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Pertamina turns to nature-based solutions to balance climate, energy

State-owned energy company PT Pertamina has prepared some strategies to balance climate resilience and energy security, which include the development of nature-based solutions.

Pavilion Indonesia at COP27 UNFCCC, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt (7/11/2022) (ANTARA FOTO/Saptono/aww)

Senior Vice President of Research Technology and Innovation at Pertamina Oki Muraza conveyed this information during a discussion at the Indonesian Pavilion on the sidelines of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Wednesday (November 9, 2022).

During the discussion, Muraza said that Pertamina has declared its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, and the commitment is in line with the emission reduction policy promoted by the Indonesian government.

As part of the commitment, Pertamina is implementing two main strategies: decarbonizing all of its current businesses and building new businesses based on green and sustainable principles.

The decarbonization measures taken by the company have included pushing energy efficiency, zero-flare oil and gas activities, and carbon capture and utilization.

“Some other measures include increasing green electricity in Indonesia, building the electric vehicle ecosystem, and developing nature-based solutions,” Muraza added.

He further explained that the nature-based solution policy itself is not something new to Pertamina. However, synergy is needed between nature-based solutions and the energy sector, and both should go hand-in-hand.

Nature-based solutions involve short- and medium-term policies that can support the acceleration of climate technology implementation, which is a long-term policy.

According to Pertamina, those solutions need to be considered while designing carbon mitigation strategies.

“So, we have to not only be able to capture carbon dioxide with natural plants, but also produce something… including rubber and renewable hydrocarbon products. In the end, we expect to have other products from nature-based solutions,” Muraza said.

He highlighted three pillars that need to be considered in the development of nature-based solutions for realizing business resilience amid the challenges posed by climate change. The three pillars are community involvement, biodiversity and conservation, and sustainable economy.

In line with these, some vegetations that have potential as nature-based solutions, such as Calophyllum inophyllum and Pongamia pinnata, have been developed since they are beneficial for biofuel development.

In addition, the company believes that the development of the mangrove ecosystem can also be a nature-based solution because it could help absorb 264 tons of CO2 per hectare.

“We have conducted several studies with universities and government institutions on how to promote crops that can provide raw material stocks for green refineries,” Muraza said.

He also outlined several initiatives, for instance, capturing methane gas, which can be used for power generation and other purposes, for example, as compressed natural gas.

In addition, the energy company is also developing other initiatives, including processing liquid waste into biomethane and solid biomass waste into ethanol.

Some more initiatives undertaken by Pertamina are the establishment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) centers on the islands of Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan as well as the development of geothermal utilization in Indonesia.

Contact: Brahmantya Satyamurti Poerwadi, Corporate Secretary, PT Pertamina (Persero)
Email: pcc135@pertamina.com, URL: https://www.pertamina.com
Written by: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga, Editor: Fardah Assegaf (c) ANTARA 2022

Aim to become world-class geothermal electricity producer: Pertamina

State-owned energy company PT Pertamina is seeking to become a world-class player in green electricity generation based on geothermal energy by pursuing a number of technological innovations to increase geothermal utilization.

PT Pertamina Geothermal Energi (PGE) develops geothermal energy in Ulubelu Area in Tanggamus, Lampung. (ANTARA/HO-PGE)

“We aim to become a world-class player in the geothermal sector. There is an opportunity for that … since, so far, the geothermal potential utilized is still less than 10 percent of the total owned by Indonesia,” said Oki Muraza, senior vice president of research technology and innovation at Pertamina.

He made the remarks during a discussion at the Indonesian Pavilion on the sidelines of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Tuesday (November 8, 2022).

Indonesia has nearly 24 gigawatts (GW) of geothermal potential, but less than 10 percent of it has been utilized, he noted. Therefore, Pertamina sees a great opportunity to further increase the capacity of geothermal utilization in the country to generate green electricity, he added.

Efforts to increase geothermal-based electricity capacity are aimed at supporting Indonesia’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 by increasing the use of renewable energy in the proportion of national electrical energy sources, he said.

For that reason, Pertamina has conducted a lot of research on the development of technological innovations for geothermal utilization, which have covered the fields of exploration, development, production-operation, and digitization.

The state-owned energy company is currently developing better technology in the field of exploration, undertaking a comprehensive study of geoscience, and developing new methods that can be applied in the geothermal industry.

“This is something that we have been doing for years so that we technologically master it, starting from exploration, development, production, drilling, and so on,” Muraza said.

Moreover, Pertamina will increase its geothermal capacity, which was recorded at 672 megawatts (MW) in 2020, to 1,128 MW by 2026.

The company is striving to achieve operational excellence in the upstream sector, integrate the development in new areas, and expand the value chain of products from geothermal energy, such as green energy products in the form of green methanol, green hydrogen, nano-silica, green liquid carbon dioxide, and carbon credits.

In addition, Pertamina is also supporting the development of green industrial clusters in the country.

“We hope to accelerate the development of new areas that can be used not only for electricity, but we are also starting to think about possible locations that can be developed for green hydrogen,” Muraza informed.

He added that Pertamina is offering cooperation opportunities to players in the field of geothermal and energy efficiency in Indonesia for implementing technological solutions – developed by the company to build more geothermal power plants and other geothermal products – and optimizing the utilization of geothermal potential in the country.

Contact: Brahmantya Satyamurti Poerwadi, Corporate Secretary, PT Pertamina (Persero)
Email: pcc135@pertamina.com, URL: https://www.pertamina.com
Written by: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga, Editor: Suharto (c) ANTARA 2022

Pertamina increases geothermal capacity for its emission reductions

Indonesian state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina has ramped up its geothermal energy capacity as one of the important efforts in achieving its carbon emission reduction target significantly.

Pertamina head office building (ANTARA/HO-PT Pertamina)

During a discussion at the Indonesian Pavilion on the sidelines of the COP-27 event in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday, Pertamina Geothermal Energy CEO Ahmad Yuniarto explained that the energy company has supported and will continue to extend support to the Indonesian government’s measures to achieve net zero emissions by 2060.

Yuniarto further explained that Pertamina is targeting the achievement of net zero emissions by 2060 with the support of various decarbonization measures and green businesses, including the development of its geothermal capacity.

He also highlighted that the latest National Electricity General Plan carried out to add more installed geothermal capacity in Indonesia will provide significant reduction in carbon emissions in the country.

“We have the opportunity to make a cumulative reduction of up to 1,200 million tons of carbon emissions equivalent,” Yuniarto remarked.

Such a cumulative reduction will have a large potential contribution – from the geothermal sector in Indonesia – for the achievement of urgent net zero emissions.

Yuniarto remarked that Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) currently manages 13 geothermal working areas in Indonesia, with an installed capacity of 1,877 Megawatts (MW), comprising 672 MW operated and managed directly by PGE and 1,205 MW managed under a joint operation contract scenario.

That amount of geothermal capacity represents 82 percent of the total installed geothermal capacity in Indonesia.

Moreover, Yuniarto emphasized the important role of geothermal for energy transition and achieving zero carbon progress, with the energy sector having a 10-fold lower emission footprint than power generation using fossil fuels.

“Pertamina Geothermal Energy is committed, in the next five years, to increase the installed (geothermal) capacity of 600 megawatts,” he stated.

Yuniarto remarked that the commitment will help to avoid the generation of around 15.7 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year.

“This is a big and real contribution from Pertamina while we together strengthen the baseload of renewable energy in Indonesia,” he stated.

Apart from encouraging emission reductions through additional installed geothermal capacity, PGE also supports the rehabilitation of 588 hectares of forest areas.

“This is a fact that many people do not realize that geothermal developers are also working to support (rehabilitation) in nearly 600 hectares of forest areas,” Yuniarto pointed out.

He remarked that PGE, in running its businesses, continues to be committed to geothermal development and ensures the implementation of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) to become an integrated part of the company’s geothermal business.

PGE’s role in the implementation of ESG aspects is an effort to provide added value and support to national programs related to the use of new and renewable energy that is environmentally friendly, particularly geothermal.

PGE’s commitment to developing geothermal energy can also contribute to achieving several targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs: the 7th Goal (Clean and Affordable Energy), the 12th Goal (Responsible Construction and Production), the 13th Goal (Climate Change Management), and the 15th Goal (Land Ecosystem).

Contact: Fajriyah Usman, VP Corporate Communications, PT Pertamina (Persero)
M: +62 858 8330 8686, Email: fajriyah.usman@pertamina.com, URL: https://www.pertamina.com
Written by: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga, Editor: Fardah Assegaf (c) ANTARA 2022

Pertamina develops green business to support emission reduction

State-owned energy company PT Pertamina develops a number of green business initiatives to support Indonesia’s goal to achieve net zero emission by 2060.

CEO of PT Pertamina Power Indonesia Dannif Danusaputro (ANTARA/HO-Humas PT Pertamina)

The company has been investing in biofuels, renewable energy, carbon capture, utilization and storage, battery and electric vehicles, hydrogen as well as the carbon business.

“Pertamina is committed to supporting the Indonesia government’s commitment to achieve net zero by 2060 or sooner. Therefore, our business strategy consists of two pillars, namely decarbonizing our core business and developing a green business,” CEO of Pertamina Power Indonesia Dannif Danusaputro stated at the Indonesia Pavilion at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Sunday (November 6).

He explained that Pertamina committed to allocating 14 percent of the projected 2022-2060 capital expenditure of US$70-80 billion US for the development of clean, new and renewable energy (NRE).

This commitment is in line with efforts to use domestic resources to supply domestic energy towards green development and decarbonization.

Pertamina also builds an integrated oil and gas supply chain to supply domestic needs and actively builds NRE portfolio using domestic resources.

The company will develop a greener energy mix by reducing the share of refined products and LPG from 81 percent to 61 percent, increasing the share of gas from three percent to 19 percent and increasing the share of NRE from one percent to 17 percent.

Considering a large investment required for the development of green business and clean technology to support the energy transition, Pertamina cooperates with national and global partners to explore partnerships in decarbonization programs, green businesses as well as accelerate the growth of EBT to achieve net zero emissions.

Banks can also invest in these green business initiatives.

The affordability of the clean energy transition will depend on reducing costs and increasing the availability of capital,” Danusaputro said.

In order to support the energy transition in Indonesia, Pertamina is also optimizing the potential and increasing the installed capacity of NRE where the company has pioneered the use of NRE in Indonesia with a total capacity of 60 GW by 2060.

Pertamina will also commercialize green and blue hydrogen and take a strategic role in Indonesia’s integrated battery and energy storage ecosystem through the development of the battery-powered electric vehicle industry in collaboration with several state-owned companies.

In addition, Pertamina is making efforts to increase refinery capacity to produce green fuel. Through several processes at the green refinery, Pertamina produces high-quality and more environmentally friendly fuel derived from palm oil including biodiesel, green diesel, green avtur and green gasoline.

Contact: Fajriyah Usman, VP Corporate Communications, PT Pertamina (Persero)
M: +62 858 8330 8686, Email: fajriyah.usman@pertamina.com, URL: https://www.pertamina.com
Written by: Yashinta Difa Pramudyani, Editor: Fardah Assegaf (c) ANTARA 2022

Green business to reduce 26 million tons of CO2 by 2060: Pertamina

Pertamina is expecting its green business of new and renewable energy (NRE) to be able to meet its target of reducing 26 million tons of CO2 by 2060, higher than its 2030 target of 11 million tons of CO2 reduction.

Pertamina targets New Renewable Energy (NRE) capacity to reach 60GW from solar, hydro, wind power and geothermal, to be able to meet 15 percent market share in 2060,” the company’s President Director and CEO Nicke Widyawati said in a panel discussion of COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Sunday (November 6).

It also has a battery production capacity of up to 80 GWh, and sales of 800,000 two-wheel electric vehicles with 1.5 TWh charging station in 2060, as well as an increase in hydrogen energy with an optimal capacity of 3 MTPA.

Through the development of the green refinery, Pertamina is committed to increasing the production capacity of biofuels from the current 3,000 bpd to 200,000 bpd in 2060 by focusing on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA).

We are also targeting to be able to produce up to 600,000 bpd of B30 and A20 by 2060,” Widyawati noted.

Considering Indonesia’s potential for large carbon capture storage which is estimated to reach about 80 gigatonnes to 400 gigatonnes of C02, Pertamina is eyeing such potential to be a new business of oil and gas.

“And the majority (of carbon capture storage) are onshore, so we have a competitive advantage compared to other countries in the region,” she concluded.

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP27 Sharm El-Sheikh, Indonesia voiced various actions, strategies, innovations and achievements as a concrete manifestation of leading climate action to prevent global temperature increases.

Through soft diplomacy, the Pavilion Indonesia displays the policies and concrete results of previous work, as well as paving the way for future climate ambitions together with relevant parties.

“Multilateral, collective and integrated action is needed as the only way to overcome a real global threat. We must maintain the spirit of collaboration at COP27,” Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya stated in her speech at the opening of the Pavilion Indonesia during the COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Sunday.

In recent decades, governments have shared climate change responsibilities with academia, business, civil society organizations and others.

However, the practice of climate change mitigation and adaptation sometimes experiences challenges and limitations, such as the decision making process influenced by politics as well as disputes due to the priority interests of socio-economy and environment.

“Sometimes this becomes a paradox, a form of discrepancy in social relevance, so that policies are less effective into action. Therefore, joint action on climate change requires leaders to guide action,” Nurbaya said.

Under the theme of Stronger Climate Actions Together, Pavilion Indonesia reflects the mission carried out by Indonesian delegation to take urgent action in combating climate change and its impacts, as mandated by goal number 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Contact: Fajriyah Usman, VP Corporate Communications, PT Pertamina (Persero)
M: +62 858 8330 8686, Email: fajriyah.usman@pertamina.com, URL: https://www.pertamina.com
Written by: Yashinta Difa Pramudyani, Editor: Fardah Assegaf (c) ANTARA 2022

Second-home visa introduced to foreign investors by immigration, SIER

The Directorate General of Immigration and PT Surabaya Industrial Estate Rungkut (SIER) Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, held a coaching clinic to provide information on second-home visas to foreign investors and consul generals from several countries this week.

Consul generals from several countries participated in the “Coaching Clinic on Immigration Services and Second-Home Visa Assistance,” which was held in Surabaya on Thursday (November 3, 2022). (ANTARA/HO-PT SIER)

The participants of the Coaching Clinic on Immigration Services and Second-Home Visa Assistance, which was held in Surabaya on Thursday (November 3, 2022), included British Prosperity Honorary Consul for Surabaya and East Java Ivy Kamadjaja; Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany Christopher Tjokrosetio; Honorary Consul of Australia Anthony Clark; and Consul General of Japan in Surabaya Takeyama Kenichi.

The coaching clinic aimed to make it easier for foreign businesses to understand the immigration service reform initiated by the Indonesian government, acting director general of immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Widodo Ekatjahjana, said in a statement issued on Friday.

SIER, which was the first industrial area in Indonesia used by the Directorate General of Immigration as a venue for the coaching clinic, has many tenants and investors from abroad who require easy, fast, and friendly immigration services.

So, we met directly with foreign investors in this industrial area of SIER. Through this coaching clinic, we are trying to bring services closer. If there are complaints, we provide immediate solutions,” Ekatjahjana informed.

He said that he wants the immigration service reform to cover not only administrative matters, but also have an impact on the convenience and ease of investment, which, in the end, could create more jobs.

Through the second-home visa policy, which aims to attract investment in the country, foreign investors who put their money and create jobs will be able to stay longer in Indonesia.

According to Ekatjahjana, the targets of the second-home visa are certain foreigners or ex-citizens who want to stay and contribute positively to the Indonesian economy.

The visa will allow foreigners to stay in the country for five to 10 years and carry out various activities, such as investment and tourism.

“Submitting an application is very easy through a website-based application visa-online.imigrasi.go.id. There are several document requirements that must be submitted if you want to get this second-home visa,” he informed.

The documentary requirements include a national passport that is valid for a minimum of 36 months, proof of funds in the form of an account belonging to a foreigner or guarantor with a value of at least Rp2 billion or equivalent, recent color photographs, and a curriculum vitae.

The non-tax state revenue rate (PNBP) for second-home visas is Rp3 million, in accordance with the provisions in the Minister of Finance’s Regulation No. 2 of 2022.

Payments for second-home visas can be made outside the territory of Indonesia through the available PNBP payment portals.

“This policy will be effective 60 days after the circular letter was issued, namely on October 25, 2022. This immigration policy is one of the non-fiscal incentives that can be a stimulus for certain foreigners to stay and contribute positively to the Indonesian economy in the midst of global economic conditions that are challenging (and) more dynamic,” Ekatjahjana said.

Meanwhile, the president director of PT SIER, Didik Prasetiyono, said that the Directorate General of Immigration’s innovation involving the launch of the second-home visa is a breakthrough that will provide convenience to foreign investors.

For this reason, he said he hopes that it will attract more foreign investors to invest in Indonesia, especially in the SIER Surabaya and PIER Pasuruan industrial areas.

“Next year, we will be overshadowed by a global recession that has the potential to lead to a food, energy, and financial crisis so all countries will need investment. All countries will compete to attract investment. And, it must be remembered: investors’ decisions to invest are not only based on economic value, but also factors that support comfort trying, including the matter of immigration services,” Prasetiyono highlighted.

“Of course, this policy will be welcomed by our tenants who come from abroad. SIER currently accommodates more than 200 companies. In SIER, 70 percent of them are tenants from foreign investment. Among them are from Japan, the United States, Australia, China, France, South Korea, Singapore, England, Germany, the Netherlands, and India,” he added.

Japanese Consul General Kenichi said that he is very happy with the second-home visa policy as many Japanese citizens are keen to live in Indonesia after retirement.

“This is good news that we have heard. With the second-home visa, Japanese people who have retired can stay longer in Indonesia. So far, many have lived in Bali. But I do not know the exact number. But many want to stay in Indonesia after they retire,” he added.

Written by: Abdul Hakim, Yashinta Difa, Editor: Rahmad Nasution (c) ANTARA 2022
Source article: https://en.antaranews.com/news/258597/second-home-visa-introduced-to-foreign-investors-by-immigration-sier

Pertamina supports Indonesia’s goal to reach net zero emissions by 2060

State-owned energy company PT Pertamina (Persero) supports Indonesia’s aspiration to reach net zero emissions by 2060.

Indonesia has increased its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target to 31.89 percent, with its efforts, and 43.20 percent, with international assistance, through the Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) document.

“In terms of emission reduction, Pertamina has set a target of 30 percent emission reduction in 2030, versus our 2010 baseline,” Pertamina’s president director and CEO Nicke Widyawati said in a panel discussion of UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Sunday.

In 2021, Pertamina have succeeded in reducing GHG emissions by 7.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents or 29.09 percent compared to the 2010 baseline.

This emission reduction is achieved by reducing non-routine emissions from the process, which is utilized for own-use fuel and gas supply to customers as much as 69,7 percent, using more efficient equipment which is included in Energy Efficiency Program, contributed 13.9 percent, using energy from low carbon source that contributes 16,2 percent and other activities.

In order to reach net zero aspirations, Pertamina has developed a holistic strategy delivered via two pillars, which are the decarbonization of its business activities and the development of new green business; as well as three enablers namely developing carbon accounting standards that already approved by national and international regulation, and also the implementation of Pertamina Internal Carbon Price, building sustainability organization that will oversee Pertamina business are on the right track for its Net Zero Roadmap goals and stakeholder engagement to fully support national NZE target and commitment.

Such a goal is supported by the company’s long-term investment strategy. Pertamina’s cumulative CAPEX up to 2060 for the Green Business Initiatives is estimated at around US$40 billion for biofuels, renewable energy sources, CCS/CCUS, battery and EV ecosystem, hydrogen, and carbon business.

Widyawati added that Pertamina accelerates green business development from upstream to downstream through the whole integrated value chain.

Pertamina is committed to supporting the Indonesian government’s commitment to achieving net zero by 2060 or sooner. As an energy company, Pertamina has a big responsibility to be a pillar of achieving net zero emissions in Indonesia, on the principles of affordability and fairness,” she concluded.

NFA promotes healthy eating to reduce food waste

The National Food Agency (NFA) has started a campaign to promote eating healthy and delicious food by providing recommendations for the composition of foods on the plate in order to reduce waste.

Head of the National Food Agency (NFA), Arief Prasetyo (ANTARA/HO-NFA)

NFA Head Arief Prasetyo said on Sunday that the campaign aimed to reduce food waste from the farm to the table, was initiated as part of Gelar Pangan Nusantara to mark the 42nd World Food Day.

The campaign is encouraging people to fill one-third of their plates with staple foods (not necessarily rice), one-third with vegetables, one-sixth with side dishes, and one-sixth with fruits.

“Such composition is suitable to meet the standard of expected food pattern as well as energy sufficiency,” he explained.

The campaign is also advising people to eat at least one egg every day to increase their nutritional intake and reduce the prevalence of stunting in children, considering that eggs are nutrient-rich and affordable.

As part of this year’s Gelar Pangan Nusantara, people and stakeholders related to food have been invited to jointly help achieve food security as a pillar for upholding state sovereignty.

“Through this event, we want to make World Food Day a momentum to recharge our spirit in building and strengthening national food,” Prasetyo said.

The event comprises a number of activities such as a series of educational events and several competitions to encourage creativity as well as to entertain – all of which contain messages and campaigns about strengthening food security.

Meanwhile, to ensure that the food security program runs well, Prasetyo has invited stakeholders from the upstream to downstream, along with the pentahelix sector, consisting of academics, businesses, government, community, and the media to continue to strengthen collaboration.

The recent Gelar Pangan Nusantara event held at Brawijaya University in Malang, for example, was a part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the NFA and the academic sector.

“The NFA as an institution that carries out government duties in the food sector, of course, cannot run alone,” Prasetyo said.

As a concrete collaboration, the NFA and Brawijaya University have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on education, research, and community service in the food sector.

They have also signed a cooperation agreement on synergizing education, research, and community services to improve community nutrition through the diversification of consumption of diverse, balanced, and safe foods.

“The cooperation made during World Food Day is in line with the instruction of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who is very serious about dealing with food problems. The President has ordered not only to solve macro and micro problems but also to strengthen collaboration,” Prasetyo added.

Meanwhile, deputy governor of East Java, Emil Elestianto Dardak, said that Gelar Pangan Nusantara is an event that seeks to strengthen the spirit of supporting food security programs.

“Through today’s event, let’s invigorate the spirit, supporting the National Food Agency program to make local food more secure from both supply and demand (side),” he said in his speech.

According to Emil, the NFA in the future will aim to maintain a balance, not only by preventing prices from rising but also keeping them from falling.

The rector of Brawijaya University, Widodo, welcomed the Gelar Pangan Nusantara event, which was held on the campus from October 22-23, 2022, saying the university is ready to support the national food security program through the development of innovation and technology.

The event featured several activities including a food expo, food and nutrition symposium, talk show, local food creation cafe festival, cooking demo, business matching, coaching clinic, poster contest, as well a drawing competition for elementary and junior high school students.

Written by: Abdul Hakim, Yashinta Difa, Editor: Fardah Assegaf (c) ANTARA 2022
Source article: https://en.antaranews.com/news/256453/nfa-promotes-healthy-eating-to-reduce-food-waste

Asia and Pacific countries make Jakarta Declaration agreement

The High-level Intergovermental Meeting on The Final Review of The Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (HLIGM APDPD) was closed with the Jakarta Declaration agreement, which marked the start of the fourth decade of Asia and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities.

53 Asia-Pacific and 9 associated UN ESCAP countries adopted the Jakarta Declaration 2023-2032, October 21, 2022. (ANTARA/Ministry of Social Affairs)

“Today is the last day and the high-level meeting between governments in the Asia Pacific was closed and we are making the Jakarta Declaration 2023-2032 which will be followed up by members, accelerated and implemented,” said Indonesian Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini in Jakarta.

The Jakarta Declaration is expected to be able to reaffirm the commitment of the governments of Asia Pacific countries in realizing the Incheon Strategy, which was initiated ten years ago.

The Jakarta Declaration has six resolutions. One of the priority issues is the alignment of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the level of legislation.

According to Risma, harmonization of legislation is the toughest challenge for the Indonesian government because it has three levels of government, namely, the central government, provincial government and regency/city government.

Meanwhile, Under-Secretary-General United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, said although the implementation of the CRPD making progress, people with disabilities in the Asia Pacific region face obstacles in education, work, decision making, and many other aspects.

Therefore he invites UNESCAP members to strengthen new partnerships with disability organizations, the private sector, United Nations entities and the others to create a comprehensive community approach.

Armida hopes that people with disabilities can participate in all policies and programs related to disability actively and significantly, in line with the spirit of ‘nothing without us about us’.

HLIGM APDPD was held on a hybrid basis during 19 – 21 October 2022 and was attended by delegates from 53 member states, 9 association member, observer countries, UN agencies, and civil society organizations.

See the original article: https://en.antaranews.com/news/256377/
Written by: PR Wire, Editor: PR Wire (c) ANTARA 2022

Minister of Social Affairs Conveys Strong Commitment and Real Steps for Indonesia to Fulfill the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The High-Level Intergovermental Meeting on the Final Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (HLIGM-FRPD), has started this morning at Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta, Wednesday (19/10). The meeting took place hybrid from 19 to 21 October, and attended by 53 member states of the United Nations of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and 9 associated members.

Representing the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy was present to open the meeting officially. In his speech, Muhadjir emphasized the commitment and strong support of Indonesian government in fulfilling and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. “This can be seen in the implementation of policies and programs related to the persons with disabilities,” said Muhadjir Effendy.

On her keynote speech, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP and Under Secretary General of the UN, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana expressed her appreciation to Indonesian government for organizing this event, especially for the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini.

Armida stated that the aims of this conference were to review, assess the progress of the Incheon strategy implementation, after 10 years. The second, to build on the commitment of ESCAP members to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, including access to inclusive public transportation and social rehabilitation efforts that have been carried out.

The third aim is to make some recommendations of future plans that mark the 4th decade of 2023 to 2032 which will be formulated as the Jakarta Declaration.

On the same occasion, Social Affairs Minister Risma delivered a country statement, emphasizing that Indonesian government has taken concrete steps in fulfilling and protecting disability rights, as evidenced by the issuance of Law No. 8/2016 on Persons with Disabilities.

“With this provision, it marks an important movement in Indonesia from placing persons with disabilities as objects of assistance recipients, to becoming subjects who have rights and are actively involved in making decisions related to their own needs,” said the Minister of Social Affairs.

Implementation and Evaluation of Respect, Protection and Fulfillment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the national and regional levels, the government also prioritizes persons with disabilities in a policy for a period of 25 years or known as the National Master Plan for Persons with Disabilities, followed by the National Action Plan on Human Rights.

Government Regulation 70 of 2019 on planning, implementation and evaluation of respect, protection and fulfillment of the rights of persons with disabilities.

“Recently, Indonesia also passed Law No. 12 of 2022 on the Crime of Sexual Violence as legal protection for women and children from all forms of sexual violence with a 1/3 heavier penalty if the victim is a person with a disability,” said Risma.

To further empower and protect persons with disabilities and create an inclusive society, Indonesia launched Indonesia Visualize, Indonesia Hear, and Indonesia Take Steps programs. “Through these programs, accessibility and mobility tools are distributed and cataract surgery and physical therapy are carried out by campaigns to raise awareness in inclusion and capacity building,” said Minister Risma.

In 2021, the Ministry of Social Affairs has distributed 6,581 units of assistive devices, consisting of 757 units of electric wheelchairs, 354 units of commercial tricycle motorbikes, 5,420 units of adaptive sticks, and 50 units of blind water sensors. “Meanwhile, in 2022, it is targeted that 10,000 aid tools can be distributed,” added the Minister.

The Government of Indonesia is also increasing its commitment through patented innovations and assistive technology technologies such as the Smart Blind Stick, and incorporating the values of gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) into its universal designs.

In her statement, the Minister of Social Affairs also emphasized Indonesia’s commitment and concrete steps in overcoming stocks. In response to the high prevalence of stocks for persons with disabilities, several efforts have been made, including enforcing laws that prohibit stocks and educating families and communities.

To protect persons with disabilities from the COVID 19 pandemic, the government launched protection programs such as Family Hope Program (PKH), Conditional Cash Assistance, ATENSI program, food assistance, health insurance, house renovation for the elderly with disabilities and other inclusive social assistance.

Protection against natural disasters, the government formulates regulations on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) that are inclusive at the national and regional levels. “Some of the best practices of disability-inclusive DRR can be seen from Disaster Preparedness Village and Disaster Resilient Village Program, which involves persons with disabilities as disaster volunteers such as Difagana (Disaster Voluntary Workers with Disabilities) and the formulation of technical guidelines for disaster management in sign language for the deaf,” said Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini.

To increase economic independence, Indonesia strengthens skills development, entrepreneurship training and provides accessibility/mobility tools needed by persons with disabilities to carry out their entrepreneurial activities.

“In addition, access to employment opportunities is also enhanced through the Inclusive Public-Private Partnership. It is proven that there has been an increase in income from social-inclusive entrepreneurial activities for persons with disabilities,” she said.

Indonesia recognizes that there are still a lot of work to do. Next, it will focus on improving the monitoring and evaluation of measurable-based policies and programs, roadmaps to adaptive social protection, more accountable disaggregated data, meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in DRR and economic empowerment, and global partnerships in humanitarian nexuses.

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