Indonesia is planning to build more cruise ports in efforts to increase numbers of foreign visitors who come here on cruises. Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said Thursday he wanted new cruise ports in at least Bali and the Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua.

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Julia Roberts’ Eat Pray Love has apparently helped boost tourism in Bali, with the province’s tourism agency reporting an increase in the number of visitors after the movie was released. Bali tourism agency head Ida Bagus Kade Subhiksu said Wednesday there had been an increase in the number of tourists visiting Bali in December compared with figures for previous months, which averaged about 200,000 visitors a month.

Jakarta. Indonesia has forecast non-oil and gas exports to increase 15 percent this year as more companies sell their goods overseas, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said. Exports barring oil and gas are projected to reach $145 billion this year from last year’s forecast of $126.4 billion, Mari said on Wednesday. The estimate assumes that global economic growth will reach 4.2 percent with increasing commodity prices and investments, which are expected to rise 11 percent this year.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Industry Minister M.S. Hidayat is optimistic that exports of manufactured goods last year will surpass its 2008 performance. If this can be proven, the manufacturing industry’s export value will reach its highest point in the last five years. “We are already entering the recovery period out of the 2008 global financial crisis,” he said in Jakarta yesterday. The manufacture industry’s export value from January to November 2010 is US$ 87.745 billion.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesia will provide clean water and energy to Singapore. The city-state is expected to experience a water shortage by 2015. The clean water supply will be sent from Batam, Bintan and Karimun (BBK) due to its close location to Singapore. “After 2015, Singapore will go through more (water) shortages,” said Lucky Eko Wuriyanto, Deputy Minister in charge of Infrastucture and Area Development at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, in Jakarta yesterday.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Paulus Tjakrawan, secretary-general of the Indonesian Bio-fuel Producer Association, estimated the usage of subsidized bio-diesel this year will reach 590,000 kiloliters, a slight increase compared to last year. The increase follows the growth of domestic bio-diesel fuel consumption. Last year, the consumption of bio-diesel duel was 10 million kiloliters and is predicted to grow to 11 million kiloliters this year.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has stressed the need for a law on government administration for Indonesia so that good governmental management can be realized and a clear differentiation be made between the authorities, duties and responsibilities of the central and regional governments. "I have been leading (the country) for six years and feel there are a lot of things not well regulated yet.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A Golkar Party politician has criticized chief economic minister Hatta Rajasa for creating a "false sense of pride" by his statements that Indonesia now was one of the world`s 18 economic powers. "In our view, Hatta`s statements are just a maneuver to escape from his responsibility in the face of the economic problems being faced by the people," Golkar Party legislator Bambang Soesatyo said here Wednesday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Bank Indonesia believes the country`s economy will remain strong with its gross domestic product in 2011 and 2012 growing by 6.3 percent driven by strong domestic demand, especially investment. The central bank`s governor, Darmin Nasution, said here on Wednesday the Indonesia Balance of Payment (NPI) in 2011 was predicted to record a relatively big surplus although it would be lower than in 2010.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Marine Affairs and Fishery Minister Fadel Muhammad said on Wednesday fish production target set for 2010 was achieved, both from catching and aqua-culturing activities. "Fish production from catching and culturing operations amounted to 10.83 million tons in 2010, surpassing the target of 10.76 million tons for the year," Minister Muhammad said in a media briefing on the reflection of 2010 and the outlook of 2011 at the ministry.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government intends to increase crude palm oil (CPO) exports in 2011 by 16 percent from the previous year`s figure, a minister said. "CPO and all of its exportable derivatives are targeted to grow 16 percent with a 1.2 billion US dollar investment plan in 2011," said Trade Minister Marie Elka Pangestu here Wednesday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia intends to export more non-oil/non-gas commodities in 2011 to cover its swelling trade deficit with China, a trade official said. "The deficit can be lowered by increasing exports, coupled with efforts to improve the quality and added value of the products," Vice-Trade Minister Mahendra Siregar said to the media after accompanying Trade Minister Mari Elka Pengestu in a press briefing on export-import performance at Trade Ministry on Wednesday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - To boost its production in 2011, PT Pertamina EP, a subsidiary of state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, needs not only to find new reserves but also a new exploration concept and technology, an analyst said.