Babies born early can need specialist care. Tiny Indonesian baby Maryamah stared around from inside an incubator, her bright eyes swiveling left and right from under a woolen hat that was far too big for her. When she was born prematurely, Maryamah was just 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds), less than half the usual weight of a newborn in Indonesia. Now safely back at home, she is still diminutive but nestles comfortably in a small incubator lent to family, who live in a poor neighborhood in the city of Bogor on Java island. She is one of hundreds of premature babies born in Indonesia benefiting from the work of an engineering professor who is building incubators and lending them for free to low-income families in a bid to fill a gap in the healthcare system. "The government has a program of public health insurance, but it cannot cover all the people," Raldi Artono Koestoer, who established the initiative, told AFP. Indonesia has the fifth greatest number of premature births of any … [Read more...]

Exports unsatisfactory this year Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, head of Ipsard (the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development), noted that Vietnam’s farm exports had been decreasing since the beginning of the year. This was partly attributed to Vietnam’s rivals devaluing their currencies, thus making Vietnamese exports more expensive. Vietnam’s farm and seafood produce has become less competitive in price compared with Indian and Thai rice, Brazilian and Colombian coffee, Thai, Indian and Indonesian shrimp, and Indonesian and Malaysian rubber. As the Chinese economy takes a hit, the world’s economies, have been reeling as well. Vietnam's economy bears the biggest influence from China’s economic problems as 20 % of Vietnam’s agricultural products are exported to China, not including exports across border gates. According to Tuan, in the first seven months of the year, China consumed 37 % of Vietnam’s total rice exports, 47 % … [Read more...]

Eight Vietnamese vessels had fished in Indonesia’s waters under a contract signed between Vietnam’s Dai Duong (Ocean) Joint Stock Company and Indonesia’s Papua Fishery Development Company. The contract was approved by the Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries. On January 4, four out of the eight vessels with 61 fishermen on board were detained by the Indonesian marine police. According to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, the four Vietnamese vessels violated the country’s fishing regulations. At the April 21 meeting, Dai Duong JSC agreed to pay fees and initiate the necessary procedures for the safe and timely return of all 61 fishermen. It will also be accountable for maintaining the four seized vessels in Indonesia. Dai Duong and vessel owners will work together to settle all disputes relating to fishermen’ interests. … [Read more...]

The defendants were found guilty of battering 34-year-old Le Quang Huy to death, before throwing his body to the sea on August 2, according to the report on the trial at the criminal court of Daegu City, about 300 kilometers from Seoul. The killing was an act of revenge, as the Indonesian nationals had conflicts with the victim, who was tasked with supervising and coordinating work among the crew, during their four years working together, the court heard on February 17. While the murder took place when the ship was offshore, Korean maritime police discovered blood on the back of the ship and on one of the defendants' shirt. Police then stepped in with a DNA test and interrogated the suspects, the news agency reported. Registered in Busan City, the ship is operated by a crew of nine Indonesian, eight Philippine, seven Korean and 11 Vietnamese members. The Vietnamese embassy to South Korea was notified of the case two days after it happened. … [Read more...]

*** The Golkar Party, the biggest Party in the Indonesian Lower House on April 25 extended congratulations to Nong Duc Manh, General Secretary of the Vietnam Communist Party (CPV) Central Committee and praised the great success of the 10th Party Congress. The Party also expressed its belief that the CPV will fulfil all its set target, and bilateral relations will continue to develop finely in the areas of politics, economics and social affairs, contributing to further strengthening co-operative relations between the two governments and peoples. ***Jakarta Post newspaper on April 26 reported on the re-election of Nong Duc Manh to the post of Party General Secretary, a move praised by the business circle, particularly the private sector. This is a factor demonstrating political and economic stability in Vietnam. *** Xinbao newspaper of Hong Kong on April 25 reported on the conclusion of the 10th National Party Congress. The congress, it said, devised future tasks, which will focus on … [Read more...]

The diplomatic note also asked the agencies to ensure the safety of rescued Vietnamese residents and hold funeral observances for one sailor who was confirmed dead. Earlier, the RoK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officially confirmed that 11 out of 42 sailors on board the trawler No. 1 Insung, which sank in Antarctic waters on the morning of December 13, are Vietnamese, of whom, one has been confirmed dead, three missing and seven rescued. On the same day, answering reporters’ questions on protection measures for Vietnamese citizens, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga said the ministry already asked RoK and New Zealand to promptly provide reasons for the sinking, identify the dead person and closely coordinate with the Vietnamese side in protecting citizens and supporting people in distress. The Overseas Labour Management Department and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs asked companies which despatched crews to direct executives to study … [Read more...]

This is mainly due to the country’s positive macro economic situation, payment balance, foreign currency reserve and market confidence at present. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the affirmation while answering query regarding Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono’s remarks on the sidelines of the 20 APEC Summit held recently in Vladivostok, Russia. President Yodhoyono was quoted as saying that “Indonesia and other fellow ASEAN members will be ready to help Vietnam through the crisis without the country having a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.” PM Dung said under the agreement on the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM), which Vietnam is an active member, all member countries have the right to approach the loan when they need urgent assistance to address short-term payment balance and foreign currency liquidity in order to stabilise the macro economy and monetary market. The government leader said since early 2012, the … [Read more...]

In 2012, Indonesia’s National Cement Company spent US$157 million on 70 percent stake in Thang Long Cement Factory, transforming the Vietnamese firm Southeast Asia’s largest cement producer. The Indonesian National Coal Corporation confirmed it regards Vietnam as a market replete with potential and a promising customer base for coal exports. As of May 2013, Indonesia had invested in 35 Vietnam-based projects capitalized at US$280 million, ranking it 27th among the country’s 100 foreign investors. Eight state-owned Indonesian businesses are planning to enter the Vietnamese market in the very near future, focusing on processing, manufacturing, medicine and pharmacy mining, electricity, and information technology. … [Read more...]

Chang Shin Vietnam General Director Woo Bang said the US$12 million expansion project is expected to generate an additional 1,800 jobs for local people. He noted that in defiance of the global economy’s sluggish recovery, Nike Group still persisted with transferring its Indonesian and Chinese export production orders to Vietnam. Chang Shin Vietnam Co. Ltd expects its orders to rise 40% in 2014 and continue to climb over the following years. Chang Shin Vietnam Co. Ltd has expanded its production scale eight-fold since its establishment 18 years ago. Its factories currently employ more than 20,000 labourers. Despite 2013’s challenges, the company still believes it will successfully export 20 million pairs of shoes, earning estimated revenue of around US$340 million. … [Read more...]

The target was set during a meeting between State President Truong Tan Sang and Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing, China, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in its recent press release on the results of APEC, ASEAN and G20 meetings. According to the statistics of Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry and national statistics office (BPS), two-way trade between two countries annually rose 25% in the past five years to reach US$5.12 billion in 2013, doubling the figure in 2009. In the first eight months of this year, bilateral trade was US$3.71 billion. Indonesia’s investment in Vietnam is still moderate with the largest project on cement production worth US$300 million. According to Indonesia’s media and relevant agencies, Vietnam and Indonesia have a number of opportunities for mutual benefit. … [Read more...]

This is the first time since the Indonesian Open seven months ago he has not been among the eight top seeds of the Badminton World Federation's competition. Minh was dropped to No 10 in December's world rankings. The Kuala Lumpur tournament, which is recognised as a Super Series Premier event this year, will award up to US$500,000 to winners in five categories, including men's and women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles. Minh will play Son Wan-ho, World No 21, in the first round match. The Republic of Korean player defeated Minh in the final of the Chinese Taipei Open last year. The final of the tournament is scheduled for January 19. Minh will compete at the Victor Korea Open starting on January 8 and closing on January 12 in Seoul. … [Read more...]

Hanoi (VNA) – Eight Indonesians were deported from Malaysia on January 11 after their mobile phones were found to contain the logo of the self-claimed Islamic State (IS), an Indonesian official confirmed. Muhammad Iqbal, director of citizen protection at Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry, cited investigation results that the deported persons were students of a school in Indonesia's West Sumatra province. They made trips to Malaysia and Thailand's southern province of Pattani to undertake a study programme. On January 9, they were blocked from entering Singapore from Malaysia's Johor state as Singaporean immigration officers found the IS logo in a mobile phone belonging to one of the eight. Malaysian anti-terror police conducted investigation against the eight Indonesians on the next day and concluded that the IS logo was unintentionally saved into the mobile phone through social media, Iqbal said. He added that Malaysian authorities deported them instantly, and the eight … [Read more...]

Armed men killed eight fishermen in what appeared to be an attack by pirates in dangerous waters in the southern Philippines, a coast guard spokesman said on Tuesday. The apparent act of piracy came as Philippine soldiers were given a six-month deadline to end Islamist militant threats, including those made on cargo ships in south, where a long-festering insurgency has been exacerbated by the growing influence of the Islamic State militant group. About two dozen sailors and tourists were taken captive by Islamist militants last year in attacks on tug boats and yachts in the Celebes and Sulu seas, raising concerns among defense officials from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines about Islamist militancy and piracy. Coast guard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said a Filipino fishing boat with 15 crew on board was operating off Laud Siromon island near the Zamboanga peninsula on Monday night when five armed men on a speed boat attacked them. "The attackers opened fire at the … [Read more...]

Officials said the women entered Indonesia as tourists but then worked illegally as sex workers. Indonesian authorities have arrested 10 women suspected of doing sex work illegally for several weeks in Batam City, Riau Islands. Eight of the 10 suspects are Vietnamese while the other two are Chinese. They are between 20 and 30 years old, according to Jakarta Post. Batam Immigration Office Chief Teguh Prayitno was quoted as saying that the arrests were made in two separate raids on a boarding house and a club on Wednesday. “They entered Batam via Jakarta. They have been operating in Batam for several weeks, accepting orders for sexual services by phone,” the official said. He said the suspects claimed that they were tourists but could not show proof of tourist accommodations. “They will all be deported back to their countries,” he added. Many young women from other countries are working as sex workers in Batam, according to the immigration office. Sex work … [Read more...]

Indonesian police said three suspected militants who were planning a holiday season suicide bombing were killed in a raid Wednesday on the outskirts of Jakarta in the second imminent attack to be foiled in less than two weeks. A residential neighborhood was evacuated after five bombs were found in a house used by the men. Police said they had defused three bombs so far and described them as low explosive and made from potassium nitrate. The men planned to stage their attack on Christmas Day or New Year's Eve, Jakarta police chief Mochamad Iriawan said in a television interview. They were to stab police officers in order to attract a crowd and then detonate bombs, he said. The three men were killed during a gunbattle with the police's anti-terror squad in a leafy residential compound in Tangerang, a Jakarta satellite city, after refusing an appeal from authorities to surrender. National Police spokesman Rikwanto said the men threw explosives and fired guns at police. A fourth man, … [Read more...]

Thailand’s football players lift the AFF Suzuki Cup after winning the second leg of the final between Thailand and Indonesia 2-0 at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on December 17. — AFP Photo Viet Nam News BANGKOK — Thai forward Siroch Chatthong scored twice against Indonesia to help Thailand lift the Suzuki Cup in Bangkok on Saturday, overturning a shock first leg deficit. Goals on either side of halftime gave Thailand the 2-0 victory that allowed it to retain the hotly-contested Southeast Asian title for a record fifth time. The pressure was on the War Elephants after a crushing loss to Indonesia in the final’s first-leg, when the Garuda took advantage of their home turf to become the first team in the tournament to breach Thailand’s defence with a 2-1 win. But Thailand headed into halftime in high spirits on Saturday after Siroch got lucky and kneed a pass from Theerathon Bunmathan into the net just seven minutes before the break. The strike … [Read more...]

JAKARTA: Thirteen people have died after an Indonesian military transport plane crashed in the east of the country on Sunday, officials said, marking yet another air accident for the armed forces. The Hercules C-130 plane took off from Timika city in Papua province carrying 12 crew and one passenger, but came down in a remote mountainous region shortly before its scheduled landing, officials said. "The operator on land saw the plane at 06:08 am local time but at 06:09 am the plane had lost contact," air force chief Agus Supriatna told AFP. The plane was expected to land at 6.13 am local time (7.13am Singapore time) Aboard the aircraft were three pilots, eight technicians, a navigator and a military officer, as well as food and cement, Supriatna said. Weather around the area is known to be unpredictable, and the plane went in and out of clouds before the crash, he added. Rescuers located the plane debris soon after. All 13 bodies have been recovered according to the air force. … [Read more...]

Thirteen people have died after an Indonesian military transport plane crashed in the east of the country on Sunday, officials said, marking yet another air accident for the armed forces. The Hercules C-130 plane took off from Timika city in Papua province carrying 12 crew and one passenger, but came down in a remote mountainous region shortly before its scheduled landing, officials said. "The operator on land saw the plane at 06:08 am local time but at 06:09 am the plane had lost contact," air force chief Agus Supriatna told AFP. The plane was expected to land at 06:13 am local time. Aboard the aircraft were three pilots, eight technicians, a navigator and a military officer, as well as food and cement, Supriatna said. Weather around the area is known to be unpredictable, and the plane went in and out of clouds before the crash, he added. Rescuers located the plane debris soon after. All 13 bodies have been recovered according to the air force. Supriatna said a team was heading to … [Read more...]

1. APEC officials head to ISOM in Hanoi Senior officials from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies gathered at the Informal Senior Officials Meeting (ISOM) in Hanoi on December 9 to discuss priorities and key activities for the 2017 APEC, to be hosted by Vietnam. Around 200 events, conferences and workshops will be held across the country within the framework of APEC 2017. 2. NA Chairwoman Ngan pays official visit to India National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan paid a State visit to India from December 8-11 at the invitation of Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (India’s Upper House) Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Speaker of the Lok Sabha (India’s Lower House) Sumitra Mahajan. During her stay, the leader talked with Speaker of India’s Lower House Sumitra Mahajan, met General Secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Sitaram Yechury; Indian President Pranab Mukherjee; representatives from the India Fund; CPI General Secretary … [Read more...]

Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia and the Republic of Korea are developing environmentally friendly small-medium enterprises (SMEs) or green businesses that emphasize efforts to reduce emissions in product processing, reported local media. SMEs should participate in cutting industrial emissions by implementing environmentally friendly technologies, said Deputy for Organisation at the Cooperatives and SME Ministry Meliadi Sembiring. "The SME sector is expected to be more creative and innovative to be able to survive competition and run their businesses in environmentally friendly ways," Antara News Agency quoted Meliadi at the opening of the first Indonesia-Korea Green Business Forum on December 6 as saying. The Indonesia-Korea Business Forum is the first event held by the Green Business Center (GBC) with the support of the ASEM SMEs Eco Innovation Centre (ASEIC) of the RoK and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs. "Green Business Centre is an institutional form of cooperation between … [Read more...]