VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Latin American Journalist of the Journalist Visit Program of Foreign Affairs Ministry pose after interview at Voice of Indonesia Headquarter - 

Indonesia has once again become a bridge for cooperation between Southeast Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean through the Journalists' Visit Program (JVP) 2023: Post Event in Indonesia (28-31/10). This program, which presents 5 journalist participants from 4 countries (Chile, Panama, Brazil and Singapore), is a continuation of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) JVP 2023 which was held in Singapore on 23-27 October.

Apart from cultural promotion, this year's event aims to deepen cooperation between FEALAC members, totaling 32 countries. The Director General for America and Europe, Ambassador Umar Hadi, conveyed the importance of JVP for strengthening the network of journalists from Indonesia and Latin America. "This activity is Indonesia's initiative to continue to encourage second track diplomacy from both regions, so that Indonesia can become a top-of-mind Asian country for the public in Latin American and Caribbean countries," he concluded.

For four days, the journalists visited various Jakarta icons, such as the Old City, Fatahillah Museum, M Bloc, National Monument, Sarinah, and toured the HI Roundabout Transjakarta bus stop. They also had the opportunity to enjoy various typical Indonesian culinary delights.

JVP participants visited several media offices in Jakarta to expand cooperation between journalists in the two regions. At ANTARA and The Jakarta Post, they discussed the importance of maintaining media independence. They also participated as resource persons in the RRI Voice of Indonesia and TVRI Live Focus Today programs.

In a series of events, they took part in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Communication and Information with the theme "Reshaping News and the Role of Journalism in Response to Digital Transformation". The discussion discussed the importance of media industry innovation in the era of digital transformation, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).

As the highlight of the JVP event, journalists were invited to visit the PT Hyundai LG Industry Green Power electric vehicle battery factory in Karawang, West Java, as part of efforts to transition green energy in Indonesia. They can understand the battery manufacturing process as an important step to push the Global South's role in the supply chain higher.

One of the participants, Eduardo Alberto Olivares Concha from El Mercurio Chile media, welcomed this activity, saying that FEALAC JVP provided a very short but broad insight into Indonesia. He also appreciated the work of the media and Indonesia's dynamic cultural heritage.​

The JVP 2023 program is expected to expand networks between journalists from the two regions and introduce Indonesia more at the global level//VOI