VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Education and Culture will register the Spice Route as a world heritage to the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

"We are ready to propose the Spice Route to UNESCO in November 2020. The Spice Route is an Indonesian identity program that many people have forgotten," Ananto K Seta, Chairman of the Spice Route Program Committee of the Ministry said on Monday.

He said that the ministry is cooperating with countries that also have a history of spice trails, including Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, and Grenada.

Ananto said that the proposal is not just a legacy from the past 4,500 years, but also a possible land rejuvenation, herbal medicine industry, and tourism packages.

The ministry will reconstruct spice trade in the archipelago which lasted 4.5 millennia ago, hoping to encourage the national economy.

Ananto said there are two reasons to revive the Spice Route program since Indonesia is one of the places on earth chosen by God for having spices.

"For example, nutmeg in Banda Island, Maluku, and cloves in Ternate, North Maluku. Both spices have contributed to the history of world civilization," he said.

The spice route was also the forerunner of commodity trade carried out by the Indonesian ancestors and tribes. The route starts from east to west. At each point of transit, cultural assimilation occurred which then formed the nation. They also went to several countries in various parts of the world.

The Spice Route Program was actually initiated several years ago. However, in 2020 it was proposed again.

Ananto said they have prepared the steps to complete the requirements to apply to the UN agency, targeting 2024 or 2025, The Spice Route will be declared a world heritage. (Antaranews)