The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Perth, Western Australia, introduced Indonesia to the local people through the "Indonesia Goes to School" program. The program was held at Duncraig Senior High School on 31 October 2023. As quoted from the statement from the Indonesian Consulate General in Perth on Saturday (4/11), this event was one of the steps taken by the Indonesian Consulate General in Perth to promote Indonesia to students in Western Australia through a series of short workshops offering insight into Indonesian arts and culture.The "Indonesia Goes to School" program at Duncraig Senior High School includes lots of interesting activities, such as a short presentation about Indonesia, a Poco-Poco dance workshop, an Angklung workshop, and a cooking class led by chef David. The Angklung workshop was a moment for students to sing. "Waltzing Matilda" while playing this traditional Indonesian musical instrument.
Meanwhile in the dance workshop, the students unitedly danced Poco-Poco as an entertaining sports dance. One of the highlights of this activity was the cooking class, where students were given the task of cooking "cenil", a typical Central Javanese food with a Halloween theme. Not only the students, but the teachers also presented enthusiastically to take part in this cooking activity.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Perth hopes that through the "Indonesia Goes to School" program, students will be increasingly interested in continuing their education in Indonesian. Duncraig Senior High School itself has made Indonesian as part of its curriculum, Indonesian language lessons start from grades 7 to 12.
The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan assessed the achievements of the young Indonesian director Mouly Surya who won the Kurosawa Akira Award as proof that Indonesian filmmakers have capacities and abilities that are competitive with foreign filmmakers. Deputy Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, John Tjahjanto Boestami to ANTARA in Tokyo on Tuesday (31/10) pointed out that this achievement was an honor not only for Mouly Surya, but also for Indonesia. According to John Tjahjanto, the award was indirectly a form of promoting Indonesia to the foreign people, particularly Japan. One of the films that contributed to Mouly Surya's achievements, Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, tells of a woman's resistance to the violence she experienced and takes place in East Nusa Tenggara Province.
Mouly Surya is the first female director to win the Kurosawa Akira Award, and now her name is alongside world-famous directors such as Steven Spielberg and Yoji Yamada who have won similar awards. John hopes Mouly's achievement can be an encouragement for other young Indonesian filmmakers to make achievements in the international film arena. The Kurosawa Akira Award is one of the best film awards in the world. The award which started in 2004 was on hiatus for 14 years and was awarded again this year at the Tokyo International Film Festival in Tokyo on Tuesday (10/31).
The Embassy of Indonesia in Astana, Kazakhstan is trying to strengthen cultural relations with Kazakhstan through a collaborative batik workshop between the two countries, which was held at the Astana Indonesian Cultural Center on Sunday (29/10).
In his opening statement, Indonesian Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, Fadjroel Rachman, as stated in a press release received in Jakarta on Monday (30/10), said that the workshop is an opportunity to form relationships, share ideas, and strengthen cultural ties between the two countries. He also remarked that by working together, people of the two countries can create not only beautiful batik works, but also sustainable relationships that will enrich mutual understanding of each other's cultures. He added that the batik collaboration was to celebrate the creativity, friendship, and cultural strength that exists in both countries.
The batik workshop was held to commemorate 30 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Kazakhstan and to illustrate the close relationship between the two countries in the form of Indonesian cultural treasures of batik.
Attended by 25 participants, all of whom were Kazakhs, the workshop was held as a soft diplomacy effort by the Indonesian Embassy in Astana to shape a positive image of Indonesia in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
They carried out batik-making activities, starting from drawing designs, coloring, and using a pen-like tool canting to the final process. All was explained in an interesting way by the teachers to all participants.
One of the participants, Beket Safiyanur, admitted that he enjoyed taking part in the batik workshop. Meanwhile, batik class teacher, Deby Rahmayanti is optimistic that batik can be a gate to Indonesian cultural diplomacy in Kazakhstan, because the art of batik is also part of people's lives in the country.
Indonesia and Norway successfully held the 6th Development Leaders Conference (DLC) with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the Center for Global Development (CGD) in Oslo on 24 to 25 October 2023. Quoting the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday ( 29/10), Director General Siti Nugraha Maulidiah in her speech as co-host said, equality in partnerships, mutual benefit and dialogue to build trust are the keys to advancing global development cooperation.
Siti Nugraha said that the DLC meeting was a forum for unifying discussions between DAC (Developments Assistance Countries) member countries, most of which are developed countries, and emerging donor countries. Indonesia's leadership in the meeting was a reflection of international recognition of Indonesia's role and contribution as a new emerging donor.
As a co-host representing new emerging donors and the Global South, Indonesia highlights the importance of intensifying constructive dialogue between countries, strengthening global partnerships, and the need for innovation in development funding. Indonesia also sees the need to strengthen the participation of emerging donors and developing countries receiving grants to provide a different perspective balanced.
The 6th DLC meeting discussed the increasing burden on developing countries to pay debt interest which weakens development financing. Participants also discussed the shift in the trend of distribution of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from poverty alleviation programs to climate change issues.
Indonesia and Norway have a unique position in providing leadership for dialogue between donor countries. Norway as a DAC member provides the perspective of a traditional donor country, while Indonesia as a new donor country can bring the views of developing countries and donor recipient countries in establishing balanced development cooperation.
As co-host, Indonesia will host the 7th DLC which is planned to be held in Bali, on June 12 and 13, 2024. At the meeting, Indonesia will encourage more balanced thematic discussions by promoting the interests of developing countries or the Global South.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmad hopes that Indonesia's participation in the World Taikai World Kempo Championship Tokyo will be a bridge that strengthens Indonesia's relations with Japan. Ambassador Heri Akhmadi while attending the opening of the 2023 World Kempo Championship 'World Taikai Tokyo' held by the World Shorinji Kempo Organization ( WSKO) at Nippon Budokan, Tokyo on Sunday (8/10/2023) pointed out that Indonesia's participation in this prestigious competition is clear evidence of the strong relationship of both countries.
Moreover, President of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO) Kouma So in his opening remarks at the Tokyo 2023 World Kempo World Taikai Championship appreciated the participation of all participants. He hopes that in the championship which will take place on 6–13 October 2023, there will be friendship between all countries that will be remembered together. According to him, this championship is not only looking for medals or results, but more than that, it can achieve self-confidence and friendship. Founder of Shorinji Kempo Indonesia Indra Kartasasmita explained that he was proud of the participation of 153 kempo athletes or what are called Indonesian kenshi in the international kempo event. He wants the current generation not only to win in competitions but also to foster better cooperation between countries for the good name of Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Foreign Relations and Cooperation Division of the Central Indonesia National Sports Committee (KONI), Galih Kartasasmita, hopes that this championship can unite the people of the world, particularly Indonesia and Japan. According to him, sport is able to unite people around the world and is one that can bridge relations countries. The Indonesian contingent consisting of 153 Kenshi took part in 19 competition events, and managed to get second place with 4 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze medals.
The Indonesian Embassy in Belgrade held a Diplomatic Reception to celebrate the 78th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia and the Indonesian Armed Forces on Thursday (05/10). The Indonesian Ambassador to Serbia, Mochammad Chandra Widya Yudha, in his official statement on Saturday (7/10) said that Indonesia-Serbia cooperation is not only reflected in the increase of trade, but includes strengthening political relations, cultural exchange and educational cooperation.
In this Diplomatic Reception, the Indonesian Language, Indonesian Culture and Indonesian Arts were introduced to the people of Siberia by presenting choir groups, dance studios and gamelan groups. Quoted from the website of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the reception was attended by strategic partners including high-ranking Serbian officials, among others, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic, Minister of Regional Development, Edin Djerlek, Heads of Representatives and diplomatic circles as well as international organizations, business circles, other working partners and friends of Indonesia in Serbia.
The website of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that in the first half of 2023, Indonesia-Serbia cooperation experienced an increase in various sectors, one of which was an increase in trade volume of 227 percent. The collaboration between the two countries also resulted in the inauguration of the document "The First Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade" as UNESCO's Memory of the World. In addition, Serbia's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South East Asia (TAC) reflects Serbia's recognition of the ASEAN principles and values promoted in Indonesia's Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023.
The Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Paris held an integrated promotion entitled Fête de l'Archipel (the Archipelago festival ) to improve the positive image of Indonesia in France and encourage to increase the relations of both countries. The Indonesian Embassy in its Press Statement (20/9) pointed out that Indonesia promotion abroad, including in France, cannot be done by just one party, but it must be carried out through continuously close collaboration and cooperation among all stakeholders. The Indonesian Embassy in Paris from year to year always organizes activities integrated promotion to provide a deeper and wider impression and impact in the eyes of the French people. The Indonesian Ambassador to France, Monaco, Andorra and UNESCO Mohamad Oemar conveyed a series of Fête de l'Archipel (Nusantara Festival) activities to increase the visibility and positive image of Indonesia in the eyes of France. According to Oemar, this year's integrated promotional activities will be held from 29 September to 5 October 2023 which cover various activities including economic and trade exhibitions, fashion shows, business forums, Indonesian cultural evenings and culinary promotions.
Fête de l'Archipel activities will be opened with Indonesia's participation in Paris Fashion Week, namely in the Premiere Classe Showroom on 29 September - 2 October. The exhibition, which has been included in the Paris Fashion Week agenda, is supported by the Ministry of Trade and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government by bringing eight brands (brands) namely, ARTKEA, IKYK, Jewel Rocks, Aidan And Ice, Christin Wu, Elly Han, Long Story Short, and 3 Monkis. The second activity is a business forum which will be held on 4 October 2023 in collaboration with the French Companies Association MEDEF International and supported by Bank Indonesia and various Indonesian BUMN. The Business Forum is planned to promote the Indonesian Government's priority sectors, including the energy, digital transition, industrial downstreaming and development of the Indonesian New Capital City (IKN). This forum is also fully supported by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Investment, BKPM and the IKN Authority.
Moreover, after the business forum, there will be another event namely a fashion show on the same day. This activity, which is supported by Bank Indonesia and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, will showcase the work of designers, some of them have also been performed at Paris Fashion Week. According to a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Paris, the Fashion show will be combined with artistic performances from ISI Denpasar and the Cultural Service of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. The series of festivals will closed with a culinary promotion on 5 October to promote Indonesian food and spices and increase exports of Indonesian spices to France.
The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore held an ASEAN Readiness Pre-Departure program. This activity aims to strengthen collaboration and relations between the people of the two countries.Education and Cultural Attache at Indonesian Embassy in Singapore, IGAK Satrya Wibawa, in a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore quoted by ANTARA, explained that more than three thousand students from both countries were undertaking "academic mobility", and the number will increase every year.
The Pre-Departure Program organized by the Educational and Cultural Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore together with Ngee Ann Polytechnic Singapore and Padjadjaran University Bandung in Singapore on Saturday (23/9) was attended by 50 students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic.The program is aimed at providing an overview of Indonesia in general and Bandung in particular to 45 Ngee Ann students who will have a collaborative program with Padjadjaran University (UNPAD) students. The 45 students will be at Unpad for two weeks, then in October they will be joined by 45 more students in a similar program. Meanwhile, on the same occasion, the Trade Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore, Billy Anugrah, said that from the beginning, Indonesia and Singapore had been attached as two neighboring countries in culture and trade.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric discussed issues and efforts that could help the people of Myanmar in New York, United States on Friday (22/9).
Mirjana Spoljaric, as in an official statement received in Jakarta on Saturday (23/9), appreciated Indonesia's support for the ICRC. She hopes to further strengthen relations between Indonesia and the ICRC through various collaborations and dialogues.
Minister Retno Marsudi said that the Five Point Consensus (5PC) remains the main reference to resolve the Myanmar issue. She also explained that, as Chair of ASEAN, Indonesia is showing its concrete efforts and actions in distributing humanitarian aid to Myanmar.
In addition, through the Troika mechanism, Indonesia is committed to continuing to help the people of Myanmar even though its ASEAN's chairmanship ends. On a different day, Minister Retno Marsudi also had a dialogue with the previous President of the ICRC, Peter Maurer. Both of them also had the same view, that humanitarian assistance to Myanmar must reach all those in need without discrimination.