Indonesia expects to exit COVID-19 in next February
Indonesia’s Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin expressed his optimism that Indonesia would be able to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic if there are no spike in cases until February 2023.
A view of the international terminal at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Badung, Bali, on September 29, 2022. (Photo: Antara)
Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia’s Minister ofHealth Budi Gunadi Sadikin expressed his optimism that Indonesia would be able to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic ifthere are no spike in cases until February 2023.
The minister said he hopes that health protocols andvaccination will be maintained and the pandemic will continue its decliningtrend.
Sadikin explained that if Indonesia can go through theDecember 2022-February 2023 period with a declining count in COVID-19 cases,then it would become a country with no surge in COVID-19 cases for a period of12 months.
The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was confirmedin March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as ofOctober 13, 2022, the nation has recorded 6,452,078 COVID-19 cases, 6,276,589recoveries, and 158,263 deaths./.
Indonesian President Joko Joko Widodo has asked state-owned enterprises (SOEs) along with their venture-capital arms to be more involved in aiding home-grown start-ups, hoping it can boost the country’s digital economic resilience amid the highly competitive tech-firm market.
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The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
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Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
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Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
A view of the international terminal at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Badung, Bali, on September 29, 2022. (Photo: Antara) 
