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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The Indonesian National Zakat Amil Agency (BAZNAS) is coordinating with the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo to prepare the needs for a public kitchen at the Rafah border, in its efforts to help the Palestinian people in Gaza. Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian National Zakat Amil Agency, Mokhamad Mahdum in his statement in Jakarta, Thursday, said that one of the initiatives being prepared was to meet the needs of a public kitchen managed by the Egyptian Red Crescent at the Rafah border. He explained that providing a public kitchen there was an urgent need. Many Palestinian refugees suffer from starvation due to Israeli aggression. According to him, the public kitchen will provide food for thousands of Palestinians affected by the conflict, especially those who are displaced and homeless. However, according to him, the Indonesian National Zakat Amil Agency cannot carry out this humanitarian mission without the support and participation of all parties. Therefore, it coordinates with the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo for public kitchen needs. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Representative of the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, M Zaim A Nasution, said that The Indonesian National Zakat Amil Agency is one of the institutions that distributes a lot of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people through Egypt.
The Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong, Yul Edison held a meeting with the Vice President of the University of Hong Kong, Prof. Ian Holliday at the University of Hong Kong campus on Monday (19/2). The meeting aimed at discussing the potential for educational cooperation, because Hong Kong is considered to have high potential as one of the study destinations for Indonesian students. One of the ways raised is to increase student exchange programs between Indonesian and Hong Kong university students. Hong Kong University has approximately 400 student exchange partner universities. Prof. Holliday expressed his interest in working with 3-4 universities in Indonesia for this program.
Moreover, Prof. Holliday also raised the possibility of increasing the quota for foreign students from outside the People's Republic of China at the University of Hong Kong from 300 people to 600 people in the near future. In addition, the University of Hong Kong also has very profitable doctoral scholarships. They hope that this will become a selling point for the University of Hong Kong for Indonesian students. At the event, the Indonesian Consul General, Yul Edison also invited Hong Kong University students to take part in the scholarship program offered by the Indonesian government. These scholarships include the Dharmasiswa-Arts Scholarship and Indonesian Culture as well as the Developing Countries Partnership Scholarship. Yul Edison hopes that there will be an increase in interest among Indonesian students to continue their studies in Hong Kong, which is still relatively small.
Besides, several universities in Hong Kong are listed as the best universities in the world, including the University of Hong Kong which is ranked the best in Hong Kong and 26th best in the world, based on an assessment from the QS World University Rankings 2024. The University of Hong Kong is also part of the University21 network which consists of the top 29 best universities in the world, including Gajah Mada University.
The Indonesian Embassy in Canberra stated that Jakarta State University (UNJ) in Indonesia is exploring educational collaboration with the University of Canberra, Australia. According to a written statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra received in Jakarta on Tuesday (20/2), Faculty Language and Arts of UNJ is exploring opportunities to open a dual Master of Language Education degree program with the Faculty of Education, University of Canberra. Education and Culture Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, Mukhamad Najib conveyed that currently, there is funding from the Education Fund Management Agency for a double degree program between universities in Indonesia and universities abroad that have an international reputation. This is a good opportunity for UNJ to take advantage of and University of Canberra.
Moreover, Najib further pointed out that the focus of the discussion was the opportunity to establish a joint master's program between UNJ and the University of Canberra, especially the Master of Language Education. He also said the Indonesian government strongly encourages universities to have double degree programs or joint degrees with universities abroad, including Australia.
Besides, the Australian Government through the Australia Awards Indonesia also has a similar program called the Split-Site Master's Program. In this program, students will study for one year in Indonesia and one year in Australia. According to Najib, one of the obstacles for students to study in countries like Australia, is generally due to cost problems. Because tuition fees in Australia are very expensive. Therefore, it is hoped that the split-site master's program can be a solution to this problem.
Meanwhile, Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Jakarta State University, Liliana expressed her seriousness in bringing the UNJ Faculty of Languages and Arts into a faculty with an international reputation. She viewed that the existence of a joint program for masters of education between UNJ and the University of Canberra could be a bridge to develop cooperation in other fields, such as joint research between UNJ and University of Canberra lecturers. Najib has also said UNJ will send a draft curriculum design which can be used as material for discussions on the establishment of a split-site master or double degree. He also perceived that curriculum alignment takes time and must be started as soon as possible. Liliana emphasized while discussing the curriculum, UNJ Faculty of Languages and Arts also invites University of Canberra lecturers to become guest lecturers both online and offline to be speakers at seminars organized by UNJ or to conduct joint research and publications.
When traveling to East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, you must visit Tanggedu Waterfall. It is known as the "Grand Canyon" of East Sumba because of the waterfall's location between beautiful cliffs. The location is in Tanggedu village, Kanatang subdistrict, about 46 kilometers from Waingapu city, the capital of East Sumba. To reach Tanggedu Waterfall, you have to travel overland for about two hours from Waingapu. During the trip you will see beautiful views. Then, in Tanggedu village, you still have to trek for 3 kilometers.
Tanggedu Waterfall is open every day from 08.00 AM to 17.00 PM local time. The entrance ticket price is 5,000 rupiah (0,32 US dollar) per person. Arriving at Tanggedu Waterfall, you will be greeted by the sound of gurgling water flowing from a height of about eight meters. There are two waterfalls from different river flows. The water is very clear and clean, so you can see the blue bottom of the pool. This pool is quite wide and shallow, so you can swim or body raft.
besides swimming, don't forget to capture the moment by taking photos. Tanggedu Waterfall provides several interesting natural photo backdrops. Each background provides a unique image. You can pose with a waterfall in the background. The photo angle that is no less interesting is the background of the rock cliffs on the left and right banks of the river. Apart from that, the bathing pool with various colored rock reliefs around it is a beautiful photo spot. For facilities, this tourism attraction is equipped with a restaurant and bathrooms.
Indonesia, with abundant nature and culture, gets more recognition from the world as one of the most interesting destinations in the world. In this year's prediction, Indonesia is in the list of must-visit popular tourism destinations. Many factors such as natural beauty, cultural heritage, and people's friendliness make Indonesia a magnet for global tourists. Some travel experts in the world predicted the popular tourism destination in 2024. Some 27 cities, islands, and countries are in the prediction list, including Indonesia and Southeast Asia nations.
Travel writer Isabel Leong describes Indonesia with its natural wealth, starting from the natural landscape, original beach, and spiritual attraction especially in Bali. Leong, quoted from HuffPost, wrote that the world is seeking for a harmonious mix of relaxation and adventure, and Bali came as the main haven. Kareem George, as travel advisor and founder Culture Traveler, has a similar opinion. George praised the beautiful islands in Indonesia including its rice fields, local market, and tradition. Some people are looking for a "new" and attractive destination, and Indonesia, as the world's biggest archipelago, offers various experiences besides Bali.
Besides Indonesia, other countries in the World Popular Destination Prediction are Slovenia, Vietnam, Mexico, California in the US, South Africa, Argentina, Istanbul di Turkiye, Japan, Thailand, Costa Rica, Tromso in Norwegia, Outaouais in Quebec, Menorca in Spain, Benguerra Island in Mozambique, Tirana in Albania, British Virgin Island, and Wroclaw in Poland.
Citilink Indonesia, and the Return to Tourism Association in Indonesia, abbreviated as KEMBERIN, collaborated to launch the Linktrip program. Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, gave appreciation to Citilink and KEMBERIN for their initiative on presenting Linktrip as a platform that offers complete travel packages to various destinations in Indonesia. He also hopes that this collaboration can support the "National Movement for Proud of Traveling in Indonesia" program and achieve the target number of visits by both foreign and domestic tourists.
Meanwhile, Citilink Indonesia's Director of Commerce and Cargo, Ichwan F. Agus, said that the tour package presented at Linktrip is a complete package starting from round trip tickets, accommodation, as well as tickets to attractions and other activities at the tourist destination. Some of the tour packages offered are Bromo tour packages, Cap Go Meh tour packages, Sailing Komodo tour packages, Mount Rinjani tour packages, and Banda Neira tour packages. According to him, this collaboration is a form of Citilink's commitment to advancing Indonesian tourism.
Citilink Indonesia will also be holding “Early Homecoming with Citilink” and "Eid to Jakarta" programs before and after Eid by providing special prices. For these programs, the booking period will be available from 12th to 22nd of February, 2024 with the travel period from 19th of February to 31st of May, 2024. Linktrip can be accessed on Citilink’s website, citilink.co.id/linktrip, as well as their mobile apps.
The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises is establishing bilateral cooperation with Timor Leste to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as cooperatives so that they provide more benefits to the economies of both countries.
This cooperation was confirmed in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries, which was held in Jakarta, Tuesday (20/2).
Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, Teten Masduki said that the scope of the collaboration included a commitment to develop capacity building, partnerships between cooperatives, feasibility studies related to developing the business potential of cooperatives and SMEs, training and exchange visits, as well as strengthening SMEs and cooperative programs through regional collaboration.
Minister Teten Masduki further remarked that this collaboration will open up broad opportunities for cooperatives and MSMEs in both countries to learn from each other, and exchange information. He added that in the future, the Governments of Indonesia and Timor Leste can jointly evaluate certain sectors that may be developed by cooperatives and MSMEs so that they can strengthen the existing cooperation.
He also hopes that this memorandum of understanding can be implemented well, and all parties can make good use of this opportunity, and if successful, it can be continued for the next memorandum of understanding period.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State for Cooperatives of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Arsénio Pereira da Silva, said that the signing of the memorandum of understanding was a follow-up to the previous meeting between Indonesia and Timor Leste at the 2023 ASEAN Inclusive Business Summit.
Da Silva hopes that through this collaboration, his side can learn to develop MSMEs and cooperatives so that they are stronger and can grow together in the ASEAN region.
If you travel to Kutai, East Kalimantan, don't forget to try its typical cuisine, "Nasi Bekepor" or Bekepor Rice. This delight was once known as the food of nobles and kings. At that time, Bekepor Rice was a special menu often served when the King of Kutai received a visit from a guest of honor. In the Kutai language, "bekepor" means "to move" or "to rotate". It is called Bekepor Rice because of the way it is cooked on a wood-fired stove, then rotated while stirring so that it cooks evenly.
Nasi Bekepor or Bekepor Rice is cooked over wood charcoal by mixing half-cooked rice with basil leaves, chilies, lime juice, vegetable oil, and pieces of salted fish in a large cauldron. Bekepor Rice is fluffy, but the color is a bit pale and oily because it has been mixed with oil and various spices. It tastes savory and delicious, with an appetizing aroma of spices.
Nasi Bekepor or Bekepor Rice is usually eaten with several side dishes such as meat seasoned with soy sauce, eggplant soup with dayak onions, hoven's carp fish, gangan asam (sour vegetables) cooked with fish heads and sweet potatoes, and gence ruang, a typical East Kalimantan fried chili sauce. Don't forget the sambal raja, the perfect accompaniment to eating Bekepor rice. This chili sauce is made from a mix of six ingredients: fried eggplant chili sauce, asparagus bean, chives, boiled egg, mudfish, boiled shrimp, and kwini mango. Bekepor Rice is sold in restaurants in Kutai at a price of around 25,000 to 30,000 rupiah, or 1.5 to 2 US dollars per portion.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Finland, Ratu Silvy Gayatri, and the Minister of Economy of Finland, Wille Rydman, agree to encourage economic cooperation between the two countries. They conveyed this at a follow-up meeting after the visit of the Finnish business delegation to Indonesia.
Quoting the official statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki on Sunday, 18th of February, 2024, Ambassador Ratu Silvy Gayatri appreciated Finnish business delegation’s visit to Indonesia at the end of January of 2024. This visit is part of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Finland.
During the meeting, Ambassador Gayatri also invited Minister Rydman to attend the Indonesia-Finland Festival 2024, an integrated promotional activity which will be held in Finland’s capital, Helsinki, from 15th to 16th of June, 2024.
According to information from the Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki, the visit of business delegation led by Minister Rydman was considered one of the most productive working visits. The Indonesian market, as the largest market in Southeast Asia, is considered to have great potential in improving bilateral relations and economic activity between Finland and Indonesia.
During the visit, a Finnish business delegation consisting of 15 companies was interested in developing the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), as a smart city. Finnish companies brought various technological solutions such as 5G and 6G connectivity technology innovations, vehicle battery charging stations, and satellite technology to monitor forest areas.
Minister Rydman expressed support to opening access for Finnish private companies to increase their presence in Indonesia. Finnish companies will conduct direct negotiations with their partners in Indonesia, facilitated by Business Finland Jakarta.
The meeting between Ambassador Gayatri and Minister Rydman, was an important moment since the formation of the Finnish cabinet under the government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, which began last year. The Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki hopes that the economic cooperation between Indonesia and Finland will further develop through closer collaboration.
Batam International Airport had more international flight routes. The latest one was Batam-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was officially opened on Saturday (17/02). In the early stage, there will be three flights per week with Batik Air, but it aims to have at least one flight per day. The official launching was held at the departure gate of Batam Hang Nadim International Airport. The launch was marked by hanging flowers to tourists from Batam who are going to Kuala Lumpur. As quoted by tempo.co, Batam International Airport President Director Pikri Ilham Kurniansyah in his remark said the new route was a follow-up of Batam City Government's intention to make Batam a tourism city in 2024, with a target of 2 million international tourist visits. Pikri said the follow up of cooperation between Batam International Airport with Batam City Government is not only developing the airport physically like the terminal two, but also adding more international flight routes. Later, after Malaysia, there will be flights from Batam to Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries.
Head of Batam Authority (BP Batam) Muhammad Rudi said the regional government's duty is developing the investment in the tourism sector, namely by boosting tourist visits. Rudi, who is also the Mayor of Batam City hoped the new international route will encourage Batam to achieve the 2 million international tourist visit target. According to Rudi, prior to the pandemic, the target was achieved, but many used the domestic seaport route. Rudi also hoped there will be new cooperation between the two countries in tourism promotions after the new flight route. The two nations' governments can create a mutually-beneficial promotion event.
Similarly, Deputy Director Tourism Malaysia Medan Yusnita Yusof said a cooperation between the two nations is necessary to promote tourism. Yusnita said Malaysia aimed to have 4 million tourists. In the first flight of the new route, there were 114 tourists from Kuala Lumpur to Batam on Friday (16/02). Then on Saturday (17/02), there were 162 tourists.