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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Bali is included in the list of the 50 Most Beautiful Places in the World 2022 version of Time magazine based in New York, United States. In choosing the most beautiful places in the world, Time has selected beautiful places that tourists can visit after the Covid-19 pandemic. Time compiled this list of places by requesting place nominations from its international network of correspondents and contributors. The goal, to offer a variety of new and interesting experiences.
Through the selection, a number of the best places were obtained, including Boracay Island in the Philippines which was closed for years due to overtourism or excessive tourist visits and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. There is also the luxury city of Doha, Qatar, which opened 100 new hotels to accommodate the 2022 World Cup spectators. The charm of Bali, Indonesia, and the opening of luxury resorts there also made the Island of the Gods included in the list of 50 places. Bali is considered to be an ideal escape for those who wish to reconnect with nature.
Raffles Bali, for example. The place which opened at the end of last year in Jimbaran Bay is said to offer the sensation of soaking in a bathtub with soothing rose petals and aloe vera extract. In addition, there is Buahan, part of the Banyan Tree Escape which offers open villas to enjoy panoramic views of the forest from close. For art connoisseurs, Potato Head in Seminyak, which focuses on sustainable tourism, can be an option to visit.
The Indonesia Consulate General in Penang along with the Industry andTrade Board of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province promoted superior products of the province in the Kedah market, in Malaysia. The Indonesian Consul General in Penang, Bambang Suharto pointed out that the event held on Tuesday (19/7) online in Sungai Petani Kedah, Malaysia and at the office of the Industry and Trade Office of the Province of Aceh is in line with the spirit of not giving up in the face of economic anxiety due to the current global phenomenon. He also conveyed that the world has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and is facing a transition to an endemic period. Now, it is the right time for all parties to revive in developing the economy.
Aceh and Kedah have trade potential through mutually beneficial and sustainable cooperation. He further mentioned that the geographical proximity, particularly the socio-cultural closeness of the people of Aceh and Kedah, is a potential supporting factor for the cooperation. Besides, Bambang also explained that the Consulate General in Penang, through its economic diplomacy, promoted superior products in the Kedah market. As many as 16 Acehnese business people have met business actors in Kedah. He hopes that through this promotion, Aceh products are increasingly known in Malaysia.
Entrepreneurs from Aceh have offered coffee, chocolate, fish, spices, brown sugar, areca nut, ginger, copra, tapioca, banana flour, handicrafts in the form of Aceh embroidery bags, cosmetics in the form of perfumes and fashion, as well as herbal medicines. Head of the Department of Industry and Aceh Province Trade, Mohd Tanwir hopes that the activities will have a multiplier effect of bof both Aceh province and Kedah. Aceh has been ready to welcome international trading partners with the reopening of Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport for international flights from 17 July 2022.
Chief of Indonesian Armed Forces, General Andika Perkasa received an award, Darjah Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang Darjah Pertama. This award is the highest award of the Sultanate of Brunei given to the leaders of the Armed Forces.
The Star of the State of Brunei was awarded directly by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in the context of the 76th Birthday (Keputeraan) of the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, in a ceremony at the Nurul Iman Palace, Bandar Seri Begawan on Friday (15/7). Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Sujatmiko was present at the award ceremony. He remarked that the awarding of the Greatness Star shows the strong and close relationship between Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, especially between the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (ABDB) and the Indonesian Armed Forces.
Ambassador Sujatmiko further stated that the cooperation between the two countries in the defense sector has been going on closely, despite the Covid-19 Pandemic situation. The cooperation covers education between the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Indonesian Armed Forces. Even starting the 2021 academic year, Brunei increased the allocation from 1 to 2 officers of the Indonesian Armed Forces to attend the Staff and Command School (Sesko) of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (ABDB) in Brunei Darussalam. According to the records of the Indonesian Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan, from 2018 to 2022, as many as 18 personnelof the Indonesian Armed Forces have carried out education in Brunei. Another collaboration is training with the Indonesian Armed Forces and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces which are routinely held alternately in both countries both joint training and dimensional one.
Indonesia also supports Brunei Darussalam in a bid to strengthen the main defense system equipment (defense equipment). Currently, PT Dirgantara Indonesia is carrying out maintenance of one CN-235 aircraft belonging to the Royal Brunei Armed Forces from June to July 2022. This activity is to restore the CN-235 owned by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Indonesia has also procured 1,000 cannon munitions, 75-mm Blank caliber for the Ministry of Defense of Brunei Darussalam in February 2022. The Indonesian Embassy in Bandar Sri Begawan continues to strive for the sale of Indonesian defense equipment products to the Royal Brunei Armed Forces of Brunei Darussalam.
The Indonesian Honorary Consul in Gdansk City promoted Indonesian tourism and cuisine in Poland by taking advantage of the momentum of the inauguration of its office on Wednesday (20/7). The event began with the promotion of tourism potential, especially the underwater beauty of Indonesia, through photos by Janusz Draminski. The presence of Putri Indonesia Tourism is also an amazing attraction for Indonesia's promotional activities in Gdansk.
Meanwhile, the event of the Indonesian culinary promotion was directly brought by Indonesian chef and chili farmer, Suhaidi Jamaan who introduced Indonesian Rendang cuisine and Indonesian restaurant Sambal. The promotion also involved several companies that have marketed their products in Poland, such as PT Mayora (sweets and biscuits), De Care (nata de coco, Balinese noodles, Indonesian spices); Podkawa (local coffee), and Indofood. These products were exhibited to the invitees. Then, the promotional activities were followed by Javanese Gamelan performances, regional dances, batik fashion shows and presentations on investment cooperation opportunities in Indonesia, as well as batik workshops.
Indonesian Ambassador to Poland, Anita Lidya Luhulima in her opening remarks at the event conveyed that the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Poland have grown and developed in various sectors as a form of potential cooperation that can be developed by both countries. Besides, Ambassador Anita also pointed out that there are still various potentials for cooperation that need to be developed between Indonesia and Poland, particularly the sectors that have become G20 priorities, namely health, digital transformation and energy transition. watch investment presentations and Indonesian tourism videos.
The film Inang -The Womb by Indonesian film makers was screened in South Korea. Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea, Gandi Sulistiyanto said, International premiere of Film Inang at the Bucheon International Film Festival is a positive signal that the Indonesian film industry continues to be productive even during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is prideful for not only filmmakers in the country but also for all Indonesian people, especially the Indonesian diaspora in South Korea.
Ambassador Gandi while meeting with all of the film makers of the Film Inang, including producer, director and actors on Thursday (14/07) said that film is one of the creative sectors that South Korea has worked on well through the Korean Wave strategy.
Winston Utomo, CEO of IDN Media, the owner of the company IDN Media and IDN Pictures Film producer of Inang said, it is an honor for the film Inang to be premiered in Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival -BIFAN. This film is specially made to show Indonesian cultural diversity, and the importance of the family as the glue of all elements of society in Indonesia.
The World Premiere of the Inang was screened twice at CGV Sopung Cinema, on 8 and 13 July 2022. The second screening was attended by almost all film actors as well as the actresses, including a talented young actress, Naysilla Mirdad, her mother, a senior Indonesian artist, Lydia Kandou, and Dimas Anggara. Besides the Indonesian people, the younger generation also came to support the premiere of the film.
An Indonesian horror film with the title “Inang/The Womb” by Fajar Nugro is one of ten selected films that’s competing with films from other countries originating from Spain, Japan, Australia, Denmark and many other countries in the International Bucheon Choice Awards. For more than 11 days, the film was screened offline at the CGV Sopung cinema, Bucheon city hall, and https://www.wavve.com for people to view it online.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Osaka, Japan promotes various domestically made products by holding the Indonesia Bazaar from June 30 until July 24 2022. The exhibition, which is held for the first time in Osaka, targets Japanese citizens aged 20-65 years so that the products displayed have been selected to attract potential buyers.
Consul for Economics I of the Indonesian Consulate General in Osaka, Dody Sembodo, when contacted in Tokyo on Saturday (16/7), explained that the curation process involved the organizers and the building where the exhibition is held, namely Loft Umeda. A total of 24 Indonesian companies participates in the Indonesia Bazaar. The products on display include handicrafts, such as rattan bags, painted pouches, batik shirts, accessories, scarves, hats, and many others.
In addition, food and beverage products are also displayed, such as typical Indonesian spices, instant noodles, tempeh and chips. The exhibitors come from Jakarta, West Java, Yogyakarta, Central Java, Kalimantan to West Nusa Tenggara.
The Indonesia Bazaar is held in collaboration with the Indonesian Consulate General in Osaka with the Indonesia Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Osaka and Bank Indonesia Tokyo.
Two islands in Indonesia are included in the list of the 10 best islands in Southeast Asia 2022 version of Travel and Leisure, namely Bali and Lombok. The predicate was given through the Travel and Leisure Asia's Best Awards 2022. The award was first held by Travel and Leisure, a global travel and lifestyle magazine based in New York, USA. Phuket, Thailand has been named the best island in Asia 2022 by Travel and Leisure version. Meanwhile, Bali and Lombok were ranked third and sixth respectively.
Bali is an island which is also one of the provinces in Indonesia. Often dubbed the Island of Gods, it never ceases to attract tourists from within and outside the country. The attraction of Bali is a group of charming beaches such as Kuta, Melasti, Seminyak, and Nusa Dua Beaches, also the Blue Lagoon and many others. Besides beaches, Bali offers a variety of other interesting tourist destinations, such as mountains, lakes and forests. Tourists who visit can also enjoy Balinese culture and customs which are unique and well-preserved, so that they become a tourist magnet.
Besides Bali, Lombok Island in Indonesia is also recognized as one of the 10 best islands in Southeast Asia 2022 according to the Travel and Leisure version. Undoubtedly, this island, located in eastern Indonesia, holds a lot of natural beauty. The beach in Lombok is a paradise for surfers. For example, Kuta Mandalika, Tanjung Aan, Senggigi, Seger, and Gili Trawangan Beaches, also the unique Pink Beach, and others. Besides, Lombok has Mount Rinjani which is the second highest volcano in Indonesia. Mount Rinjani is a favorite mountain for climbers because it offers beautiful views. Tourists visiting the island of Lombok can also enjoy the original culture of Lombok at Sade Tourism Village, Sukarasa Tourism Village, and Ende Tourism Village.
To support the development of local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the government of Purworejo holds various events to become a forum for MSME actors in a bid to showcase their products. One of them is the Purworejo Creative Festival (PCF) which is held at Purworejo Square, Central Java province on 15-17 July 2022. There are dozens of booths for MSME products, ranging from creative economy crafts to culinary delights, which are centered in the Purworejo Art Center building. Purworejo Creative Festival is an opportunity for MSME actors to revive after facing a fairly heavy pandemic.
Besides MSME products, artists are also given space to express themselves in this event. Several art performances, such as music and theater collaborate with creative economy into concepts that will be able to boost the income of the existing MSME participants. The performing arts are filled by Fine Art Purworejo artists, music communities and dancers from the Purworejo dance studios.
Various craft products, such as leather, bamboo, paralon, written batik, and products from egg shells are exhibited at the event. The products displayed are superior ones that have passed the curation and feasibility test stages. This event is expected to raise creative economy products from MSME creators in Purworejo so that they can attract and invite investors to Purworejo. It is in line with the purpose of this event, namely as a form of local government’s concern for the development of MSMEs as well as arts crafts and performing.
Enlivening the reception on Indonesian Honorary Consul’s Introduction for Constanta, Emil Sirbiu, the cultural team of the Indonesian Embassy in Bucharest performed Indonesian cultural performances namely Angklung, Plate and Poco-Poco Dances on Monday (11/4/). The event was held at the Ramada Constanta Hotel, and it was attended by Romanian business people, Honorary Consuls of various countries in Constanta, Consuls from foreign countries domiciled in Constanta, as well as representatives from the Regional Government of Constanta.
The Indonesian Honorary Consul for Constanta, Emil Sirbiu expressed his appreciation to various sides, who have professionally supported all activities initiated by the Indonesian Honorary Consul. He further pointed out that the reception held was an expression of good relations which Romania and Indonesia had built, both within the framework of people-to-people contacts and in the context of bilateral relations of both countries. The two-hour event became more solemn with the rebound of the Romanian National Anthem, Desteapta-te, Romane! by using the Angklung musical instrument played by the Cultural Team of the Indonesian Embassy in Bucharest as the opening.
Moreover, the performance of the Plate Dance from West Sumatra, the Poco-Poco Dance from Maluku, and the Angklung performance was presented at the event. This was followed by the introduction and practice of playing the Angklung musical instrument by some of the invitees. The cultural performance performed by the Cultural Team of the Indonesian Embassy in Bucharest received a very positive response. This was illustrated by the expressions of the invitees, while enjoying the performance of the Angklung Team, who played the Indonesian song, Rayuan Pulau Kelapa by Ismail Marzuki, and presented a song which is quite popular in Romania entitled Ciobanas cu Trei Sute de Oi. The Indonesian Embassy in Bucharest actively promotes Indonesian culture in many groups in the accreditation area, because this is a manifestation of the elaboration of one of the functions of diplomacy abroad. With these efforts, it is expected that the cultural diversity of the archipelago can be more widely known by the Romanian people. Thus, it can increase the number of Romanian tourists to visit Indonesia.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is also felt by essential daily service providers because consumers are getting rarer so that their income is getting smaller. Concerned about these conditions, five students of the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) designed an application called ‘Bantu.Ind’ as a forum for providing daily service needs or daily service from small groups of people who are experts in their respective fields. This application provides daily services, such as massage services, cleaning service, home, appliance and electronic repair, vehicle repair and treatment, beauty, and plumbing.
One of the team members, Nur Muhammad Adi Yahya explained that on one hand, the target market for the Bantu.Ind application is a group of people who like to order services online; Bantu.Ind also provides five features that can help users. They are Profile, Online Booking, Categories, Chat, and Transaction.
On the other hand, partners as service providers can also register themselves by selecting partner options on the first page of the application after installing Bantu.Ind. Afterwards, the partners can choose the category of services provided and fill out the form and the required requirements. Furthermore, they only wait for an answer from the application via Whatsapp or email. Finally, the partners are directed to the interview stage which then if they pass, they officially become the partners of Bantu.Ind.
In terms of the transaction mechanism between users and partners, users will first see the rates set by partners. If the user wants to change the service rate set, then the user can discuss it with partners about this.
The meaning of the name Bantu.Ind consists of two words, namely Bantu which means to help, and Ind which means Indonesia. So literally, this application means 'Helping Indonesia'. This is also in line with the purpose of designing the application, which is to help the income of the Indonesian working community during the pandemic.
Adi admits that Bantu.Ind still needs a lot of further development. This includes applications that are still at the prototype stage. So, programming simulations are needed to prove that they can function properly.
Adi then added that he and his colleagues prepared a prototype for this Bantu.Ind application for about two months. In addition, through the innovation of the Bantu.Ind application, this student team has also succeeded in getting the 2nd place in the International Youth Business Competition 2022 organized by the Indonesian Young Scientist Association (IYSA).