Indonesia asks Singapore to re-open borders for tourism activities
The Indonesian government has asked Singapore to soon re-open its borders, particularly those that connect the city state to the tourist areas of Bintan and Batam in Riau Islands, which have been closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ferries are seen docked at Sekupang International Ferry Port in Batam on March 17, 2020 (Photo: //www.thejakartapost.com/)
Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian government has asked Singapore to soon re-openits borders, particularly those that connect the city state to the touristareas of Bintan and Batam in Riau Islands, which have been closed for monthsdue to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During his visit to Batam on July 2, Coordinating Maritime Affairs andInvestment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan made a phone call withSingaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakhrisnan, requesting thelatter to reopen borders that serve as entry points to Bintan and Batam.
Minister Pandjaitan said that Minister Balakhrisnan agreed to reviewIndonesia's request after Singapore’s general election, which is scheduledfor July 10.
Singapore closed borders to short-term visitors inMarch.
The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore said that the country is likely to closeaccess in and out until December this year.
Border closures have impacted tourism and the economy in RiauIslands, which depends largely on Singaporean tourists.
Batam Mayor Muhammad Rudi said on the same day that he had asked Batam’srepresentative office for the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry(Kadin) to call on the Singaporean Health Ministry to provide them with a roadmapof when the border connecting Batam and Singapore would be reopened.
The Batam administration also contacted the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore topromote the reopening of international ferry routes connecting the twocountries./.
Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to speed up the finalisation of the bilateral trade agreement, said the two countries’ ministers in the latest statement.
Indonesia and Singapore have reached many important agreements, including a deal on avoiding double taxation, during the on-going visit to Indonesia by Singaporean President Halimah Yacob.
Indonesia and Singapore currently dominate the venture capital (VC) fundraising in Southeast Asia, despite a slower pace of capital raising in the first quarter this year.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Ferries are seen docked at Sekupang International Ferry Port in Batam on March 17, 2020 (Photo: //www.thejakartapost.com/) 
