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.
View
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.
ViewChinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nong Rong and Director General of Asia-Pacific and Africa of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Kadir Jailani met in Xiamen, Fujian province to hold the 15th China-Indonesia Diplomatic Consultation.
On the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is stated that the meeting took place on Saturday (3/2). Nong Rong, in a statement accessed by Antara from Beijing, Sunday, said that President Xi Jinping met twice with President Joko Widodo last year, leading comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries to a new level and making progress in building a community that has a shared future becomes a real project.
President Joko Widodo and Chinese President Xi Jingping met on 27-28 July 2023 in Chengdu, Sichuan province and on 17-18 October 2023 in Beijing at the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) Summit.
Nong Rong added that both leaders had witnessed improved political and security cooperation mechanisms, more active people-to-people exchanges and dialogue, as well as closer coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs.
During the meeting, Nong Rong gave an introduction to the guiding principles of the Central Conference on Foreign-Related Work, and said that building a community of shared future for the people is the highest goal pursued by the Chinese government in conducting diplomacy as a major country with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
In 2024, China is ready to work with Indonesia to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, advance the building of a Sino-Indonesian community with a shared future at high-level talks and set an example for developing countries.
Solidarity and cooperation for development were also discussed in order to provide more benefits for both nations and provide a strong impetus for prosperity and stability at regional and global levels.
Meanwhile, the ministry's Director General of Asia-Pacific and Africa Abdul Kadir Jailani, positively assessed the progress achieved in implementing the action plan to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
According to Abdul Kadir, Indonesia attaches great importance to relations with China, and is ready to work with that country to implement the mutual agreements and understandings reached between the two heads of state.
Indonesia also agreed to intensify high-level dialogue, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and encourage new and greater development in Indonesia and China's comprehensive strategic partnership. Indonesia, said Abdul Kadir, reaffirmed its commitment to the "one China" policy. Both sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual interest and concern, and agreed to deepen regional multilateral cooperation and safeguard common interests.
The Denpasar City Government, Bali and the British Government are exploring cooperation in the fields of tourism and information technology in a bid to further advance the local area. The exploration was carried out at a meeting between the Deputy British Ambassador to Indonesia Matthew Downing and the Regional Secretary of Denpasar City, Ida Bagus Alit Wiradana.
Alit Wiradana in Denpasar on Thursday (1/2) explained that increase in tourism and information technology must be balanced with improvement in the quality of human resources, such as language skills and also expertise in the field of information technology.
Besides discussing cooperation in the fields of tourism and information technology, after the meeting, Alit also discussed developing English language skills for the people of Denpasar City. In the discussion, there is possibility of sister-city cooperation between Denpasar City and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP), a unitary authority area in the ceremonial region of Dorset, England.
Deputy British Ambassador to Indonesia, Matthew Downing said that the British Government has a high interest in developing various sectors in Denpasar City, including education, tourism, the environment and many others.
He added that the Bournemouth area has an educational institution that has advantages in information technology. He hopes this will help Denpasar City in developing the smart city sector. Matthew Downing also offered the possibility of collaboration to organize English language tests for the people of Denpasar City.
Through this test, besides being able to measure language skills, he said, it will also make it easier for job providers in Denpasar City to attract quality applicants.
Charge d'affaires Ad Interim at the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, Zelda Wulan Kartika conveyed several cooperation programs between Indonesia and South Korea which will be held throughout 2024.
She said close and solid cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea will provide benefits, especially for the two countries, also the regions and the world. Zelda Wulan Kartika in Seoul on Wednesday (31/1/2024) explained the embassy will also encourage cooperation in halal certification. Especially after the accreditation of two Korean entities by the Indonesian Halal authority to issue mutually recognized halal certification.
She revealed in the security sector events will be held such as a strategic dialogue between the both countries’ Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs and a bilateral meeting of senior Indonesian-South Korean officials. In addition, the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul will host a meeting of Indonesianists in South Korea. It aims to share knowledge and policy expertise to build capacity and raise awareness in the region.
Indonesia will also strengthen cooperation in the economic and trade fields with South Korea by utilizing the Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as well as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which have taken effect since 2023. In the field of education, Zelda Wulan Kartika said the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul will continue to develop work programs cooperation and cultural exchange such as the Indonesian Language program for Foreign Speakers -BIPA Korea and the implementation of the Rumah Indonesiana project.
Charge d'affaires Ad Interim Zelda Wulan Kartika also mentioned that Indonesia and Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding/ to increase protection for Indonesian seafarers working on South Korean ships. She emphasized that the embassy would continue to coordinate with the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and the Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement and Protection Agency as well as the South Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to finalize the implementation arrangements.
Indonesia is targeting the Cambodian herbal and traditional medicine market because of looking at a large market potential for these products. Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, Santo Darmosumarto held a meeting with the Vice President of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, Lim Heng at the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce head office in Phnom Penh on Monday (29/1). They discussed efforts to improve the economic partnership between Indonesia and Cambodia. According to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh in its statement on Wednesday (31/1), to achieve these goals, the Indonesian Embassy Phnom Penh will hold a number of promotional activities this year, one of which is a health and beauty exhibition which will take place in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville in June 2024.
Moreover, Ambassador Santo has pointed out that Indonesian health products are now increasingly well received by Cambodian consumers. He believes there is huge potential for Indonesian producers, especially in the field of herbal and traditional medicine. According to Ambassador Santo, this health and beauty exhibition will be a step ahead before holding “Sousday Indonesia", an event to promote Indonesian trade, investment and tourism. This activity will be held in Phnom Penh in September 2024. He hopes this activity can attract 100 Indonesian and Cambodian companies to participate in. Indonesian Embassy Phnom Penh will also invite a large delegation of Cambodian entrepreneurs to take part in the largest international trade exhibition in Indonesia, namely Trade Expo Indonesia in October 2024. According to the plan, on the sidelines of the exhibition, there will also be a forum to explore infrastructure cooperation opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, Lim Heng expressed the commitment of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce to support the efforts of the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh in encouraging bilateral trade, investment and tourism cooperation. He further stated that the governments of Indonesia and Cambodia must make more efforts to encourage interaction between the private sector of the two countries, including collaboration between the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cambodia. According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, the total value of trade between Indonesia and Cambodia in January to November 2023 was recorded at US$874.5 million or around Rp13.78 trillion, with an export value of US$788.6 million or around Rp12.42 trillion and imports of US$85.9 million or around Rp1.35 trillion.
Indonesia recorded potential transactions worth 2.725 million Euros or around 46.6 billion rupiah at the annual international tourism exhibition Feria Internacional de Turismo (FITUR) 2024, which took place on 24-28 January 2024 in Madrid, Spain. The Indonesian Embassy in Madrid is optimistic that Indonesia's successful participation in FITUR will contribute positively to increasing the number of Spanish tourist visits to Indonesia by 2024. According to a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid on Tuesday (30/1), the Indonesian Embassy is collaborating with ten tourism business actors to bring various Indonesian destinations closer to visitors. They are Asia Bespoke Tours, Catur Viajes, Come2indonesia, Experience Toni Bali, Invierte en Indonesia Group, Kura Kura Resort, Lotus Asia Tours, Melia Bali, Pacto DMC and Spanesia Adventure Group. Chief Executive Officers of Asia Bespoke Tours, Manfred Schweizer admitted that he was very happy to be able to participate at the event of FITUR 2024 with Indonesia. According to Manfred Schweizer, many visitors were interested in group travel packages, particularly to Bali. But he tried to suggest them to also visit Sumatra or Kalimantan island to see orangutans or to Komodo Island, Lake Toba and Raja Ampat.
Meanwhile, owner of Experience Toni Bali, Toni Granados who comes from the city of Madrid conveyed that apart from trips to see the beautiful nature of Bali, there is also a meditation package for those who want to go on a spiritual journey with healers. Indonesia's participation at the event is an effort taking advantage of the recovery of Spanish people's interest in traveling abroad as well as the recovery of the Indonesian tourism sector after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indonesian Embassy in Madrid also took advantage of the momentum of Indonesia's election as a member of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, representing the regional commission for East Asia and the Pacific for the period 2023- 2027.
Moreover, Indonesia's participation was carried out by using a public-private partnership scheme. The Indonesian Embassy in Madrid received support from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. This year's FITUR also recorded new history because the number of participants reached 9,000 companies from 152 countries. At the Feria Internacional de Turismo (FITUR) 2023, the number of participants reached 8,500 companies from 131 countries.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Indonesian citizen protection program to improve services for Indonesian citizens in Hong Kong and Macau.
The Indonesian Consul General in Hong Kong, Yul Edison, in a written statement received by Antara, Monday (29/1), stated that the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong is always making improvements through close coordination with elements of the Hong Kong government and employment agencies. TheConsulate Generalisalso always responsive to measurable input,andfacilitatecase resolution and service innovation through AI-based 'hotlines'.
This statement was made during the "Indonesian Citizen Protection and Interactive Dialogue Program" on January 28 2024 which was attended by Indonesian migrant workers, students and professionals.
According to Yul Edison, one of the main work programs of the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong in 2024 is to improve services for Indonesian citizens through the use of artificial intelligence-based 'hotlines' and the appearance of the latest 'website'.
The activity aims to provide reports and public accountability for the performance of the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kongduring2023 and the planned work program for 2024.
The hotline utilizes developments in artificial intelligence to collect general information, respond quickly to incoming questions and forward messages to those in charge if certain cases are found,that require immediate special treatment.
Apart from the hotline, the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong has also developed a user-friendly 'website' as a means of disseminating public information. Through the website kemlu.go.id/hongkong/id, Indonesian citizens in Hong Kong can find important information regarding various services of the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong, especially consular services, passports, immigration, protection, socio-cultural and economic information, releases of the activities of the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong and other information, which is relevant.
The development of this artificial intelligence-based hotline was carried out by the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong in collaboration with Telin Hong Kong, one of the Indonesian State-Owned Enterprises operating in Hong Kong so that the social media already owned by the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
PosIND (Pos Indonesia) introduced a new creative space for the people of Surabaya through the soft launching of Pos Bloc Surabaya, at the Pos Bloc Building, Jalan Kebonrojo, Surabaya City, on January 28. The soft launching of Pos Bloc Surabaya was held through the "Conseria Surabaya" event. This event marks the introduction of Pos Bloc Surabaya to the general public, that there is a creative hub space that can be enjoyed together. President Director of PT Pos Indonesia (Persero), Faizal R Djoemadi said that Pos Bloc Surabaya is Pos Indonesia's commitment to providing creative space for the community, both business actors, communities and other groups. He hopes that the presence of Pos Bloc Surabaya can boost the economy of the people of Surabaya.
Post Bloc Surabaya is on Jalan Kebon Rojo, Surabaya, precisely in the building that used to be the Surabaya Post Office. Built on an area of 13,950 m2, Pos Bloc is a creative space for holding various arts, cultural events, creative community meetings, entertainment, and curated MSME business empowerment. Not only as a creative space, Pos Bloc Surabaya is also a historical tourist destination because this building is a 1.5 century old Dutch cultural heritage site.
The Surabaya Post Bloc Building is also known for its history as the place where the First President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Soekarno attended Hogere Burgerschool (HBS). Therefore, Pos Bloc also presents the Soekarno Gallery as a form of memorabilia of the Proclaimer's footsteps in this building. Apart from that, there is also a Postal Gallery which displays postal items such as stamps, old postal items, and even motorbikes used by postmen.
President Director of PT Pos Indonesia Faizal Rochmad Djoemadi said that currently the renovation process for this building which is more than 100 years old has been completed. Currently, the party is in the curation process for MSME players who will later make Pos Bloc a showcase for their creative products. According to him, MSMEs will start joining next March.
Indonesia has abundant enchanting natural and cultural wealth. Not only customs and culture, tourist attractions in Indonesia also add to the wealth of this country which is situated on the equator line. Kalimantan Island, one of the islands that crosses the equator, also has extraordinary allurement. Borneo island, which has quite a large natural wealth, is one of the islands that must be explored for its natural beauty. One of the most beautiful places is located in the eastern part of the island. A magical place that is quite unique is here, called Labuan Cermin.
Neither a beach nor a mountain, this place is a beautiful lake that always amazes it's visitors. Labuan Cermin Lake is located in Labuan Kelambu Village in Biduk-biduk District, East Kalimantan, which can be reached by road in about 6 to 7 hours from the capital of Berau Regency, Tanjung Redeb, in East Kalimantan. The view around Labuan Cermin Lake is very calming. This lake is surrounded by lush trees which create a very cozy atmosphere, so it is very suitable as a tourist destination to escape for a moment from the crowds that are often encountered every day. It is said that local stakeholders are developing Labuan Cermin as a tourist destination, starting with designating this area as a conservation area, and now it has been completed with supporting facilities to help visitors easily enjoy the beauty of the lake whose water has two flavors.
Labuan Cermin Lake has very clear water, even the sea sand at the bottom of the lake can be seen clearly. Why is it called Labuan Cermin? Labuan Cermin has two layers on which the sunlight reflects. This happens because Lake Labuan Cermin has two types of water. The water from the surface of the lake tasted salty, while the water at the bottom of the lake is fresh water. These two types of water make the lake have a separating layer so that the water can reflect the light exposure. Some people call Labuan Cermin lake 'Danau Dia Rasa' which means 'Lake of Two Flavours'. In Labuan Cermin, visitors can do sorts of activities such as swimming, snorkeling and diving. When diving using snorkeling goggles, you will see some fish swimming not far from the surface and some far at the bottom. The different flavors of the water separate some kind of fishes. It makes easier to identify freshwater and saltwater fish.
The Indonesian Embassy in Madrid participated again in the annual international tourism exhibition ” Feria Internacional de Turismo “ (FITUR) at IFEMA Madrid on 24-28 January 2024. As quoted by a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid, Indonesia's participation in FITUR 2024 is an effort to take advantage of the recovering interest of the Spanish people in traveling abroad as well as the recovery of the Indonesian tourism sector after the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid also took advantage of the momentum of Indonesia's election as a member of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), representing the regional commission for East Asia and the Pacific for the period 2023-2027.
After the success of Indonesia's participation last year, the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid expressed its optimism that FITUR 2024 will open up greater opportunities to attract Spanish tourists to Indonesia. To market the wide choice of Indonesian destinations, the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid is collaborating with 10 tour operators and local tourism sector entrepreneurs. This tour operator has the opportunity to directly offer travel packages as well as the opportunity to establish contacts and work together in organizing groups of tourists on holiday to Indonesia, including 10 priority Indonesian destinations.
Furthermore, Indonesia's participation is carried out by using a government-private partnership scheme. This time, the Indonesia's participation received good support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, as well as a number of leading brands. What is unique about the Indonesian pavilion this year is the presentation of a Coffee Bar which presents premium Indonesian coffee and Spanish models dressed in traditional Indonesian clothes. It is hoped that these tips will be supported by an integrated commitment from the Indonesian government and private sector to attract and increase visits by Spanish citizens and those who speak Spanish for holidays in Indonesia. FITUR is the most important tourism exhibition for the Ibero-American market, namely the Central and South American market which has historical proximity to Spain and Portugal. Along with the Mobile World Congress (MWC) which is held every end of February in Barcelona, FITUR which is held every January in Madrid is the largest international annual exhibition in Spain and the second largest in Europe.
As many as 8,500 companies and 131 countries have participated in FITUR 2023 which holds eight pavilions with a total exhibition area of 66,900 square meters. In 2023, FITUR was visited by more than 222,000 individuals consisting of 136,000 professionals and 86,000 general people. FITUR last year also had an economic impact of 400 million euros profits for the city of Madrid. As in previous years, FITUR 2024 is divided into two sessions. FITUR for business actors in the tourism sector was opened on January 24-26, while FITUR for the general public was opened on January 27-28.//
The national airline Garuda Indonesia, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, held the Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair 2024 for the Japanese region, last Thursday 25 January. Garuda Indonesia’s Tokyo Deputy General Manager Carina Megarani in Tokyo, Thursday (25/1) said that the online event aims to increase demand for both Japanese and Indonesian citizens to travel to Indonesia.
The exhibition was held to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Garuda Indonesia. Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair 2024 started on January 15 by accessing travel agents selected by the airline. The event was attended by more than 70 travel agents, tour operators, media and other Japanese tourism industry players.
Coordinator of the Information, Social and Cultural Functions of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Meinarti Fauzie, explained that the event aims to strengthen Indonesia's image as a tourist destination of choice for Japanese citizens. According to Meinarti, Indonesia, with its stunning natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality, has always been one of the destinations of choice for foreign tourists. It is hoped that this Travel Fair can become a forum for travel agents, tour operators and prospective Japanese tourists to know more and strengthen the interest of tourist to visit Indonesia.
The tourist destinations promoted are super priority destinations, including Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara and Likupang in North Sulawesi. During the event, it was also announced Garuda's flight routes, namely Narita-Denpasar which operates every day and Haneda-Jakarta four times a week, as well as potential cooperation for super priority tourism. The activity was enlivened by performances of traditional Indonesian arts, the Cendrawasih Dance from Bali and the Tortor Batak Dance by the Nusantara Indonesia group.