Cheap car program might burden to Ministry of Energy

Cheap car program might burden Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources despite the program was a breakthrough policy of Ministry of Industry. 

"Cheap car program will increase number of cars in Indonesia. We must provide more and more fuels. But, every policy has its consequences,".Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Susilo Siswoutomo said on Thursday.

The increase of economic growth is usually followed by growth in car sales. Siswoutomo said, better economy could also reduce the fuel subsidy to decrease dependency to state"s subsidy.

Government has issued regulations about Production of Low Cost Green Car (LGCC). Ministry of Industry through Regulation No. 33/2013 on July 1, 2013 allowed some companies producing LGCC to get tax holiday. Those companies are Toyota, Daihatsu, Honda, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Nissan and also new player, Tata Motor.

State owned oil and gas company, PT Pertamina warned that the plicy could trigger the increasing number of cars and it also meant the increasing fuel use. 

"Hence, amount of fuel consumption must be adjusted to quota. The program will increase number of cheap cars, then government must be quick approve if Pertamina asks additional fuel quota. It is important to anticipate fuel shortage," Deputy Director of Marketing and Distribution of Pertamina, Suhartoko on Thursday.

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Foxconn's negotiation in Indonesia almost completed

Foxconn Technology Group, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturing company, suspends its investment in Indonesia until the next several months and it demands incentives from Indonesian government.

World-class electronics company, Foxconn planed to build factories to produce electronic components in Indonesia. Minister of Industry MS Hidayat said the plan was just one more step, because the process of negotiation between the government and Foxconn was almost completed.

"The negotiation went well so far. It almost reaches the final stage. We will make a joint statement in August. Few things that have not been completed are the details of the investment," Hidayat said on Friday.

One thing that is a lingering problem is joint venture plan between Foxconn and the local partner. Foxconn needs a partner with local brand to be increased its production, because to create a new brand will be difficult. 

Ministry of Industry tries to propose local poduct, which is derived from state-owned enterprises and private enterprises who will be encouraged to become a national product. Foxconn will help the production and application of technology in the local electronics industry. 

Taiwanese electronics components company will produce 10 million electronic devices, such as mobile phones, televisions and Ipad.

Foxconn investment value reaches 10 billion USD. Foxconn will occupy an area of 5,000 square meters in Modern Industrial Area Cikande, Serang, Banten. It is a former Modernland building which will be renovated in order to operate as a temporary plant in December 2013. 

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Lombok is mentioned more in twitter than Hawaii

Research: Lombok is more popular than Hawaii

 Lombok is more popular than Hawaii and Tahiti as favorite vacation spots in the world, analysis of Prapancha Research says. Lombok was mentioned in 4,113,072 chirps in social media Twitter about beautiful vacation spots during the two-year period, July 4, 2011 to July 4, 2013.

"Lombok is five times better known than Hawaii and Tahiti, two sites world-renowned tropical islands," Executive Director of Prapancha Research, Geger Riyanto on Monday.

Lombok with 2,549,505 chirps is mentioned on Twitter universe around the world. It is beyond Hawaii of 433,812 chirps and Tahiti of  232,687 chirps. The research team deliberately chose Hawaii and Tahiti as the two islands are so popular and they are often mentioned in the film as well as foreign magazines.

However, the findings of conversation that was happened surprisingly. Lombok which have never been heard in the Hollywood movies became more popular. 

Not only Lombok, the same research is found a number of  tourist areas in Indonesia was more popular in the region than other parts of the world. They are Mount Kelimutu located in Flores island (East Nusa Tenggara), Lake Toba (North Sumatra) and Borobudur temple (Central Java). 

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Tourists in West Sumatra mostly Malaysians

Two foreign tourists from Ireland and Canada take pictures of Maninjau Lake in West Sumatra. (file photo)

 PADANG - From January to May 2013, Malaysian tourists dominated visits to various attractions in West Sumatra. Head of Statistics Indonesia to West Sumatra, Yomin Tofri said 76.66 percent of 19,251 tourists came from neighboring countries, especially Malaysia.

"This number increased by 26.45 percent over the same period last year at 11,206 people," Tofri said on Tuesday.

Every month, Malaysian tourists visit attractions in West Sumatra. They enter through Minangkabau International Airport in Padang Pariaman. They visit Padang, Sawahlunto, Padang Panjang, Bukit Tinggi, Sijunjung district, Tanah Datar, South Solok and Agam.

Beside Malaysians, tourists visiting West Sumatra are also 798 Australians, 681 Singaporeans, 265 Chinese people, 210 British people, 106 Americans, 93 Japanese, and 50 Filipinos. They love to visit Bukittinggi Clock Tower, Twin Lakes, Maninjau Lake, rock of Malin Kundang, Anai valley, Sikuai Island, and Mentawai Island. 

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