The Indonesian Embassy in Beirut has acknowledged its continued support for trade cooperation improvement between Indonesia and Lebanon. Indonesian Ambassador to Lebanon Hajriyanto Y Thohari gave the Primaduta Award to Lebanese businessman and importer, George R Fattouh. The award was given for his service in helping market Indonesian products in Paris from the Middle East. The award was given at a ceremony at the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut, Thursday (11/1) Fatough, is the owner of George R. Fattouh S.A.L, a business that has been importing Indonesian products since the 1980s. It has a range of products, including: palm oil and its derivatives, oil and fats (including cocoa butter substitute, fat spread, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, and lauric confectionery fats), cardboard, stationary, and school equipment. Some Indonesian products are now even available at famous retail networks, such as Spinney’s and Carrefour. In 2022, the value imported by George R. Fattough S.A.L of Indonesian products, was 981.3 million USD. This was a 149.5 million USD increase when compared to 2021. Fattouh said Indonesian products are known for their quality and are in high demand in Lebanese markets. However, he said, the challenge now is increasing freight costs due to security challenges in the region.
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Listeners, a number of delicious dishes were served to the guests of Dhaup Ageng Pura Pakualaman Yogyakarta, at the wedding reception of the youngest son of K.G.P.A.A. Paku Alam X, namely B.P.H. Kusumo Kuntonugroho with Laily Annisa Kusumastuti which was held on January 10, 2024.Head of the Customs and Accommodation Division, Dhaup Ageng Pura Pakualaman, KRT Radyo Wisroyo said that the menu served to guests was quite varied. These menus are typical menus prepared by Pakualaman Pura, Indonesian menus and western food menus were also available. All invited guests including VIP and VVIP guests got the same menu. The first menu served to welcome guests, namely two types of welcome drink, namely lime lemongrass and ginger drink with lime. The welcome drink was given when guests sat down and watched the Bedhaya Sidamukti and Bedhaya Kakung Indrawidagda dance performances. Next, they gotsnacks for appetizer such as croquettes and other light snacks. There is a snack that is considered quite special and rare called Garulina. Garulina was the opening snack at the Pahargyan Dhaup Ageng Pakualaman lunch on the first day. Garulina has been around since the era before Indonesian independence. Garulina is actually not a typical Central Javanese food. It looks like the Lapis Legit layered cake, but there is something different, because there is a special layer like vla which is made from fresh milk, eggs and sugar. To get this sweet snack, Pakulaman Temple has to place a special order from the third generation of makers who have been pioneering since the 1950s. In Jogja, Garulina is very difficult to find and is considered rare because it is not sold every day.
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Today's Miscellany informs you about Indonesia's international achievement. The Anargya Team from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), Surabaya, East Java has again made history at the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) Japan 2024. They successfully defended their title in the Presentation Event category and entered the Top 10 in the electric vehicle (EV) class. This achievement is clear evidence that the innovation of young Indonesians is able to compete on the global stage.
FSAE Japan is one of the most prestigious automotive competitions in the world, where students from various countries compete to design electric formula cars. The ITS Anargya Team, which is the only Indonesian representative, faced 75 teams from other Asian countries. In this competition, they were faced with challenges not only in terms of technical design, but also business and marketing strategies that had to be presented in detail. With creativity and a deep understanding of digital technology and the environment, the Anargya Team managed to stand out and win third place in the presentation category.
Not only that, in the FSAE event, the Anargya EV Mark 4.0 car made by ITS students had to pass various strict technical tests, including slope tests and rain tests. In this competition, the Anargya Car was able to show extraordinary performance, passing all challenges well. The technology they developed, such as the use of recycled semiconductors and a waterproof protection system, is one of the innovations that makes them worthy of competing at the international level. All of this is the result of the team's hard work and dedication in preparing themselves during the competition. This achievement proves that young Indonesians have extraordinary potential in the fields of technology and innovation.
Bali in Indonesia is not only known as a center of tourism that offers fascinating nature but also as a place rich in Balinese culture that can be enjoyed by anyone visiting the island. Despite outside and modern influences, Bali maintains its thick traditional roots, especially through its cuisine, which continues to tempt the appetite of tourists. One notable dish is Lawar, a traditional Balinese culinary delight.
Lawar is a typical Balinese dish made from a mixture of vegetables and minced meat, seasoned with various spices. Initially, Lawar was served only at traditional and religious ceremonies, but now it has become a common dish in Balinese households and is widely available in restaurants under the name Balinese Lawar.
The naming of Lawar varies depending on the type of meat or vegetables used. For example, if chicken is used, it is called Chicken Lawar; if jackfruit is the main ingredient, it is named Jackfruit Lawar. The name can also be based on the dish's color, such as Red Lawar for red-colored Lawar or White Lawar if it appears white. There is also a type called Padamare Lawar, which is a mixture of several kinds of Lawar.
Making Balinese Lawar is relatively simple. Start by slicing long beans into approximately 1 cm pieces and set aside. Then add bean sprouts and remove the roots. Grind or pound together shallots, garlic, large red chilies, ginger, galangal, kencur, roasted candlenuts, pepper, coriander, roasted shrimp paste, and salt. Heat some oil, then sauté the ground spices until fragrant and cooked. Add minced meat and stir until slightly dry. After that, add grated coconut and stir over low heat until the coconut becomes dry and brownish, then set it aside to cool. Finally, mix the long beans, bean sprouts, other vegetables, and the chicken-coconut stir-fry. Add lime juice, stir until evenly mixed, and serve.
Due to its mostly vegetable-based ingredients such as starfruit, jackfruit, young coconut, and young papaya mixed with Balinese spices, Lawar is best enjoyed fresh as it does not last long.
The annual creative industry festival "Evoria M Bloc Fest 2024" was held at M Bloc Space, Jakarta on 27 September until 6 October 2024. The festival showcased subcultures of music, arts, designs, films, and fashions in one area. One of the founder and Program Director of M Bloc Fest Wendi Putranto said the Bloc Fest strengthened its position as a national creative industry festival that is open for newcomers from various creative scenes. Evoria M Bloc Fest 2024 is an umbrella for some festivals with different activities, shows, and exhibitions namely M Bloc Design Week (MBDW) (27 September – 6 October 2024), M Bloc Music Festival (27, 28, 29 September 2024), X Short, X Fashion, and X OpenLab (27, 28, 29 September 2024).
There are six locations for the M Bloc Fest 2024 namely M Bloc Live House, Creative Hall, Mini Gallery, Bloc Bar, LRS Stage, and M Bloc Market. The curation process, talent and new work hunt at M Bloc Fest has been running since early this year though the Evoria Festival 2024 held on 26 May until 2 June at M Bloc Space. Besides music and fashion shows, there are also incubation of music, film, fashion, art & design in workshow, talkshow, and consultation with professionals of each field.
Some 907 musicians or bands from across Indonesia joined Evoria this year. The incubation program combines creativity with mentoring from experts in the creative industry. This program also presents some famous artists as speakers namely Ryan Geraldin, Anindito Wisnu, Alain Gunawan, Rifqi Zarkasih, Faza Meonk, and others.
Today's Miscellany presents the amazing story of Indonesian students from the Faculty of Medicine, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta University, who won silver medals in the "World Invention Competition and Exhibition" (WICE) 2024 in Selangor, Malaysia. They not only competed on the international stage, but also showed that Indonesia has young talents who are ready to lead in the fields of science and technology.
The students presented research that examines the potential of propolis as an immunostimulant, using pharmacodynamic and acute toxicity study methods in mice. Through acute toxicity tests, the results of the study prove that propolis is safe to use in the right doses, adding scientific evidence regarding the benefits of propolis in improving the immune system and opening up opportunities for further development in its use as evidence-based health therapy. The success of the Medical Faculty team of UIN Jakarta University proves that collaboration and perseverance in scientific research can bring about major changes, both in the academic realm and for the advancement of the health sector globally.
The WICE competition itself was attended by 585 teams from 15 countries, making the achievements of UIN Jakarta students even more meaningful, due to the tight competition. The enthusiasm and hard work shown by these students are an inspiration to other young generations. They have proven that with good support, the dream of innovating at the world level is possible. Innovation in science and technology is the key to a better future, and the achievement of these UIN Jakarta students is a real step towards that hope. Let's continue to support and encourage the birth of new innovations from the nation's children! from Indonesia to the world.
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Paris, France encourages increased French business and investment in Indonesia through the organisation of the Indonesia-France Business Forum. The event was held at the Headquarters of the Federation of French Companies (MEDEF) in Paris on Thursday (26/9).
Indonesian Ambassador to France, Mohamad Oemar said at the forum, as quoted by Antara News on Friday (27/9) that he would like to invite French counterparts to take advantage of the great opportunities in Indonesia due to the stable and increasingly conducive economic situation from year to year.
At the forum, Ambassador Oemar said that Indonesia has a Medium and Long-Term Development Plan that includes various government commitments to continue governance reforms, including through the accession process to the OECD, which began last year.
The process is aimed at harmonising standards, rules and regulations with OECD countries, such as France, Japan, South Korea, the United States and EU countries.
The Indonesia-France Business Forum was organised by the Indonesian Embassy in Paris, in collaboration with the French Business Association, and MEDEF International. The forum involved various stakeholders from the government sector, state-owned enterprises, academia, and the private sector.
The forum also saw concrete results, such as the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between PT Pertamina NRE and PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy with French company Genvia.
The signing of the agreement shows that France has great interest in investing in Indonesia, especially in environmentally friendly and sustainable sectors, including in the fields of energy transition and sustainable cities.
The forum is part of the Fête de l'Archipel (‘Indonesian Archipelago Festival’), an integrated promotional activity organised by the Indonesian Embassy in Paris in collaboration with relevant ministries, institutions, local governments and state-owned enterprises.
The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo welcomes the 2024 Annual Seminar held by the Affiliation of Indonesian Language Teachers and Activists for Foreign Speakers - Japan.
Through an official statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo received in Jakarta, Coordinator of the Socio-Cultural Information Function of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Muhammad Al Aula, in the opening of the 2024 Annual Seminar, Saturday (28/9/2024), said the activity was very strategic to support the strengthening of literacy of the Indonesian people and increasing the ability to master the Indonesian language, for both Indonesian and Japanese people who are interested in learning Indonesian.
According to Muhammad Al Aula, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo will continue to collaborate to support the initiatives and activities of the Affiliation of Indonesian Language Teachers and Activists for Foreign Speakers Japanese branch.
Meanwhile, the Education and Culture Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Amzul Rifin, who was also present at the event, emphasized that mastery of Indonesian and Japanese will further strengthen the relations between the people of the two countries. In addition, mastery of Indonesian and Japanese will also support the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
The seminar of the Affiliation of Indonesian Language Teachers and Activists for Japanese Foreign Speakers, held in a hybrid manner this year, was themed "Where is Indonesian Heading - Challenges and the Role of the Diaspora."
The Chairperson of the Daily Management of the Affiliation of Indonesian Language Teachers and Activists for Japanese Foreign Speakers, Suyoto, appreciated the support of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo for every activity held by the affiliation.
Present as speakers were the Principal of the Indonesian School Tokyo, Ari Driyaningsih, and Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Jakarta State University, linguist, Liliana Muliastuti.
Ari Driyaningsih in her presentation explained that academic staff at the Indonesian School Tokyo seeks to enhance the strengthening of culture, language, and diverse environment in the learning process and interact with school stakeholders as well as increasing cooperation with Japanese schools and other institutions to strengthen national identity.
Meanwhile, Liliana Muliastuti emphasized the importance of starting the Indonesian Wave through promoting Indonesian culture throughout the world. She also highlighted the increase in collaboration and strategic innovation in promoting Indonesian abroad.
In addition to those present at Balai Indonesia, Tokyo, this seminar was also attended online by around 40 participants from Indonesia.
According to a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok received in Jakarta on Tuesday (24/9), the Blending Souls exhibition which will take place at the National Gallery of Thailand on October 4-30, 2024, reaffirms the power of painting as a universal language capable of strengthening Indonesian-Thai cultural relations, while continuing the success of previous exhibitions, namely Bridge of Color in 2022 and Blossoming Curiosity in 2023.
In the exhibition with the theme "fusion of soul flavors", Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, Rachmat Budiman, will also present his paintings that reflect cultural diplomacy between Indonesia and Thailand.
This year's painting exhibition will feature works from 24 artists consisting of 14 Indonesian artists and 10 Thai artists. The artists explore various topics ranging from cultural symbols to personal reflections on diplomacy. Moreover, it is also supported by two renowned Indonesian curators namely Agus Dermawan and Mikke Susanto and a Thai curator Padhung Prommoon.Indonesian artists include Camelia Mitasari Hasibuan, Edi Sunaryo, Erica Hestu Wahyuni, Galuh Tajimalela, Made Toris Mahendra, Ni Nyoman Sani, Prajna Dewantara Wirata, Putu Sutawijaya, Rendra Santana and Wayan Kun Adnyana. While Thai artists involving in the event include Banlu Wiriyapornprapas, Chalermsak Radanachan, Kriengkrai Kulphun, Panupong Kongyen, Pannaphan Yodmanee, Phunsee Srisuphar and Sucharat Vongthong,
Through the creative lens of the artists,the Blending Souls exhibition emphasizes that diplomacy is not only limited to formal channels, but can also be expressed beautifully through art. The works on display will invite visitors to better understand the cultural, social and environmental relationships that bind the two countries.
The Indonesia-Thai paintings exhibition is part of a series of events at the Trade, Tourism, Investment and Culture Forum, an initiative designed to strengthen ties between Indonesia and its global partners through trade, investment and cultural collaboration.
Blending Souls will be the finale of the 2024 Trade, Tourism, Investment and Cultural Forum series which includes Indonesia Fair at Central World on September 6-8, Business Forum on September 13 and Indonesian Cultural Night at Ganesha Theatre on September 15.
As many as 100 booths offering products of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and creative industries at the Indonesian Businesswomen Association (IWAPI) Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, became a bridge in connecting Indonesian and Malaysian businesswomen. Through this event, business actors from both countries expanded their markets and established strategic cooperation. Coordinator of Economic Functions of the Indonesian Embassy, Hendra Purnama Iskandar, after the opening of the exhibition on Monday (23/9/2024), mentioned that the 100 booths were filled by IWAPI members and their Malaysian partners. This activity is fully supported by the Indonesian Embassy as part of efforts to increase economic cooperation between the two countries ahead of the organization’s National Work Meeting.
Moreover, Hendra conveyed that Indonesian women entrepreneurs have the opportunity to showcase their products and services at this exhibition. He also hopes these products can enter the Malaysian market through business matching sessions. Some of the excellent products on display included modest fashion, accessories, and traditional fabrics or wastras. Hendra Purnama Iskandar affirmed that the potential to expand the market in Malaysia is very large. He believes that entrepreneurs from both countries, who share many cultural similarities, can easily establish cooperation. As allied countries, various aspects such as culture and tradition serve as supporting factors in the partnership.
The wife of the Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Kiki Hermono, officially opened the Indonesian Businesswomen Association (IWAPI) exhibition and business matching activities. In her remarks, Kiki explained that IWAPI, as the largest organization of women entrepreneurs, has contributed significantly to developing the fighting spirit and welfare of women, especially in the economic sector. She hopes that the exhibition can open up greater market opportunities, including providing opportunities for networking with business people in Malaysia, so that Indonesian women entrepreneurs become more empowered and successful.
In addition to being attended by 1,200 members of the organization, the event was also attended by IWAPI founder Dewi Motik Pramono and Chairperson of the IWAPI Central Executive Board, Nita Yudi. Their presence is proof of their full support for the women entrepreneurs participating in this exhibition.
The Indonesian Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, held a diplomatic reception to celebrate the 79th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia.
Through an official statement received in Jakarta on Saturday (21/9/2024), it was disclosed that the activity was attended by around 500 guests, consisting of a number of vice ministers, members of congress, governors, mayors, diplomatic corps, CEOs, company owners, rectors, deans, Colombian figures, and the media.
Also present were partners of the Indonesian Embassy in Bogota, who are members of Amigos de Indonesia (Friends of Indonesia), who admire the diversity of Indonesian culture and gastronomy.
The diplomatic reception, held in the Centro Cultural Gimnasio Moderno hall, featured various regional dances from Indonesia. They were performed by around 120 Colombian dancers. It was a collaboration between the Indonesian Embassy and a number of schools, from elementary school to university in Bogota.
The Indonesian Ambassador to the Republic of Colombia, who also serves Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Tatang Budie Utama Razak, in his speech, conveyed the history of Indonesia and the progress achieved to date.
According to him, Indonesia has now become one of the countries advancing in the fields of economy, development, infrastructure, and technology.
On that occasion, a video was also shown about pluralism, democracy, and progress in various fields, including the development of Indonesia’s New Capital City, Nusantara. Many guests expressed their desire to visit Indonesia, as well as entrepreneurs who want to cooperate with Indonesia.
The invited guests were entertained with the atmosphere of the Indonesian night by watching art performances and enjoying Indonesian gastronomy.
President Joko Widodo launched the Wanagama Nusantara forest to support the development of the new capital city -Nusantara in the City Forest Zone B of the Government Centre Core Area in East Kalimantan. The declaration of the education and research forest, which will be managed by Gadjah Mada University, was marked by the signing of a charter in Kayu Sukai by President Joko Widodo, and witnessed by Rector of Gadjah Mada University and someMinisters. After the declaration of Wanagama Nusantara forest, President Joko Widodo along with his ministers symbolically planted trees and released several birds followed by the Ministers, UGM Rector, students, partners and communities around Nusantara Capital City.
Wanagama Nusantara is an interdisciplinary and educational research forest development ecosystem that is initiated by Universitas Gadjah Mada in collaboration with the Authority of the Nusantara Capital City and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The forest is located in the core area of the Nusantara Capital Government Centre with an area of 621 hectares. For the initial stage, an area of 28 hectares was developed. Of the total area, in the future there will be expansion by deforestation based on zones. Some of them are tropical forest zones, energy forests, forests for pharmaceuticals, and forests for eco-tourism.
Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada Prof. Ova Emilia hopes Wanagama Nusantara supports the vision of the Nusantara Capital City as Forest City. In addition, he also hopes that Wanagama Nusantara will become a window of the tropical world, with the main programme, including the development of educational forest zoning, the development of the Institute for future life, restoration, reforestation and enrichment planting. The existence of Wanagama Nusantara is certainly part of Universitas Gadjah Mada's commitment in supporting the development of the Nusantara Capital City as a sustainable city.
As an educational and research forest, Wanagama Nusantara Forest is integrated with various disciplines and faculties at Universitas Gadjah Mada. This forest is also expected to be a model of tropical rainforest restoration in regulating hydrology and microclimate in the Nusantara Capital City as well as conservation of native species of tropical rainforests from extinction in the future.