearing various uniforms of Indonesian palace soldiers.

Hundreds of students wearing traditional clothes waved the Red and White and Laos flags to welcome Prime Minister Sisoulith and his entourage.

Widodo and Sisoulith attended the welcome ceremony and witnessed a guard of honor in the front yard of the Bogor Palace.

Thereafter, they entered the palace and made entries in the guest book, held a joint photo session, and then engaged in a veranda talk.

The two leaders will also lead a bilateral meeting, sign a memorandum of understanding, and issue a joint press statement. Sisoulith's state visit will end with an official luncheon.

The welcome ceremony was also attended by Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education M. Nasir, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. (*)

Editor: Vicha Faradika

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Buffalo Contest To Enliven Sawarna Beach

Mansyur

Lebak, Banten, () - The Animal Husbandry Service for Lebak District, Banten Province, will gather buffaloes from the region to enliven the Buffalo Contest to be held in Sawarna Beach.

"We believe the event, which will be held on Saturday (Oct 14), will be able to attract more tourists," a Lebak tourism observer, Muhammad Ilham, said here on Thursday (Oct 12).

According to Ilham, Sawarna Beach is one of beautiful tourism destinations in Banten Province, which could be an added advantage for the participants and tourists who attend the contest.

The Buffalo Contest is aimed at developing farming practices in Banten Province, following the increasing demand of the cattle.

The price of a buffalo in Banten has reached Rp30 million.

"The contest is hoped to increase buffalo farming in Banten," Ilham remarked.

Additionally, the Head of Animal Husbandry Service for Lebak District, Iman Santoso, stated that many people who live near Sawarna Beach own buffaloes.

Santoso noted that Lebak can be a central area for buffaloes as the region has a wide area that belongs to PTPN VIII as well as the private sector.

The shepherd can gather the grass feed for the buffaloes from the fields.

"We hope the buffalo population in Lebak would increase and would be a support towards the local economic development," Santoso explained. (*)

Editor: Vicha Faradika

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Hotels Give Emergency Discounts Regarding Mount Agung: Tourism Ministry

Dewa Wiguna

Denpasar, Bali, () - A number of hotels in Bali are ready to give discounts for tourists as one of scenarios if Mount Agung erupts that will have impact on airport closure, Tourism Minister said.

"If (Mount Agung) erupts, people (tourists) relatively want to get home quickly. The scenario is a big discount should be provided at the beginning of the incident (eruption), so people do not scramble to go home," Tourism Minister, Arief Yahya said here on Wednesday (Oct 11).

The minister asked the hoteliers to give a minimum of 50 percent discount for tourists with the scenario that the tourists are on holidays in Bali when an eruption occurs.

Some of hoteliers even ready to give 75 up to 100 percent of discount with the scenario is to provide a discount of 100 percent on the first day, then 80 percent to the amount of decrease in the next days.

The discount is given until the tourists can be taken to neighboring province of Bali to continue the journey through the nearest airport that is not affected (by the eruption), Arief explained, adding that the discount is provided for foreign and domestic tourists.

According to him, tourism ministry in cooperation with Transportation Ministry and Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) will provide 700 buses to bring tourists who want to continue their journey by land or sea.

A total of 10 alternative airports are also prepared when Mount Agung erupts such as Soekarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta, Juanda Airport in Surabaya, Blimbingsari Banyuwangi Airport, Adi Sumarmo Airport in Solo, Lombok Airport, Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo airport, Hassanudin Airport in Makassar and Sepinggan Airport Balikpapan.

Two other airports are Sam Ratulangi in Manado and Pattimura airport in Ambon.

In addition, Arief also asked managers of tourist attractions and airlines to give discounts.

Earlier, potential guests, who had earlier made room reservations in some 10 hotels in Badung District, Bali Province, decided to cancel their plans.

The cancellations were made following news reports of Mount Agung showing increase activity, I Made Badra, head of the Badung tourism office, noted here, Friday (Oct 6).

Each hotel had received some 50 and 100 room cancellations, he said.

He, however, believed that in general, the number of tourists visiting Badung still remains stable.

Badung District, where the beaches of Kuta and Pandawa are located, is a major tourist destination in Bali.

The district has, so far, remained safe and conducive for tourists, as it is located at a distance from Mount Agung in Karangasem District.

Earlier, Tourism Minister Arif Yahya and Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika had made assurance to tourists that their visit to Bali will be safe despite the alert status of Mount Agung. (*)

Editor: Vicha Faradika

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BNI Ready To Acquire A Number of Financial Companies

Jakarta, () - Publicly traded state lender PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) said it is ready to acquire a number of a number of financial agencies.

BNI Finance and Credit Risk Director Rico Rizal Budidarmo said the country's fourth largest bank has an agenda to acquire asset management companies, multi-finance companies and venture capital companies.

Currently, the plan to acquire asset management companies is in the process of studying.

"We are careful in carrying out investment study. In addition we will invest in multi-finance industry," Rico said here on Thursday (Oct 12).

He said BNI plans to acquire financing companies which focus on consumer sector.

Many multi-finance companies have indicated interest in being acquired by BNI as it would be easier for them to reach success if they are controlled by banks.

He said the bank also would follow the trend that banks are seeking to acquire venture capital companies .

The bank will provide Rp1 trillion in capital injection soon for its subsidiary BNI Syariah. (*)

Editor: Vicha Faradika