This is RRI World Service-Voice of Indonesia with Diplomatic Corner, a program which presents information about activities and progress of Indonesian diplomacy in the international world.
The first information is about Senegal which invites Boalemo regency in Gorontalo province to cooperate in Arenga pinnata tree.
Indonesia is committed to helping Senegal in the processing of Arenga pinnata three. Because it is important and efficient to be applied in Senegal. This was stated by representative of special envoy office of Indonesian president for Middle East and Organization of Islamic Cooperation, M. Amar Ma'ruf when meeting with the leader of Fond Sovereign Senegal in Dakar earlier this weekend. Amar Ma'ruf disclosed that Senegal is worth being paid attention for receiving reverse linkage program related to Arenga pinnata processing. With the existence of reverse linkage, it is hoped to be able to enrich reference and application of appropriate technology applications for Senegal. Senegal feels Indonesia is development model, especially in research of forestry and agricultural products. As a follow-up, Fond Sovereign Senegal will visit Boalemo regency to study the cooperation. The visit will be conducted in April before Indonesia - Africa forum 2018 takes place.
The next information is from Kuwait. Indonesian Ambassador to Kuwait, Tatang Budie Utama Razak has received a mandate as chairman of ASEAN’s committee in Kuwait for the period of January-June 2018. The mandate’s assignment was directly handed over by chairman of ASEAN’s committee in Kuwait for 2017 period, Ambassador of the Philippines to Kuwait, Renato Pedro O. Villa, and witnessed by the Ambassadors of ASEAN member countries at the Philippines embassy in Kuwait on Thursday (8/2). The appointment of Indonesia as the chairman of ASEAN’s committee in Kuwait this year is to replace Singapore which does not have embassy in Kuwait. In his speech, Ambassador Tatang Razak said that he will carry out his duty for 6 months and there is possibility that he will end his duty as ambassador in Kuwait within few months. Because he has been on duty more than 3 years. In addition, Ambassador Tatang Razak also said that he will maintain events which have run so far. One step ahead from the chairmanship of Indonesia is Ambassador Tatang Razak’s proposal that this year will begin informal lunch which according to the plan will be conducted every month by inviting honor guests in the field of politic, economy, culture and social spheres in order ASEAN committee in Kuwait can discuss matters which are more substantive.
Diplomatic Corner with information on ‘Tak Tun Tuang’ a musical diplomacy succeeded to attract Thailand’s market in Thai International Travel Fair 2018 in Bangkok. The Ministry of Tourism reported that as many as 10 tourism industries and 1tourism office of Indonesia participated in the exhibition in Bangkok. Besides, there are also tourism travel bureaus, travel operators, and hotel entrepreneurs from Bali, Central Java, West Java, East Nusa Tenggara, Yogyakarta, and North Sumatra. The promotion, which has depended on branding and advertising so far, begins to move on selling. The main mission is to capture foreign tourists at tourism market of Thailand. One of the ways to attract tourists is by showing Sasando, a musical instrument from East Nusa Tenggara province, and also Indonesian traditional dances. The biggest tourism exhibition is quite different when Wonderful Indonesia art team performed on the main stage. One of Sasando preservers from Oebelo, Kupang, Djitron Pah sang a song ‘Tak Tun Tuang’ from West Sumatra which is very famous and the song has ever been sung by famous singers of Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. President of Thai Travel Agents Association, Suparerk Soorangura assessed that the music and dances were spectacular. He said at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok on Saturday (10/2) that tempting tourist through music is smart way. Although Thailand is professional rival of Wonderful Indonesia, Thailand does respect Indonesia.
That was Diplomatic Corner.