Indonesia’s 40 Richest People

Although global economic conditions are broke down, Indonesia’s economy is still moving. This was reflected in Indonesia’s gross domestic product increased by 70 percent and Indonesia’s capital markets also rose 3 percent.

This, according to Forbes, helped increase the total wealth of the 40 richest people of Indonesia this year by 19 percent to 85.1 billion U.S. dollars.

Combined total wealth of the three richest people of Indonesia, namely Hartono brothers, Susilo Wonowidjojo, and Eka Tjipta Widjaja, which reached 32.5 billion U.S. dollars, representing 38 percent of the total combined wealth of the millionaires Indonesia.

Here’s a list of 40 richest people in Indonesia released by Forbes :

1. R Budi Hartono and Michael (14 billion U.S. dollars)
2. Susilo Wonowidjojo (10 billion U.S. dollars)
3. Eka Tjipta Widjaja (8 billion U.S. dollars)
4. Low Tuck Kwong (3.7 billion U.S. dollars)
5. Anthoni Salim (3.6 billion U.S. dollars)
6. Sukanto Tanoto (2.8 billion U.S. dollars)
7. Martua Sitorus (2.7 billion U.S. dollars)
8. Peter Sondakh (2.6 billion U.S. dollars)
9. Sampoerna (2.4 billion U.S. dollars)
10. Achmad Hamami (2.2 billion U.S. dollars)
11. Chairul Tanjung (2.1 billion U.S. dollars)
12. Boenjamin Setiawan (2 billion U.S. dollars)
13. Sri Prakash Lohia (1.7 billion U.S. dollars)
14. Murdaya Poo (1.5 billion U.S. dollars)
15. Tahir (1.4 billion U.S. dollars)
16. Edwin Soeryadjaya (1.35 billion U.S. dollars)
17. Kiki Barki (1.3 billion U.S. dollars)
18. Garibaldi Thohir (1.3 billion U.S. dollars)
19. Sjamsul Nursalim (1.22 billion U.S. dollars)
20. Ciliandra Fangiono (1.210 billion U.S. dollars)
21. William Eddy Katuari (1.2 billion U.S. dollars)
22. Hary Tanoesoedibjo (1.19 billion U.S. dollars)
23. Kartini Muljadi (1.15 billion U.S. dollars)
24. TP Rachmat (1.140 billion U.S. dollars)
25. Djoko Susanto (1.040 billion U.S. dollars)
26. Harjo Sutanto (1 billion U.S. dollars)
27. Ciputra (950 million U.S. dollars)
28. Samin Tan (940 million U.S. dollars)
29. Benny Subianto (900 million U.S. dollars)
30. Bakrie (890 million U.S. dollars)
31. Engki Wibowo and Jenny Quantero (810 million U.S. dollars)
32. Hashim Djojohadikusumo (790 million U.S. dollars)
33. Soegiarto Adikoesoemo (770 million U.S. dollars)
34. Kuncoro Wibowo (730 million U.S. dollars)
35. Aksa Mahmud Muhammad (710 million U.S. dollars)
36. Husain Sjojonegoro (700 million U.S. dollars)
37. Sandiaga Uno (660 million U.S. dollars)
38. Mochtar Riady (650 million U.S. dollars)
39. Triatma Haliman (640 million U.S. dollars)
40. Handojo Santosa (630 million U.S. dollars)

Credit to Forbes.

Saman Dance officially recognized by UNESCO

Saman Dance from Gayo Lues and surrounding areas in Aceh Province was officially recognized and included in the list of intangible cultural heritage that needs urgent protection of UNESCO, said the official Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

Head of Information and Public Communication Kemparekraf I Gusti Ngurah son during a press conference here on Thursday, said UNESCO’s recognition of cultural arts Saman were carried out and characterized by hammer knocking-sixth Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

“Through the trial, the art culture of Gayo Lues Saman and surrounding areas in Aceh province formally entered into the list of intangible cultural heritage Requiring Urgent Protection of UNESCO,” he said.

Attended the annual grand session of more than 500 delegates from 69 countries, international NGOs, cultural experts and the media took place at the Bali International Convention Centre from 22 to 29 November 2011.

Indonesia is trusted by 137 countries in 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Protection intangible cultural heritage to be the host and lead such a prestigious meeting.

Previously, files nomination Saman carefully prepared and submitted to UNESCO in March 2010 by the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare, with full support from the Central Government, Provincial Government of Aceh, Gayo Lues Regent, Ibn Hashim, and society.

Welfare warned Saman conservation efforts do not end with acceptance of the charter signed by the Director-General of UNESCO, but this is the beginning of the implementation of the Action Plan to protect and develop cultural heritage Saman by all stakeholders.

As per 2003 UNESCO Convention, Article 2, Paragraph 1 states that intangible cultural heritage includes all the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills and tools, objects (natural), artefacts and cultural spaces associated with it that is recognized by a variety of community, groups, and in certain individuals as part of their cultural heritage.

Intangible cultural heritage known to be more familiar as the “living heritage”. Parallels are natural sites and cultural sites, known as heritage objects.

Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has adopted the Convention on the Protection intangible cultural heritage at the 32nd Session of its General Conference in Paris, on October 17, 2003.

Convention in 2003 started its operation since April 2006 which aims to increase visibility or public awareness, encourage respect for and protection diverse intangible cultural heritage or culture of life through cooperation between governments and communities at national, sub-regional, regional and international levels. To date, the Convention has been ratified by 137 states parties.

Indonesia became the 83rd State Party Convention in 2003 on January 15, 2008, through No. Presidential Regulation 78 July 2007.

Since then, Indonesia participated actively even made a member of the Intergovernmental Committee of 24 member countries, with a term of four years, the General Assembly of States Parties in Paris, June 2010.

Bali will go down in history as host of the latest in a series of ordinary and extraordinary session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention of 2003, starting from Algiers (2006), Chengdu (2007), Tokyo (2007), Sofia (2008), UNESCO, Paris (2008) , Istanbul (2008), Abu Dhabi (2009) and Nairobi (2010).

This year’s meeting will take place with full sessions for 7 days, and is the longest in the history of the Convention, with 27 eyes of the agenda to be debated and decided.

Gayo original

While Saman dance itself is a cultural heritage of indigenous Gayo tribe since the 13th century, in Gayo Lues and surrounding areas in the province of Aceh which was then developed by Sheikh Saman for the delivery of religious messages.

Saman players are male, generally young, and the numbers are always odd to sit cross-legged or kneel in a line meeting.

Players wearing traditional dress embroidered with Gayo traditional motifs which the full symbolism of nature and noble values.

Coach in the middle of leading players sing the verses contains a message of development, religious, advice, custom, satire, humor, and even romantic.

Players clap their hands, chest, thighs and ground / floor, snapped fingers, wiggle the left-right body, front and back, shaking and rotating the head on the bottom left and right, move the hand, bowed in sync according to the rhythm, sometimes slow, sometimes fast and energetic, sometimes simultaneously, sometimes alternating intervals between players with the position of odd and even positions in a row. Saman describes the motion of nature, environment, and daily life of a Gayo society.

Saman contested when one village invites another village in order to establish friendship ties between villages.

Saman used to entertain guests and to enliven the national and religious holidays. Saman also children’s games of Gayo tribe in the village. Saman is generally transmitted informally to a small child in the village.

Saman staging frequency and transmission to future generations to decline at this time, although the people and the Government has tried to preserve it, so that conservation efforts are needed urgently.

Taken from Kompas OASE.

Paris Hilton praised for Bali

Love at first sight, it seems that’s how Paris Hilton feeling to Bali, Indonesia. Since she arrived in Bali through Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport on Wednesday (09/11/2011) evening, almost all of her tweets contain praise for the island.

Arrive at the hotel where to stay, Paris, who was the first time to Bali, expressed a sense of joy at waterfront hotel. However, she did not mention the name and location of the hotel. “Wow! Love the hotel I’m staying at here in # Bali. Absolutely incredible, a total of paradise right on the beach. So beautiful! Loves it! # YES!” she wrote on Wednesday at 19:32 local time.

On Thursday (11/10/2011) morning, she expressed his delight to spend the night with a female friend, Cheyenne Tozzi, owner of the account @ CheyCheyTozzi. “Having the best time with my girl @ CheyCheyTozzi in # Bali. Love her so much, she ‘s one of the coolest, funniest chicks I know. # YES!” she wrote again on Thursday at 01:26.

Praise for Bali is not depleted. “I’ve Traveled to some of the most beautiful places on earth, but # Bali is one of the most incredible places I’ve ever been. Love it! # YES!” she said on Thursday at 12:59. “I love # Indonesia! # Bali rocks! True Paradise! So happy and relaxed!:) # YES!” continued at 14:04.

In Bali, referring to her tweet, Paris had a massage with Cheyenne. Paris also praised the excellencies of  massages. “Just Had the best massage & now laying out by the pool w / @ CheyCheyTozzi. Laughing & loving life! So much fun to have girl time together!” story at 14:23.

Take from her twitter.

Train will perform “Hey, soul sister” in Jakarta

Train, pop rock band from San Francisco, United States, promised to bring joy when they held a concert in Jakarta on December 5, 2011.

“We will come in the next few weeks to perform in Jakarta. You will feel a lot of fun and excitement,” says Train vocalist, Patrick Monahan, when talking with the International Kompas.com through direct channels, in the U.S.

Not just bringing pleasure, Monahan, who represents Jimmy Stafford (guitar and vocals) and Scott Underwood (drums), also gives a little glimpse of the songs on his appearance later in Jakarta.

“We are excited at all for our performance. We can not wait to sing ‘Hey, Soul Sister’,” said Monahan.

For Train, his appearance in Jakarta later on will be the first. Even so, he already knew a lot about Jakarta from other bands from the U.S., Boyslikegirls, who had a gig in Jakarta on 25 January 2010.

“Yes we’re really excited, this will be our inaugural tour in Indonesia. We know much about Jakarta from our friends at Boyslikegirls. They say ‘Come to Jakarta, feel pleasure,’” Monahan story.

Take from Kompas Entertainment.

Bravo, IAST Beat AC Milan Academy for a Intesa Sanpaolo Cup 2011 Champion

Indonesia All-Star Team (IAST) aged 13-15 years to prove they are really worth for winning the  Intesa Sanpaolo Cup 2011, after the successful exhibition match 3-2 win over AC Milan Academy.

The match kick-off at 17:30 local time, Monday, at the Centro Sportivo Pozzo took place with a fast tempo and exciting from the beginning whistle sounded.
Both teams competed with the format of 2 x 40 minutes, in contrast with Intesa Sanpaolo Cup game that plays 25 minutes per round.

AC Milan Academy consists of players aged 14-15 years, and on average have a higher stature than the children of Indonesia. The victory achieved by this second generation of IAST  become a better performance than last year. Last year, the first generation that won the Cup in 2010 Intesa Sanpaolo should recognize the benefits of Milan Academy to score five goals without reply.

This victory was greeted by the players and spectators. There is a possibility the children of this second generation IAST called by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the State Palace.

According to plan, tomorrow afternoon IAST will play football in front of the cathedral in downtown Milan, the Duomo, before traveling to Malpensa Airport at 14:30. The group will transit in Dubai with Emirates plane before arriving at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

News source: Goal.com

Indonesia Will Build New 14 Airports

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government plans to build 14 new airports in various places throughout Indonesia, as well as develop and rehabilitate the 116 airports.

Not only that, the government also plans to build a new rail network along the 150 kilometers. This is related to government efforts to improve connectivity between regions. “We want to balance infrastructure development more evenly across Indonesia,” the president said when delivering his state address associated Bill on State Budget 2012 and its Financial Note before the Plenary Session of Parliament on Tuesday (16/08/2011) at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta.

Also present at the session of the Vice President Boediono, ministers of United Indonesia Cabinet II, the head of state high institutions, members of Parliament, members of the DPD, and others.

Meanwhile, to overcome the blockage of infrastructure and improving inter-regional connectivity, the government will use the capital expenditure budget in the Draft Budget 2012 for the construction of new roads and increase road capacity along the 4005 km.

In addition, the government also did preservation which includes maintenance and repairs along the 36,319 kilometers of roads, building new bridges over 7682 meters, and maintain a 217,076-meter long bridge across the corners of the country. “In the field of housing, the allocation of our capital expenditure plan to support the construction of 175 flats and modest rental apartment dwelling units and their supporting infrastructure as much as 48 twin blocks. The budget, will also be utilized to finance the construction of cheap houses as many as 62,500 units. To support the robustness food, we will build nine reservoirs and rehabilitating the 24 reservoirs. We will also complete construction of 87 ponds and rehabilitate 62 ponds, “he said.

On occasion, the President said, the budget allocation of capital expenditure on the state budget reached Rp 168.1 trillion, an increase of Rp 27.2 trillion or 19.3 percent of the APBN-P 2011.

Increased capital expenditure budget is higher, continued the President, was directed to support development of infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, food security, and communications as part of our effort to support the development and improvement of connectivity between regions.

Reposted on Good News From Indonesia by Arroisi

Google will open a new office in Indonesia soon

Jakarta – Google’s Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt arrived in Indonesia a few days ago to discuss the expansion of the Internet giant’s business in the country. beside having a meeting with Vice President Boediono, Schmidt also had a discussion with the Minister of Communications and Information Tifatul Sembiring to discuss plans to open an office in Indonesia.

“Google sees a great economic development and internet users in Indonesia. We also know there are so many Google users in Indonesia,” said Tifatul to the reporters at the Presidential Palace on Friday (07/22/2011).

He mentioned that the current number of Internet users in Indonesia is very large. This is why Google provides search engine in Indonesian version.

“They plan to open an office and increase their investment in Indonesia. Google has invested U.S. $ 57.5 billion and it seems that they will increase the number,” said Tifatul.

Nevertheless, he has not ensured that the establishment of the Google office in Indonesia will be done this year. what’s for sure is that Google and the government of Indonesia have agreed to make the development of Small and Medium Enterprises to be one of the MoU contents.

news source : detik finance
translated and re-written by : Reza Arroisi
Edited by Farah Fitriani

Indonesia Conquered Seven Highest Peaks in the World

Indonesia’s Seven Summits Expedition Team from Mahitala University, Bandung , finally successfully tread the top of Denali, the highest mountain in the Americas on Friday (07/07/2011) around 11:00. With this achievement, they became the first Indonesian to reach the seven highest peaks on seven continents.

Fourth Mahitala climbers who have reached the top seven was Sofyan Arief Fesa, Xaferius Frans, Janatan Ginting, and Broery Andrew Sihombing. Previously, they successfully reached the top of Carstensz Pyramid (February 2009), Kilimanjaro (August 2010), Elbrus (August 2010), Vinson Massif (December 2010), Aconcagua (January 2011), and Everest (May 2011).

Sani Handoko, senior Mahitala who finance the expedition, said the mission success of this climb puts Indonesia for the first time in the elite ranks of 277 climbers from seven billion inhabitants of the earth who managed to gain a foothold in the top seven of the world.

In Southeast Asia, Indonesia became the second country after Singapore’s climber, Khoo Swee Chiow, successfully complete the seven highest peaks on November 2000.

News Source: AP
Image Source: Se7en Summits

Rosseta Stone Launches Five New Languages

Rosetta Stone Inc. is a leading provider of technology-based language-learning solutions, today announced the release of five new, online language solutions: Dari, Pashto, Urdu, Swahili and Bahasa Indonesia. The introduction of these new languages, whose demand reflects the globalization of their origin countries, showcases Rosetta Stone’s commitment to meeting consumer, cultural and market needs. These languages join 31 other languages available through Rosetta Stone and are the first new languages the company has introduced since Irish was launched in March 2008.

The five new languages, first developed exclusively for U.S. government and military language training, are now available online to U.S. consumers for the first time. The new, consumer-facing versions focus on everyday conversational content in these popular languages. Three-month online subscriptions of Version 3, Level 1 are available for $159, with six-month subscription purchases available for $259 at RosettaStone.com.

“The language demands of the global economy are always evolving,” said Eric Duehring, SVP of Global Brand Marketing, Rosetta Stone. “With the introduction of these five new languages and more in-depth study of Russian and Mandarin, Rosetta Stone maintains its position at the forefront of the evolution of language needs and encourages communication among the citizens of the world.”

Source: Official Rosseta Stone’s website.

Juventus’s New Official Website Language

Juventini in the country can be proud because Juventus is the first European football club to have a website in Indonesian language. Official license from the headquarters in Turin Bianconerri has also been obtained, and will be coupled with other Asian countries namely China.

The site can be accessed here. This is certainly a pride for IndonesianJuventini because many other European football clubs have big fan bases in Indonesia but don’t have the Indonesian language as an official language on their website.

“We are very happy with this new breakthrough. This proves that we are really considered as an official supporter group of Juventus in Indonesia. We are proud,” said Chairman Juventini Indonesia.

Then how was the process until this  cooperation happened? Italo Gani as the chief commercial M-Stars revealed that Juventini Indonesia has made a contact to the Juventus management in Italy.

He said that during the last two months he has visited countries like Britain, Spain and Italy to promote the idea of the club’s official website to speak with local clubs, like Liverpool, Real Madrid and Juventus.

“From the three clubs, Juventus are the only one that seemed enthusiastic. Another thing, for Madrid and Liverpool, it is very difficult to get them to use Indonesian language for their site. Yet they also have a big fan base here”, said Italo.