VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOI News, Jakarta: Indonesian Navy soldiers from the 1st Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (Yontaifib) and the United States Marines on Friday wrapped up a series of reconnaissance and infiltration exercises under the "Reconnaissance Exchange" (Reconex) Joint Exercise 2024.

The two units underwent a series of closing exercises ranging from long-range navigation exercises to complete infiltration exercises (full mission profile) from May 8–10, 2024.

Commander of Marine Troops (Danpasmar) 1, Brigadier General Umar Farouq, emphasized that joint training between Indonesian and United States Marine troops would not stop at the 2024 Reconex.

"There will be many more exercises between the two units," he informed while reviewing the training on Thursday, according to an official statement released on Friday.

As part of a series of full mission profile exercises on Damar Island since Thursday, Amphibious Reconnaissance soldiers from the two countries practiced infiltrating enemy areas, paralyzing targets, freeing prisoners, and treating and evacuating combat victims, followed by exfiltrating, or leaving the enemy area after completing the mission.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday (May 8), the soldiers trained in long-range navigation, a cross-surface infiltration technique using rubber boats (seariders).

In a separate official statement issued by the US Embassy in Indonesia, Commander of Alfa Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division of the US Marine Corps, Captain Ethan Hamilton, informed that the Reconex training was a unique opportunity for soldiers from the two countries to build mutual trust.

According to him, the joint exercise aimed to improve the capabilities of the two countries' reconnaissance forces in terms of tactics, techniques, and procedures in a hostile environment.

The Reconex training is a joint exercise that is held routinely by the Indonesian Navy's Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps every one–two years.

This year, the training took place from April 25–May 10. It was attended by 120 soldiers from the 1st Yontaifib of the Indonesian Navy's Marine Corps and 20 soldiers from the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion of the 1st Marine Division of the US Marine Corps.

Besides Damar Island, the Reconex training was also held in several other locations, namely Marine Combat Training Center (Puslatpur) 6 Antralina, Sukabumi, West Java; the Pondok Cabe Airbase in Tangerang, Banten; and the Indonesian Armed Forces Training Command in Jakarta. (Antara)

VOI News, Jakarta: TNI AU Staff Deputy Chief, Vice Marshal Andyawan Martono, discussed joint training plans with Japan Air Self-Defense Deputy Chief, Lieutenant General Takuto Ogaswara, alongside the 2024 Air and Space Conference in Canberra, Australia, May 9.

"The two officials discussed the possibility of joint exercise between the two air forces," as quoted from the Indonesian Air Force's official statement on Friday.

The Indonesian Air Force welcomes the Japanese military to conduct joint exercises. This will be beneficial for Indonesia to gain new perspective and combat experience with Japan.

In addition, both nations can share knowledge on war strategies and technology of the main weapons systems, according to the statement.

This cooperation in the military sector will also strengthen the long-standing sound relations between Indonesia and Japan.

Hence, the Indonesian Air Force ranks hope that the joint military air training activities would be completed shortly.

Earlier, Indonesian Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto, and his Japanese counterpart, Minoru Kihara, discussed several matters during their meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on April 3, including those related to defense cooperation, one of which was continuing cadet exchanges and issues related to the Indo-Pacific region.

Prabowo is optimistic that defense cooperation between the two countries would continue to increase based on the success of earlier programs.

"I previously met with the Japanese minister of defense and asked to send cadets from Indonesia, starting with two people. After that, I asked for another batch, and we have sent four people in total," Prabowo told Kihara at the meeting.

Minister Kihara also conveyed his stance against all unilateral decisions and changes that could increase tensions in the South China Sea.

He believes that Japan and Indonesia, as maritime countries, can work together to ensure the implementation of law in maintaining the Indo-Pacific as a free and open region. (Antara)

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia and Sweden launched the 2024 Health Services Platform in Jakarta on Friday (26/4). It is part of the Sweden-Indonesia Sustainable Partnership Program (SISP) which has been launched since 2020. 

This launch was attended by Indonesian Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor Leste and ASEAN, Daniel Blockert, as well as health industry players. In his speech, Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin conveyed that through the partnership program, the Indonesian government wants to facilitate the business sectors of both countries in a bid to expand networks and opportunities for cooperation.  

He also remarked that the business people have a high role in encouraging and succeeding the programs of the two countries that want to improve health services for the community.

”When you see these arrangements, it's less G-to-G, but more G-to-private. So, we are dealing not mostly with the government of Sweden, but with private companies. To become a high income country, impossible for the government if we don't facilitate the private sector. The one that moves the needle of the economy is the private sector. If we want to move the needle, we have to write a regulation that the private sector coming in, invests, it's much more efficient. Compared to private hospitals, we are nothing. I think government hospitals are only 800 and declining. The number of private hospitals is increasing. So, more and more deliveries of healthcare services are done by the private sector,” he conveyed.   

Moreover, in 2023, the Swedish team along with the Indonesian Ministry of Health will begin a collaborative effort to develop the partnership program of  2024 Health Services Platform. Both countries are working together to share knowledge, technology and experience in developing sustainable health services. 

The Sweden-Indonesia Sustainable Partnership (SISP) is an inter-governmental (G-to-G) platform to develop collaboration between Sweden and Indonesia where both countries work together to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  This partnership aims to foster cooperation between Swedish and Indonesian institutions and companies in various sectors, including transport, energy, health, mining and manufacturing. (Ndy/ Mar/AF/Rahmana)

VOInews,Jakarta: Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor Leste and ASEAN, Daniel Blockert pointed out that Indonesia has become an attractive market for Swedish investors. On the sidelines of the launch of the 2024 Health Services Platform which is part of the Sweden-Indonesia Sustainable Partnership (SISP) in Jakarta on Friday (26/4), he also explained that currently, there are Swedish companies producing in Indonesia and investing in various fields.

According to  Ambassador Daniel, Swedish investors have high optimism because Indonesia has carried out a number of reforms that support the investment climate in the country. With many facilities offered by Indonesia, Ambassador Daniel Blockert admitted that he would be very surprised if foreign investment from Sweden in Indonesia does not increase.

“Indonesia is an interesting market for Swedish companies. We have Swedish companies who are already producing in Indonesia. We have companies who are investing in other areas here as well. And I hear that there are many Swedish companies who are interested in getting into this market more. I don't think that I will insult anyone if I'm saying that the Indonesian health sector has not always been easy to navigate but I think that what I'm hearing when I talked to the Swedish companies is that there is a lot of optimism because reforms have been made and reforms are also on the way and I think that the general sense from the business communities that these are big steps in the right direction. And with this market, with these possibilities that you have here with the large number of universities, I would be very surprised if Swedish investments in the health sector are not going to increase in Indonesia for the coming years. It is safe to say that there are a lot of interests,” he pointed out.

Furthermore, since 2020, Indonesia and Sweden have increased bilateral cooperation of both countries through the Sweden-Indonesia Sustainable Partnership (SISP) scheme which aims to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Targets (SDGs) set by the UN.

Previously, Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the Indonesian government encourages to increase relations between Indonesian and Swedish business actors to improve the quality of health services in Indonesia. He believes that the business community has an important role in making this effort a success, facilitated by the government. (Ndy/ Mar/AF/Rahmana)