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 Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Beijing, China, promotes Indonesia’s tourism at the Ninth Colorful World-Cultural Exhibition of Countries along the Belt and Road in Shougang Park on Friday (13/9). As reported by rri.co.id, this exhibition, organized by the Beijing Municipal Government, showcases various countries connected by China’s Belt and Road initiative.
The Counselor for Information, Social, and Cultural affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, Dewi Avilia, stated that this is Indonesia’s second participation in the International Exhibition post-Covid-19 pandemic. Indonesia’s participation aimed to raise Chinese awareness of Indonesian tourism, especially the Wonderful Indonesia program.
In The Ninth Colorful World-Cultural Exhibition of Countries along the Belt and Road, the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing promoted five super-priority tourisms designed by the Indonesian Government. The five destinations are Borobudur in Central Java, Toba Lake in North Sumatra, Likupang in North Sulawesi, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, and Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara.
In addition, the Indonesian Embassy also promoted various local products. One of the featured products is agarwood (kayu gaharu), an authentic Indonesian product that attracted visitors. Indonesian food and beverages also drew great interest. Dewi Avilia addedthat the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing even brought the sellers or vendors directly from Indonesia.
Despite thousands of visitors attending, the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing hoped that public interest in Indonesian booths would continue to increase throughout the event. In the previous event, Indonesian booths attracted around 2.000 visitors for five days. Dewi Avilia hopes that this year, the visitors can exceed 2.000 people.
UArtes Gamelan Ensemble led by Dr. Andrey Astaiza showcased their original composition titled "OM", that combines gamelan traditional melody with a modern improvisation. That was stated in the written statement of the Indonesian Embassy in Quito on Monday (16/9).
Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Heri Akhmadi, said that the Jak-Japan Matsuri (JJM) 2024 festival, which was held on the 14th and 15th of September in Jakarta, reflects the friendship between the people of the two countries.
During the opening ceremony of Jak-Japan Matsuri (JJM) 2024 in Jakarta on Saturday evening (14/9), Ambassador Heri Akhmadi stated that the most important aspect of the friendship between two countries or nations is actually reflected by the friendship between the people of those countries.
According to Heri Akhmadi, the brotherly relationship between the people of Indonesia and Japan is key, and the Matsuri is a good way to get to know, appreciate, and respect fellow brothers. He added that a similar event, Matsuri Indonesia 2024, will also be held by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo on the 17th and 18th of October.
Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Masaki Yasushi, said that this year's JJM became one of the symbols of friendship and cultural exchange between Japan and Indonesia. Ambassador Yasushi explained that JJM 2024 carries the theme ‘Exploring Japan,’ which presents various booths that showcase unique and distinctive products, culinary delights, and culture from various regions in Japan, such as Aichi Prefecture and Fukuoka.
The annual event, which was first held in Jakarta in 2009, serves as a platform for Indonesians and Japanese to deepen their bonds and foster the friendship between the two countries.
Jak-Japan Matsuri features Japanese and Indonesian cultural arts, such as the Mikoshi Parade. Mikoshi, meaning the house of god, is paraded on the shoulders of dozens of people and is usually performed at certain festivals or during the summer. There are also performances from Indonesian artists like JKT48 and Fatin, as well as Japanese performers like Jam Heads, Batten Girls, and DXTEEN.
The angklung art and Mikoshi parade attracted a lot of attention at the event, which also provided a consultation area for those interested in working in Japan.
Photo credit: indonesia.travel
Indonesia won the title of Asia's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination at the 2024 World Travel Awards held on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 in Manila, Philippines. This title was previously given to Japan, Thailand, and Sri Lanka in previous years in turn. This year, several other countries nominated for the category of Asia's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination are China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The World Travel Awards is an award event for countries for their excellence in various sectors of the tourism industry. Awards are given annually based on votes from professionals in the travel industry and the general public.
Thanks to its geographical location, Indonesia offers extraordinary natural wealth. From majestic active volcanoes to lush tropical forests, and beautiful coral reefs in the ocean. All of these are the main attractions for adventure tourists. The characteristics and experiences of each adventure tourism object are different in each place, from trekking in the mountains such as Rinjani, to rafting on the fast-flowing rivers of Kalimantan. In fact, Komodo Island offers a rare experience with conservation tourism, where tourists can see Komodo dragons in their natural habitat.
Indonesia doesn’t only rely on its natural beauty, but also continues to innovate in developing authentic adventure tourism experiences. Currently, global travel agents are contributing to promoting adventure tourism in Indonesia. Quoted from Antara, the international travel agent Interpid Travel focuses on direct interaction with local communities and traditional accommodation. They are targeting to increase the number of tourists to Indonesia to 20,000 people in 2030 and 4,000 tourists in 2024, with special tourism in Sulawesi, Raja Ampat, Kalimantan, and Flores.
Photo credit: kemlu.go.id
The Indonesian Embassy in Colombo/ Sri Lanka/ presented a Buddha statue/ a gift from Indonesia to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka/ Dinesh Gunawardena/ in Colombo//
Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives/ Dewi Gustina Tobing/ said/ the statue is a symbol of the deep cultural and spiritual ties that unite the two countries// Dewi explained/ in Indonesia/ Buddha has become a source of inspiration for wisdom// This statue reflects the values of peace/ compassion/ and enlightenment that are the core of Buddhist teachings//
According to a written press statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Colombo received by the Antara state news agency in Jakarta/ Saturday (14/9)/ the statue was given by the Chairman of the Indonesian Theravada Sangha/ Bhikkhu Sri Pannavaro Mahathera/ to be handed over by Ambassador Dewi to Prime Minister Gunawardena for the Dharmayathanaya Vihara in Colombo/ on Thursday (12/9) local time//
Head of Dharmayathanaya Temple/ Bhikkhu Elle Gunawansa Thero/ also witnessed the handover of the statue depicting Buddha in a meditating position//
The Buddha statue was made by an Indonesian sculptor in Muntilan/ near Borobudur Temple in Magelang/ Central Java/ following the basic guidelines for Buddha statues at Mendut Temple//
The statue is made from a block of good quality andesite stone/ weighing one ton and 140 centimeters high//
Regarding the gift of the Buddha statue / Prime Minister Gunawardena expressed his gratitude to Indonesia/ especially the Buddhist community in the country/ for the gift of the high-quality statue//
The gift of the Buddha statue from Indonesia to Sri Lanka symbolizes the good relations and brotherhood between the two countries that have existed since the 8th century//
Photo credit: kemlu.go.id
Today’s Miscellany takes you to the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan, to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of Indonesian students from Al-Ya’lu Elementary School in Malang City, East Java province. Theyhave successfully brought honour to the nation in the international arena.
On September 10, 2024, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan had the honor of receiving a special visit from Al-Ya’lu Elementary School students at the invitation of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan.
They wereinJapan to celebrate their achievement as the first winner in the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Japan - Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Award - SEAMEO Japan-ESD Award 2023. In this prestigious competition, they competed with 115 schools from various countries in Southeast Asia with innovative projects that focus on environmental conservation through renewable energy.
The Coordinator of the Socio-Cultural Information Function of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Muhammad Al Aulaalongwith the Education and Culture Attaché, Amzul Rifin, stated that this achievement reflects the role of Indonesian champion students as unofficial ambassadors of the country.
According to Al Aula, the students of Al-Ya'lu Elementary School in Malang City have shown the world thatThey have high creativity that is not only benefitsl for the surrounding environment but also contributes to creating a cleaner earth.
Furthermore, Al Aula also emphasized the importance of continuing to work and achieve achievements in various fields. He emphasized that the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo will continue to provide full support for the concrete efforts of the nation's children who can make achievements on the international stage, especially in Japan.
In the SEAMEO Japan-ESD Award 2023, Al-Ya’lu Elementary School stood out with their project in the Environmentally Friendly Behavior Innovation category. A 10-year-old Niki Ilahi along with her friends, managed to amaze the jury with programs,such as bamboo pellets and a micro hydro system for hatching duck eggs.
Their achievements brought a good name not only to the school,but also to Indonesia as a whole, showing that the creativity and environmental awareness of Indonesian children from an early age excels in the international arena.
Indonesian Ambassador to Tunisia, Zuhairi Misrawi conveyed that after being ratified, Indonesia-Tunisia Preferential Trade Agreement (IT PTA ) has the potential to increase the value of bilateral trade cooperation to US$1 billion or around 15,44 trillion rupiah. In his statement in Jakarta on Tuesday (10/9), Ambassador Zuhairi mentioned that IT PTA includes tariff reduction or dispensation on 250 items. According to the Ambassador, if the value of Indonesia's economic cooperation with Tunisia succeeds in reaching US$ 1 billion, Indonesia will become one of the largest exporters to the country located in the crossroads of Europe namely Middle East and Africa.
The Ministry of Trade stated that the total trade of both countries in 2023 reached US$ 217.6 million or around 3.36 trillion rupiah, and it rose up 1.09 percent compared to the previous year. Ambassador Zuhairi also pointed out that the IT PTA which has reached the finalization stage and is ready to be signed by the two countries, will spur Indonesia-Tunisia cooperation because the absence of such an agreement is one of the significant obstacles in bilateral trade. He also hopes the agreement was signed during the momentum of the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum in Bali in early September, but it had to be postponed due to changes in the cabinet in Tunisia.
The signing may be done later in Trade Expo Indonesia in October or waiting for the momentum of the visit of the minister of trade. He believes IT PTA will increase Indonesia's export opportunities to Europe, Middle East and Africa through Tunisia as an intermediary point. In other parts, Ambassador Zuhairi explained that his side is exploring coffee and paper exports to complement Indonesia's main export commodities to Tunisia which consist of palm oil, furniture, fishery products, fruits, and vehicle spareparts.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, promoted the Indonesian Golden Visa at the Majestic Johor Festival 2024 to attract foreign nationals in a bid to invest and work in Indonesia.
Immigration Technical Staff of the Consulate General in Johor Bahru, Wahyu Kusumanegara in a written statement, Wednesday (4/9), said that the promotion of immigration facilities that provide convenience for foreign nationals was carried out in the exhibition, which took place from August 28 to September 1, 2024.
The Golden Visa Indonesia, which was officially launched by President Joko Widodo on July 25, 2024, according to Wahyu, aims to invite foreign nationals to invest and work so as to have a double effect on the Indonesian economy.
Golden Visa holders are entitled to enjoy several exclusive benefits of the visa type, including an extended stay of up to 10 years, priority immigration service lanes at international airports, and efficiency as they no longer need to apply for a limited stay permit at immigration offices.
The types of Golden Visa include individual investors, corporate investors, former Indonesian citizens, second homes, global talents, and world figures.
As a requirement, all Golden Visa applicants must state their commitment to invest directly in Indonesia. The form of investment is determined based on the profile of the Golden Visa applicant, namely individual investors or corporate investors, with the aim of establishing a new company or not.
Golden Visa is implemented in a digital system that is made as easy as possible through evisa.immigration.go.id. Bahru Wahyu hopes that potential investors will find it easy to invest in Indonesia quickly and safely.
Photo: RRI/KJRI Sydney
Director General of Immigration of the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights/ Silmy Karim/ hopes/ the electronic passport or e-passport service at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Sydney/ Australia/ can provide convenience for Indonesian citizens residing in Australia/ especially in Sydney//
In written information received in Jakarta/ Friday (6/9)/ Silmy Karim said/ the e-passport service at the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney was officially launched on Wednesday (4/9)// The inauguration is part of a series of celebrations for Indonesian Independence Day and the 75th Anniversary of Indonesia-Australia Diplomatic Relations// In addition/ the launch also confirms the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney as the first Indonesian Representative in the Pacific and Oceania regions/ which can issue electronic passports//
The Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney is the eighth Indonesian Representative to serve the issuance of e-passport// Previously/ the Directorate General of Immigration has opened e-passport services in Singapore/ Tokyo-Japan/ Seoul-South Korea/ The Hague-Netherlands/ Jeddah-Saudi Arabia/ Los Angeles-United States/ and Berlin-Germany//
Silmy Karim said/ electronic passports are equipped with chips that store biometric data//
With more advanced security features/ electronic passports are safer from potential forgery// In addition/ it also makes it easier for Indonesian citizens in Australia who often travel internationally/ because the immigration inspection process is smoother//
According to Silmy Karim / easy access to e-passports helps Indonesian citizens abroad when applying for visas to other countries/ especially to countries that have easier visa approval preferences for electronic passport users//
Silmy Karim added/ the Directorate General of Immigration is committed to bringing immigration services closer to the community/ including Indonesian citizens abroad/ through the provision of e-passport services at Indonesian Representatives//
Photo source: eng.ui.ac.id
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) once again has named a team of students from the Faculty of Engineering (FT) of the University of Indonesia (UI) as the 1st Place Winner. The team won the Setty Family Foundation Net Zero Energy Design category at the ASHRAE Design Competition 2024. in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The sIx students who are members of the Archine team, Faculty of Engineering (FT) of the University of Indonesia (UI) managed to outperform 163 other teams with their green building design which they named Bromeliad Library. For three consecutive years, UI students have always won this event.
This project highlights the concept of a building that can reduce CO2 emissions and meet net-zero emissions standards. To achieve this goal, the building combines passive and active strategies in its design. Passive strategies include optimizing natural light, reducing solar heat, and innovative clay facades to control humidity. On the other hand, building strategies focus on air quality, efficient water management, and energy-efficient lighting.
Biman, a member of the team, explained that the Bromeliad Library is equipped with several superior features such as LED sunlight sensors and the use of the roof area for vegetated terraces and solar panels. The building also has a water and fog harvesting system that can collect up to 3.3 million liters of rainwater and dew per year. With the implementation of these strategies and technologies, the use of Energy Use Intensity (EUI) in the building has been significantly reduced from 211 kWh/m² to 87 kWh/m², reducing energy consumption by 59%.