Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian Government has set up a Task Force for the Acceleration of Customary Forest Designation, with the aim of speeding up the legal recognition of customary forests (known as hutan adat).
At least 70,000 hectares are expected to be formalised by the end of 2025, said Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni on September 18.
The task force is mandated to cut through bureaucratic hurdles that have long delayed recognition of indigenous land rights.
Since 2016, the government has recognised 332,000 hectares of customary forests, but at least 1.4 million hectares remain eligible, he said.
Antoni said that the Task Force reflects an inclusive approach, bringing together academics, activists and civil society groups that have long advocated for indigenous land rights.
🌼 Indonesia, home to the world’s third-largest rainforest after Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo, has faced pressure to strengthen protections for indigenous communities and curb deforestation, even as it seeks to expand palm oil, mining and infrastructure projects./.
Whale sharks inhabiting tropical and subtropical waters, including Indonesian waters, are known to have biological characteristics that are vulnerable to threats, such as slow growth, low fecundity, and a long maturity age.
The Indonesian Government has just unveiled a plan to roll out five priority programmes in 2025, aiming to generate more than 3 million new jobs while fostering sustainable economic growth and enhancing the competitiveness of its agro-fishery sectors.
An illegal wildlife trade case involving 16 protected eagles has been busted in Central Bangka district, Bangka Belitung Islands province of Indonesia.
Beyond meeting basic needs, the social housing initiative aims to create a sustainable development ecosystem, offering renewed hope to tens of millions of families without access to proper housing.
In a Facebook post on September 18 following his meeting with Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, PM Anwar noted that the talks reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and the Halal industry.
China has remained ASEAN's largest trade partner for 16 consecutive years. Meanwhile, ASEAN has been China's largest trade partner for the past five years
Vietnam proposed maintaining and strengthening the role of the annual ministerial conference as a key mechanism to address common issues and develop concrete action initiatives, conducting joint in-depth research programmes on pressing topics such as smart cities, climate change adaptation, and heritage preservation in the digital environment at the 2025 China-ASEAN Ministerial Roundtable on Construction.
Under the deal, about 80% of Indonesia’s exports to the EU will see tariffs eliminated within one to two years after the agreement takes effect. This marks an important step following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement in July that the two sides had reached a 'political agreement' on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Running through September 20, the event marks the first time an official platform has been created within the AIPA framework to connect the private sector with policymakers, aiming to discuss pressing issues such as economic growth, sustainability, digitalisation, and social inclusion.
Colonel David Dwi Martin W, Director of Training for the Indonesian Air Force, said that the exercise helps deepen ties between the two air forces while fostering mutual trust and respect between the two nations.
In its initial phase, the programme will recruit 20,000 fresh graduates. Each participant will receive a monthly stipend equal to the provincial minimum wage — currently 3.3 million IDR (200 USD) — for a six-month period.
ASEAN Express, a new cross-border freight rail service, is being hailed as a breakthrough in international rail connectivity, expected to strengthen Thailand’s and ASEAN’s economic competitiveness in the near future.
Singapore has been ranked fifth among 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, marking the third consecutive year it has remained in the top five.
Senior defence officials of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Philippines discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in defence and weapon industry at their meeting in Seoul on September 15.
From September 16, residents and visitors can enjoy a safer, cleaner, and higher-quality travel option aboard the company’s signature cyan taxis, with special promotions available for new users.
The declaration, endorsed at the ASEAN Prosecutors/Attorneys General Meeting (APAGM) in Bali, commits regional prosecutors to closer coordination in addressing transnational offenses such as online gambling, scams, corruption, money laundering, and cross-border asset smuggling.
CAMEX features 17 themed pavilions, including 10 dedicated to ASEAN member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – as well as a regional pavilion from Guangxi, China. It also hosts a special World Halal Trade Centre and themed areas for other Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
The Indonesian government has confirmed that it will stop providing incentives for imported completely built-up (CBU) battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from 2026.
The ministry warned that the RSV can easily spread through mucus, saliva and toys around children. Currently, there is no specific treatment or RSV vaccine for children, so families were urged to take preventive measures.
Thailand has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets for artificial intelligence (AI), with OpenAI reporting that weekly active users of ChatGPT in the country have quadrupled over the past year.
