The Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria held the annual Indonesian Market to popularize and promote Indonesian culinary delights in Africa.
"This year, even though it was held on a smaller scale, we are still holding the Indonesian Market with high enthusiasm to introduce archipelago culinary specialties and various Indonesian products," said the Indonesian Ambassador to South Africa Salman Al Farisi in a written statement received in Jakarta, on Monday.
"With this event, we hope that Indonesia can be known in South Africa and open up various opportunities for cooperation between the two parties," said Ambassador Salman.
The Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria this year adjusts the scale of activities to the situation and conditions of the accredited country, especially regarding the implementation of health protocols related to COVID-19 during the first level of lockdown (lockdown level 1). Various obligations are carried out, such as the use of masks, hand sanitizer, and the application of social distancing.
The Indonesian market this year was attended by the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Johannesburg, the Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) of the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria, and the diaspora of culinary entrepreneurs in South Africa.
The ITPC Johannesburg promotes domestic fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), most of which have entered the South African market, while the DWP Kiosk of the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria sells handicrafts and typical Indonesian food products ranging from batik, various fried foods to chicken satay.
The Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria facilitated six culinary entrepreneurs in South Africa to enliven activities and introduce a variety of Indonesian dishes.
During the event from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., festival visitors were seen enjoying various typical archipelago preparations such as rendang, fried rice, fried noodles, chicken satay, warm, and chocolate banana.
The high enthusiasm of the people of South Africa can be seen from the busy number of visitors during the activity and the exhaustion of all the food sold by the sellers at Market Indonesia stands.
On the sidelines of the activity, Ambassador Salman also met a delegation of businessmen from Mpumalanga Province who wanted to find out more about the potential for trade and investment cooperation between Indonesia and South Africa.
The success of the Indonesian Market in attracting residents of Pretoria, Johannesburg, and outside Gauteng Province to this year's event shows that Indonesia has a separate position for the people of South Africa and shows the relationship between the two countries is going well.
Previously, the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria had organized similar activities in 2018 at Wisma Duta Pretoria and in 2019 at the Loftus Park shopping center with a wider variety of events and a wide selection of locations.
This year the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria chose the location of the event at Hazel Food Market, which is a weekly market in Pretoria that is strategically located, has a good reputation and is equipped with adequate facilities. (Antaranews)