[311214.EN.SEA] Hutchison's ECT, Rotterdam End Dispute, But Maersk's APMT Wins Terminal

HUTCHISON's Europe Container Terminals (ECT) and the Port of Rotterdam Authority have agreed to end a long-standing court battle over the awarding a concession to rival APM Terminals, Maersk's Hague-based port operator.

As a consequence ECT will not appeal in the lawsuit against the Port of Rotterdam Authority. ECT and the Port Authority have signed an agreement, which marks not only the end to the lawsuit, but also the beginning of jointly addressing the challenges the container sector is facing.

The cooperation focuses on strengthening the competitive position and on social and logistics issues of container-handling operations in Rotterdam.

Hong Kong's Hutchison-owned ECT claimed US$1.2 billion in damages against the port for allegedly unfairly awarding the concessions to operate at the 8.5 million TEU capacity Maasvalkte 2, reported Newark's Journal of Commerce.

ECT lost its case September when the Rotterdam district court ruled that the port authority did not abuse its power when it allocated the concessions to APM Terminals and a consortium of DP World, the Dubai-based terminal operator and four carriers.

In a joint statement today, ECT and the port authority said they "have come to an understanding that it is in the mutual interest of both companies to cooperate, taking into account their respective rights and obligations".

APM Terminals will roll out its new facility, the world's first fully automated terminal in February, with an initial capacity of 2.7 million TEU. DP World's Rotterdam Gateway Terminal is due to open in May with a starting capacity of 2.4 million TEU.

ECT is a member of Hong Kong's Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group, one of the world leading network of port operations comprising of 319 berths in 52 ports, spanning 26 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia.

Source : HKSG.

[311214.ID.BIZ] Kunjungan Jokowi Ke Papua: Presiden Minta Menhub Kaji Kereta Papua

Bisnis.com, JAYAPURA-- Presiden Joko Widodo mengaku telah memerintahkan Menteri Perhubungan Ignasius Jonan untuk melakukan studi pembangunan prasarana kereta api di Papua.

"Saya sudah perintahkan Menhub mulai tahun depan melakukan studi kereta api di Papua," kata Jokowi saat bertatap muka dengan Barisan Relawan Jaringan Perubahan Provinsi Papua di GOR Waringin Kota Jayapura, Papua, Sabtu petang (27/12/2014), yang dihadiri pula Gubernur Papua Lukas Enembe dan Wali Kota Jayapura Benhur Tommy Mano.

Jokowi menegaskan perintah studi kelayakan kereta api di Papua itu harus ditindaklanjuti dengan aksi nyata dengan membangun jaringan kereta api di sana.

"Setelah studi dilakukan, jangan berhenti, harus dimulai, ada uang berapa ya mulai. Studi itu butuh waktu 6-8 bulan," ujarnya, disambut sorak gembira warga Papua dalam tatap muka itu.

Tapi Jokowi meminta Gubernur Papua, bupati dan wali kota membantu membebaskan lahan untuk membangun jaringan kereta api, karena kendala utama pembangunan infrastruktur adalah pembebasan lahan.

"Saya minta gubernur, bupati, wali kota turut membantu membebaskan lahan, setelah itu yakin akan jalan dengan baik (terlaksana sesuai harapan)," ujar Jokowi.

Wacana pembangunan jaringan kereta api di Papua cukup lama didengungkan banyak pihak karena sejauh ini warga provinsi ini lebih banyak mengandalkan pesawat terbang.

Sumber : bisnis Indonesia, 28.12.14.

[301214.EN.LOG] Singapore's Neptune Orient Lines Faces Dilemma Over Sale of APL Logistics

SINGAPORE's Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), owner of container shipping line APL and APL Logistics, has found itself in a quandary as it looks to sell its supply chain operation, which could be valued at US$1 billion - more than half of the parent company's market value.

If APL Logistics is sold at a high price, the resulting market value of the remainder of its parents assets, which would still comprise its liner unit APL, may come under more pressure, reports London's Loadstar.

But if it doesn't sell its logistics unit, the group may struggle to deploy fresh capital in the container shipping division - which, in turn, would yield a loss of competitiveness at APL Logistics.

NOL has been in the red for a few years now, with cutting costs at APL its chief priority. A sale of APL Logistics, which has been consistently profitable, could help NOL repair its balance sheet.

The group's capital structure is stretched, but value, the argument goes, could be released if proceeds from disposals were used to pay down its huge debt load.

APL Logistics is a relatively attractive asset. It has grown revenues and Ebitda by four per cent over the last three quarters compared to the same period in 2013. As at October 31, it reported revenues and core Ebitda of $1.2 billion and $56 million respectively, for an implied Ebitda margin of 4.6 per cent.

Financial newswires have reported that APL Logistics could be worth up to $1 billion, which means its implied equity value could amount to 50 per cent or more of NOL's $1.6 billion current market value, depending on certain assumptions.

That's not unrealistic, although the unit's revenues and Ebitda amount to only 18.7 per cent and 25 per cent of the group's total revenues and Ebitda, respectively.

While APL Logistics has shown growth, albeit at a slow pace, NOL's core business needs big operational cost savings and massive investment cuts to stay afloat. What will be left of NOL's core business once the sale of APL Logistics is occurs remains a big question for management to answer.

The more the equity of APL Logistics is valued - say up to $800 million - the less NOL's equity may be worth on the stock exchange post-disposal, although NOL shares may bounce on the day the sale is announced.

It would appear that investors have yet to be convinced a sale of the logistics division is in the best interest of shareholders. On the face of it, it is taking quite a long time for the divestment to be sealed, and current market conditions do not bode well for a float.

Whether NOL can afford to divest the asset depends on whether the divestment itself would open the door to a wholesale takeover of NOL's core liner unit. The big caveat is whether such a scenario has become less likely since Germany's Hapag-Lloyd, the most obvious suitor, tied the knot with Chile's CSAV.

Source : HKSG.

[301214.ID.AIR] AIRASIA QZ8501: Inilah Kronologi Penemuan Serpihan & Jasad Korban, 4 Jenazah Berangkulan

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA - Tim SAR telah menemukan beberapa serpihan dan jasad yang diduga korban pesawat AirAsia QZ8501 pada hari ketiga sejak dinyatakan hilang.

Berikut ini kronologi ditemukannya serpihan dan jasad korban pada hari ini, Selasa (30/12/2014):

1. Pukul 09.52 WIB

Pesawat CN-295 bernomor A-2906 dengan Captain Pilot Kapten Pnb. Reza Pahlevi dan Copilot Lettu Pnb Ari Purba Kesuma terbang pada ketinggian 500 kaki (150 meter) dari permukaan laut berhasil menemukan tiga objek besar berwarna putih dan kuning mengapung di perairan pada posisi radial 227 dan jarak 95 Nm (175 km) dari Pangkalan Bun.

2. Pukul 10.18 WIB

Posko SAR TNI AU di Lanud Halim dengan menerbangkan pesawat C-130 Hercules A-1320.

3. Pukul 11.30 WIB

Hercules A-1319 dengan Captain Pilot Mayor Pnb. Akal Juang dan Copilot Lettu Pnb Aris Febrianto dan Lettu Pnb.Erwin Tri Wibowo terbang pada ketinggian 500-700 kaki berhasil menemukan serpihan-serpihan dan korban.

4. Pukul 12.15 WIB

Pesawat Hercules A-1320 menemukan live vest penumpang kuning, serpihan cargo berwarna merah putih dengan jaring cargo.

5. Pesawat helikopter SAR HR-3601 Basarnas dari Pangkalan Bun memasuki perairan tersebut. Helikopter pada pukul 13.58 WIB membuktikan temuan pesawat TNI AU dengan menemukan lebih banyak serpihan dan tubuh terapung.

6. KRI Bung Tomo di lokasi penemuan reruntuhan, selanjutnya kapal perang tersebut seterusnya berada di lokasi sebagai kapal pertama yang mulai mengevakuasi korban.

7. Hercules A-1319 mengudara kembali dan pada ketinggian 500 kaki berputar di atas lokasi melaporkan melihat empat jenasah berangkulan, dan ada yang mengenakan celana hitam dan biru serta nampak seperti mengenakan pelampung.

8. Penerbang pesawat A-1319 melihat sebuah kapal tongkang dengan awak kapal yang melambaikan tangan menunjukkan sebuah serpihan kepada Hercules yang mendarat di Lanud Halim pada pukul 16.28 WIB.

Sumber: Kepala Dinas Penerangan Angkatan Udara Marsekal Pertama TNI Hadi Tjahjanto.

(artikel tambahan) SERPIHAN AIRASIA QZ8501 DITEMUKAN: 40 Jenazah Ditemukan Di Lautan

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA – Upaya pencarian korban pesawat AirAsia QZ8501 berhasil menemukan sejumlah tubuh jenazah di lautan.

Empat puluh jenazah ditemukan di lautan yang diduga berasal dari pesawat AirAsia yang hilang saat melakukan penerbangan dari Surabaya menuju Singapura, Minggu (28/12/2014) lalu.

Kabar soal ditemukannya jenazah korban itu disampaikan Kadispenal Manahan Simorangkir seperti diberitakan Kantor Berita Reuters, Selasa (30/12) petang.

Temuan jenazah itu terjadi saat hari mulai petang.

Sejauh ini tak ada yang bisa memastikan apakah ada penumpang pesawat naas itu yang selamat.

“Saya sangat merasakan duka para keluarga penumpang QZ8501,” ujar bos Air Asia Tony Fernandes dalam ucapan duka cita di akun Twitternya. “Atas nama Air Asia, saya menyampaikan duka cita yang mendalam untuk semua. Tak ada kata-kata yang dapat menggambarkan betapa sedihnya saya.”

Sementara itu, saat televisi menayangkan gambar tubuh yang terapung di laut, keluarga korban yang berkumpul di crisis centre di Bandara Juanda, Surabaya, tak bisa menahan tangis. Beberapa di antara mereka jatuh pingsan dan segera mendapat pertolongan.

“Anda harus kuat,” ujar Wali Kota Surabaya Tri Rismaharini saat mencoba menenangkan keluarga korban.

“Mereka bukan milik kita, mereka kepunyaan Allah,” ujarnya.

Sementara itu, juru bicara TNI AL menyebutkan bahwa pintu pesawat, tabung oksigen dan satu jenazah yang ditemukan telah dievakuasi dengan helikopter untuk pengujian lebih lanjut. Informasi terakhir, tim SAR telah mengevakuasi tiga jenazah.

Kondisi cuaca membuat upaya evakuasi belum bisa dilaksanakan sepenuhnya.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 30.12.14.

[291214.EN.SEA] Thanks to Low-Sulphur Rule, Export Lumber to go by Rail, Road to Gothenburg

SAWMILLS throughout the Nordic region can now ship lumber through the Port of Gothenburg now that a transloading timber terminal has opened by the family-owned Soren Thyr AB - and thanks to new eco fuel rules that kick in January 1.

What makes the project economical is implementation of emission control areas, raising the price of marine legal fuel 50 per cent in the Baltic, making seafreight too expensive and driving the lumber trade to the railways and roads to the Port of Gothenburg on the Atlantic side.

Paper, pulp and timber products account for a large proportion of exports that pass through the Port of Gothenburg. Up to now, the port has lacked a dedicated terminal for transloading sawn timber products.

The Port of Gothenburg has therefore invested in a completely new forest terminal that will be operated by the Gavle-based company Soren Thyr AB, said port CEO Magnus Karestedt.

The new forest product terminal is near to the port's ro-ro and container terminals. Linked to the rail system, it can handle more than one million cubic metres of timber each year.

"The terminal makes it possible for sawmills to send their timber by rail or road. On arrival in Gothenburg, the timber is loaded into the correct unit a container or trailer for example for onward shipment worldwide," said the port press release.

Source : SN-TR.

[291214.ID.SEA] Penggabungan BUMN Pelindo Mendesak Direalisasikan

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA—Penggabungan manajerial BUMN Kepelabuhanan nasional (Pelindo I s/d IV) dinilai sudah sangat mendesak untuk memperbesar kapasitas tampung pelabuhan Indonesia yang melayani kegiatan ekspor impor.

Dengan penggabungan BUMN Kepelabuhanan itu juga akan mengefisiensikan aktivitas logistik karena birokrasi layananan logistik di sector angkutan laut akan lebih efisien.

“Kalau sudah ada holding BUMN Pelabuhan, pengguna jasa atau shipping line (perusahaan pelayaran) cukup datang ke Jakarta dalam penyelesaian urusan bisnisnya,” ujar Dirut Pelindo II RJ Lino dalam konprensi pers Diskusi akhir tahun Kepelabuhanan yang diselenggarakan IPC, di Jakarta hari ini, Senin (29/12).

Diskusi itu juga di ikuti kalangan asosiasi pelaku usaha al; Gabungan Importir Nasional Seluruh Indonesia (Ginsi), Gabungan Perusahaan Eksportir Indonesia (GPEI), Asosiasi Logistik dan Forwarder Indonesia (ALFI), Asosiasi Perusahaan Bongkar Muat Indonesia (APBMI), Indonesia National Shipowners Association (INSA), dan Dewan Pengguna  Jasa Angkutan Laut Indonesia (Depalindo).

Lino menegaskan, rencana penggabungan Pelindo I-IV sudah digagas cukup lama bahkan sekitar setahun lalu sudah ada kesepakatan bersama antara Direksi Pelindo I-IV untuk memuluskan pembentukan holding BUMN jasa kepelabuhanan tersebut.

“Penggabungan Pelindo I s/d IV sudah ada kesepakatan antar direksi sejak setahun lalu. Kalau itu digabungkan, bisa menekan cost logistik karena perusahaan pelayaran hanya perlu ke Jakarta dalam urusan penyelesaian bisnisnya,” paparnya.

Dia juga mengatakan, pengembangan/pembangunan pelabuhan di Indonesia mesti fokus pada satu titik yang terkonsentrasi dengan sistem logistik nasional. Karena itulah, ujar dia, wacana menghadirkan pelabuhan Cilamaya Jawa Barat justru akan membuyarkan konsentrasi menjadi pelabuhan Indonesia sebagai pengumpul atau Hub yang ideal.

“Untuk mewujudkan pelabuhan yang besar kita sedang fokus menyiapkan pelabuhan baru New Priok, jadi kalau ada yang bicara soal Cilamaya itu saya kira itu ngawur. Kenapa saya bilang ngawur soal Cilamaya, sebab kalau kita bangun 2 sampai 3 pelabuhan di pulau Jawa ini maka tidak ada konsentrasi besar di Priok”paparnya.

Lino mengatakan,kehadiran New Priok akan diarahkan sebagai kompetitor terminal peti kemas yang sudah ada saat ini. “New Priok itu nantinya bisa jadi kompetitor JICT dan TPK Koja sehingga pengguna jasa punya pilihan layanan,”ucapnya.

Pengurus  DPP ALFI Anwar Satta mengatakan, pemerintah semestinya juga memfokuskan pengembangan akses darat dan buffer area/penyangga pelabuhan Tanjung Priok. “Sekarang ini akses darat ke pelabuhan Priok itu krodit sekali, dulu terucking bisa bolak balik tiga kali dari Wilayah Cibitung ke Priok, tetapi sekarang ini satu kali saja sulit,” ujarnya.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 29.12.14.

[281214.EN.SEA] "Norman Atlantic" On Fire in Adriatic

An international rescue effort was under way in high winds after a car ferry carrying 466 passengers and crew caught fire while sailing from Greece to Italy and its captain ordered its evacuation.

Passengers who telephoned Greek television stations gave dramatic testimony of conditions on the ship, which caught fire just before 6.00 a.m. local time (04:00 GMT) while travelling from Patras in western Greece to the eastern Italian city of Ancona.

"They tried to lower some boats, but not all of us could get in. There is no co-ordination," one said. "It's dark, the bottom of the vessel is on fire. We are on the bridge, we can see a boat approaching... we opened some boxes and got some life vests, we are trying to save ourselves."

It was unclear whether there had been any casualties or whether any passengers were in the water, where cold winter temperatures would make survival difficult unless rescue came quickly.

The Norman Atlantic, carrying 222 vehicles, 411 passengers and 55 crew, was 44 nautical miles northwest of the island of Corfu when it sent a distress signal after a fire started in the lower deck, Greek coast guard officials said.

"The ship is already being evacuated," an official told Reuters, adding that 130 people had been transferred from a rescue boat to a container ship that had been nearby when the fire broke out.

Officials said both Italian and Albanian authorities were taking part in the operation, which was being conducted in difficult conditions with strong winds.

Seven other ships were in the area and rescue helicopters and a C-130 search-and-rescue support aircraft had also been sent.

How the passengers were evacuated?

How saved all 150 passengers from the burning shipNorman Atlantic which had departed at 5:30 pm from Patras to Italy via Igoumenitsa?

The ship «Spirit of Piraeus» was located next to the passenger ferry " Norman atlantic ", where the morning a fire broke out in one of the garages of the unclear cause, while it sailed northwest of Otto.

According to company executive charterer of the shipNorman Atlantic, the situation is under control and early morning ongoing business abandonment, as the fire is great.

Already many of the passengers boarded safely in lifeboats of Norman Atlantic, thrown with the help of the crew at sea, and has already begun and boarding passengers aboard «spirit of Piraeus».

"One hundred and fifty passengers have metepivivastei a lifeboat and are in transit procedure sail ship, the 'Spirit of Piraeus' next to burning car-ferry" reported on the Norman atlantic, speaking on Real FM, spokesman Coast, Nick Lagkadianos.

"The second great lifeboat can not be used because it is from the side of the ship has occurred Fire" added Mr. Lagkadianos.

According to the latest information, priority has been given to women and children and all the passengers gathered on the bridge of the ship Norman Atlantic.

The whole operation is coordinated by the Center Unified Search and Rescue of the Ministry of Shipping and Sea in cooperation with the Italian Coast Guard.

Already helicopter is part of the navy took off from the base of Marathon and rushed two helicopters of the Italian coastguard.

Also four vessels of the Coast Guard are expected, an aircraft c-130, two cargo ships and the cruise ship «cruise Europ 'to assist in the operation.

The Norman atlantic ship had departed at 5:30 pm from Patras to Italy via Igoumenitsa, was chartered to Anek and this whole board 411 passengers, 222 vehicles and 55 crew members.

For this event has already informed the Minister Marine and Aegean Miltiadis Varvitsiotis.

Read why was leaving command of the ship Norman Atlantic with 411 passengers while it was sailing in the sea area 32 nautical miles northwest of Otto destination Ancona.

Source : REUTERS and Greece Media, 28.12.14.

[281214.ID.AIR] AIR ASIA QZ8501 Hilang: Ini Kronologi Hilangnya Pesawat

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA - Kementerian Perhubungan (Kemenhub) merilis kronologi dan status pesawat AirAsia Indonesia Flight Number QZ 8501 sampai 15.00 WIB yang mengalami hilang kontak dengan "Air Traffic Control" (ATC).

Kepala Pusat Komunikasi Publik (Kapuskompublik) Kemenhub J.A. Barata dalam keterangan tertulisnya di Jakarta, Minggu menyatakan kronologi hilangnya pesawat AirAsia QZ 8501 diawali dengan pesawat berangkat dari Surabaya, pukul 05.36 WIB menuju Singapura.

"Pesawat terbang dengan ketinggian 32.000 kaki dan pesawat mengikuti jalur penerbangan M-635," katanya.

Selanjutnya Pesawat Contact ATC Jakarta pukul 06.12 WIB pada ketinggian FL.320 pada Frekuensi 125.7 MHz.

Pada saat kontak, ATC Radar Jakarta mengidentifikasi pesawat pada layar radar dan pada saat kontak, pesawat menyatakan menghindari awan ke arah kiri dari M-635 dan meminta naik ke ketinggian 38.000 kaki (FL.380).

"Pukul 06.16 WIB pesawat masih terlihat di layar radar dan pukul 06.17 WIB pesawat hanya tampak signal ADS-B, pada saat ini sekaligus hilang kontak dengan ATC," katanya.

Kemudian pada pukul 06.18 WIB target hilang dari radar, hanya tampak "flight plan track" saja.

Jumlah penumpang tercatat 155 orang, terdiri dari dewasa 138 orang, anak 16 orang, bayi 1 orang, serta awak terdiri dari 1 orang Pilot (Kapten Irianto), 1 orang FO (Remi Emmanuel Plesel), dan 4 orang anggota kru (Cabin Crew).

"Tindakan yang dilakukan ATC, menyatakan INCERFA atau tahap awal pesawat hilang kontak pada pukul 07.08 WIB, menyatakan ALERFA atau tahap lanjut pesawat pada pukul 07.28 WIB, dan pernyataan DETRESPA atau pernyataan pesawat hilang pada pukul 07.55 WIB," katanya.

Ia menambahkan, pada pernyataan INCERFA dan seterusnya, Basarnas sudah terinformasi.

Sampai sejauh ini di Tower Bandara Soekarno Hatta dibuka "Crisis Management Center" sesuai SOP AirNav Indonesia dengan pimpinan "Crisis Management Center" Plt. Direktur Jenderal Perhubungan Udara dan sejumlah nomor kontak yang bisa dihubungi Surabaya : 031-8690945, Jakarta : 021-55912648, dan Air Asia : 021-29270811 (khusus untuk keluarga penumpang).

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 28.12.14.

[271214.EN.LOG] Paris Area SDV Sets Up Subsidiary in Valencia to Muster Bollore Staff

PARIS area SDV, a supply chain management company and subsidiary of the Bollore group, has created its own subsidiary in Valencia to further expand its presence in Europe.

With a staff of 110, it will incorporate the Bollore group teams already present in Spain, including Isamar, specialising in shipping, a company statement said.

An entity of 18 people dedicated to industrial projects, most of them coming from Tiba Projects, will strengthen this structure.

"The continuity of the interlocutors will be guaranteed by the transfer of the TIBA teams that followed them so far with a quality of service to the level of a global group," it said.

SDV's network comprises 600 offices in 102 countries.

Source : HKSG.

[271214.ID.BIZ] Tingkat Pengangguran Tinggi, Prancis Terancam Hadapi Resesi

Bisnis.com, PARIS--Prancis kian terperosok ke dalam jurang resesi setelah jumah pengangguran melesat jadi 3,49 juta pada November 2014.

Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan Prancis mengumumkan tingkat pengangguran nasional secara umum meningkat 0,8%.

Meski demikian, Presiden Prancis Francois Hollande tetap yakin negaranya bisa bangkit. Pasalnya, dia mentakan pemerintah tengah melancarkan reformasi birokrasi secara nasional.

"Kita perlu bertarung, maka kita akan bertarung. Reformasi masih berjalan, dan saya yakin langkah koheren dan komprehensif," ungkapnya, Rabu (24/12).

Dia menegaskan tidak akan mencalonkan lagi pada pemilihan presiden berikutnya, yang dijadwalkan pada 2017.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 26.12.14.

[261214.EN.SEA] MSC: Customers Accept Low-Sulphur Fuel Surcharges as They See Eco Benefits

THE Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) says most of its customers are accepting low-sulphur fuel surcharges levied to cover the added cost of fuel in emission control areas (ECA) of North America, English Channel, the North and Baltic seas from January 1.

Most customers recognise the environmental benefits of cleaner fuel and so are not questioning the extra charges, an MSC spokesman told Lloyd's List.

MSC, which estimates an extra US$250 million more in fuel will be consumed because of UN regulation to be offset by surcharges in the $50 to $85 per TEU range depending on how long cargo transits ECAs.

The new rules have caused controversy within the shipping industry, and particularly in the shortsea sector where operators are warning that the higher costs will drive freight back onto the roads.

Source : HKSG.

[261214.ID.BIZ] Korut Kembalikan Warga Korsel Yang Seberangi Perbatasan

Kabar24.com, SEOUL – Pemerintah Korea Utara akan mengirimkan kembali seorang warga Korea Selatan yang  telah menyeberang secara ilegal ke wilayahnya.

Kantor berita negara Korea Utara KCNA, Rabu (24/12/2014), mengatakan Ma Sang-Ho, 52, telah memasuki negara itu pada akhir November tetapi tidak memberikan rincian lebih lanjut.

Dia mengaku masuk secara ilegal dan sungguh-sungguh meminta izin tinggal di DPRK (Korea Utara) karena sisi selatan membatasi kebebasannya.

"Kami telah memutuskan untuk membujuk dia kembali ke tempat orang tuanya tinggal dari sudut pandang kemanusiaan, "kata lembaga itu.

Palang Merah Korea Utara telah mengirimkan pemberitahuan kepada mitranya di Selatan, memberitahukan bahwa Ma akan diserahkan Jumat melalui desa perbatasan gencatan senjata Panmunjom.

Pembelotan dari Utara ke Korea Selatan hanyalah gerakan umum dengan cara lain yang jarang terjadi.

Perbatasan darat antar-Korea dijaga ketat dan hampir semua pengungsi Korea Utara pertama ke China.

Mereka kemudian melakukan perjalanan ke negara lain, sering ke Asia Tenggara, sebelum datang ke Seoul. Pemerintah Seoul mengatakan 1.516 warga Korea Utara melarikan diri ke Korea Selatan pada 2013.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 25.12.14. 

[251214.EN.BIZ] China Signs Agreement to Build Belgrade-Budapest Railway Link

CHINA, Serbia and Hungary have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a new 370 kilometre rail link between Belgrade and Budapest with construction work expected to start by the middle of next year.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic made the announcement at a summit in Belgrade between China and 16 Central and Eastern European states.

The construction of the new rail link will help China to pursue its plans to accelerate the flow of goods through the Balkans.

"This will put in place a corridor between China and Europe," Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said after the signing ceremony. "With more express lanes, the scale of our trade will be greater. We are confident we will complete this within two years."

The rail upgrade fits with China's plan to turn Greece's main port of Piraeus into a regional hub for trade with Europe. Notably, Chinese shipping giant Cosco Pacific holds a 35-year concession to upgrade and run two container cargo piers at Piraeus.

The rail programme was first agreed a year ago, but it remains unclear how it will be financed, according to Reuters.

But Mr Li said China would create a US$3 billion investment fund for Central and Eastern Europe, seeking to strengthen its foothold in the region.

"We are dedicated to this project," the Serbian Prime Minister said following talks with his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban. "Our aim is for the feasibility study and all plans to be completed by June next year so that the railway could be built by June 2017," he said.

He added that the upgrade would cut train travel times between Belgrade and Budapest from eight hours to under three.

Source : HKSG.

[251214.ID.BIZ] Pebisnis Tunggu Penurunan Biaya Logistik

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA--Pemerintah tengah berupaya menekan biaya logistik melalui pemangkasan lama penerbitan 157 perizinan, baik sektor perhubungan darat, laut udara dan perkeretapian.

"Kami menyambut baik adanya perhatian pemerintah terhadap tingginya biaya logistik di Indonesia," tutur Managing Director PT Tiki Jalur Nugraha Ekakurir (JNE) Johari Zein seperti dikutip Antara, Kamis (25/12/2014).

Perubahan, perbaikan atau penyederhanaan peraturan ini diharapkan dapat diikuti dengan adanya penegakan hukum, agar eksekusi dapat berdampak positif sesuai harapan.

Menurut Johari, panjangnya rangkaian peraturan perizinan itu merupakan salah satu prioritas yang harus dibenahi karena menyulitkan pengusaha, terutama pengusaha lokal.

Pasalnya, dalam peraturan pemerintah yang dikeluarkan Menteri Komunikasi dan Informatika (Menkominfo) sebelum pergantian kabinet, ada keharusan para penyelenggara logistik melengkapi hingga lima jenis izin dalam tiga tahapan yaitu perizinan pusat atau nasional, perizinan provinsi dan perizinan kabupaten atau kota.

Johari juga berpendapat pemerintah perlu memberi perhatian pada proses distribusi barang sebagai lanjutan perbaikan dalam peraturan tersebut.

"Penelusuran proses dan jalur distribusi akan memberikan solusi bagi 'bottleneck' atau sumber-sumber hambatan. Hal ini perlu diatasi karena keterlambatan juga merupakan penyebab utama membengkaknya biaya dalam pengelolaan logistik yang berdampak pada kenaikan harga barang," ujarnya.

Lebih lanjut, ia mengharapkan pemerintah terus berkomitmen mengupayakan kebijakan yang konsisten untuk memudahkan pelaku usaha industri tersebut.

"Bukan saja penghapusan pungutan resmi dan liar, namun juga perlunya dispensasi pada angkutan logistik," katanya.

Menurut dia, perlakuan khusus untuk kemudahan kendaraan angkutan barang dalam mengakses jalur distribusi dan sistem sertifikasi serta klasifikasi, perlu diberikan pada para pengusaha agar mampu memberikan jaminan kualitas serta segmentasi yang jelas pada konsumen atau pengguna jasa logistik.

Sebelumnya, Kementerian Perhubungan memangkas lama penerbitan 157 perizinan, baik sektor perhubungan darat, laut udara dan perkeretapian mulai berlaku 8 Desember lalu.

Pemangkasan waktu perizinan itu merupakan salah satu upaya untuk menekan biaya logistik yang saat ini masih menyumbang 18-22 persen dari biaya produksi dan 25 persen dari produk domestik bruto (PDB) di antara negara-negara ASEAN.

Pemangkasan waktu perizinan itu juga meliputi sertifikasi, rekomendasi atau bentuk lain dengan cara memperpendek proses, mengurangi persyaratan, mempersingkat waktu, memperpanjang masa berlaku, penerapan satu atap, penerapan teknologi informasi, pendelegasian kewenangan dan menimalisasi biaya.

Sumber : Bisnis Indonesia, 25.12.14.