VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia promoted Nusantara coffee at the 2024 Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) which took place on May 12-14 in Melbourne, Australia.

Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Siswo Pramono said in a release from the Indonesian Consulate General in Melbourne on Friday (17/5) that the Indonesian pavilion is the best place to show the taste of Nusantara coffee to the Australian public.

Siswo Pramono said, this year is special because it introduces coffee from Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) countries in the Indonesian pavilion. This effort is a form of Indonesia's commitment as part of the Melanesian community in the Pacific.

The Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia for Victoria and Tasmania, Kuncoro Waseso, said that, as neighboring countries, Indonesia and Australia have similarities, namely a strong coffee drinking culture.

Waseso said coffee is not only important from a commercial point of view, but also for the socio-cultural relations between the two countries, so that it can be a bridge in bringing the people of the two countries closer together and also improve bilateral economic relations. This is helped by the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA).

At the exhibition, the Indonesian booth presented excellent coffee businesses from various regions, which showed the richness of Indonesian coffee.

The Indonesian booth also displayed seaweed-based bioplastic innovation products such as cups, bowls, plates, and straws developed by Ijo Inovasi Indonesia. During the exhibition, a letter of intent (LOI) was signed between ASLAN Coffee Roasters and Ariga Coffee to support the promotion of coffee produced by Indonesian MSMEs.

The presence of Indonesian coffee at MICE 2024 is a collaboration between various stakeholders, including the Indonesian Consulate General in Melbourne, the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, and the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) Sydney. ITPC Sydney Director Christhophorus Barutu hopes that Indonesia's participation in MICE 2024 can strengthen its position as one of the world's leading coffee producers.